Head-to-head comparison
Stetson University vs Ave Maria University: which has better ROI?
Option A DeLand, FL
Stetson University
- Net price / year
- $19,372
- Earnings, 10 years
- $51,642
- Payback
- 23.6 yrs
Option B Ave Maria, FL
Ave Maria University
- Net price / year
- $24,860
- Earnings, 10 years
- $49,520
- Payback
- 85.7 yrs
Stetson University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $77,488 in 23.6 years versus 85.7 years at Ave Maria University, on median earnings of $51,642 vs $49,520 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Stetson University | Ave Maria University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $19,372 | $24,860 |
| Total net cost | $77,488 | $99,440 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $51,642 | $49,520 |
| Median debt | $23,250 | $20,776 |
| Payback | 23.6 yrs | 85.7 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$11,848 | -$76,240 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Stetson University or Ave Maria University?
Stetson University, at $19,372 a year after aid versus $24,860 — a gap of $5,488 a year, or $21,952 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Stetson University or Ave Maria University graduates earn more?
Stetson University graduates report a median $51,642 ten years after entry, $2,122 more than the $49,520 at Ave Maria University. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Stetson University or Ave Maria University?
Ave Maria University: its completers carry a median $20,776 in federal loans versus $23,250 at Stetson University, a difference of $2,474. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
62% of students finish at Stetson University, against 54% at Ave Maria University. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.