Overview
Applicants
788
Acceptance Rate
46%
Median Undergrad GPA
3.16
Accepted Applicants Who Attend
121
Test Scores
LSAT
25th-75th percentile
(enrolled students)
(enrolled students)
148 - 154
Deadlines
Application Deadlines
July 15
Application Process
Rolling Admissions
Yes
Application Fee
$0
CAS Service Used
Yes
Applicants accepted in terms other than fall
Yes
Transfer Applicants Accepted
Yes
Deferred Admission
Yes
Other Admission Factors
Academic
LSAT Score
Undergraduate GPA
Letters of Recommendation
Essay / Personal Statement
Non-Academic
Interviews
Selectivity Rating
Faculty Information
Total Faculty
40
38.3
Female
7.5
Underrepresented Minorities
Students Say
As a Catholic school with a strong commitment to its 鈥渕ission鈥 and 鈥渞eligious foundation,鈥 Ave Maria 鈥渋ncorporates the Catholic faith into classes.鈥 Many students choose the school for its 鈥渃onservative鈥 ideology, and some feel that 鈥淎ve Maria may be the only school in America where God and American Values are paramount.鈥 This Catholic foundation engenders 鈥渁 very strong community at our school,鈥 and also attracts like-minded faculty, who 鈥渁ll come from the tops of their respective fields:鈥 鈥淏ecause the school is mission-oriented, some very high quality professors have chosen to teach here instead of a more prestigious school.鈥 Many students love that Ave Maria has 鈥渂uilt an environment conducive to learning how my Catholic faith informs my understanding of the law, without sacrificing the quality study of the black-letter law.鈥 Others point out what they miss in the Catholic curriculum; one student wishes the school would directly confront discussions on 鈥渕orally repugnant鈥 issues.
Students also appreciate Ave Maria鈥檚 鈥渟mall size,鈥 which 鈥渆ncourages personal accountability, facilitates smooth registration, and increases access to faculty and resources.鈥 鈥淭here are few enough students that the instructors actually care if I succeed.鈥 With an eye on the future, the school offers 鈥渃ourses that prepare the students for real life lawyering,鈥 鈥渨hich focus on practical skills and focuses on students鈥 success on practicing law and not just on theory.鈥 Of course, it鈥檚 鈥渢he superb professors with amazing career experience鈥 who foster this academic environment, and students say the 鈥渦nparalleled鈥 faculty 鈥渁re extremely approachable and accommodating,鈥 鈥済enuinely want you to succeed,鈥 and 鈥渁re interested in your development as a person and a lawyer.鈥
Notably, Ave Maria moved from Michigan to its present location in Naples, Florida in 2009, and students say the move has resulted in some 鈥渄isarray鈥 in promoting the school as nationally recognized: 鈥渢his school needs its faculty and students to push its name on a national scale.鈥 There are ways in which the new location works in the school鈥檚 favor, though; for one, Ave Maria is 鈥渢he only law school within ninety-plus miles,鈥 so 鈥渢he opportunities for internships are definitely there.鈥 The school 鈥渋s striving to improve the bar passage rate and is making significant progress鈥 after the relocation, partially due to a newly added 鈥渂ar prep鈥 class; some students believe that more 鈥渟tate specific classes鈥 might also be helpful. Overall, students choose Ave Maria for its 鈥渦nique educational philosophy that emphasizes the moral foundations of the law, presents insights from the Catholic intellectual tradition, and encourages a broader perspective of the law and its role in society.鈥
Students also appreciate Ave Maria鈥檚 鈥渟mall size,鈥 which 鈥渆ncourages personal accountability, facilitates smooth registration, and increases access to faculty and resources.鈥 鈥淭here are few enough students that the instructors actually care if I succeed.鈥 With an eye on the future, the school offers 鈥渃ourses that prepare the students for real life lawyering,鈥 鈥渨hich focus on practical skills and focuses on students鈥 success on practicing law and not just on theory.鈥 Of course, it鈥檚 鈥渢he superb professors with amazing career experience鈥 who foster this academic environment, and students say the 鈥渦nparalleled鈥 faculty 鈥渁re extremely approachable and accommodating,鈥 鈥済enuinely want you to succeed,鈥 and 鈥渁re interested in your development as a person and a lawyer.鈥
Notably, Ave Maria moved from Michigan to its present location in Naples, Florida in 2009, and students say the move has resulted in some 鈥渄isarray鈥 in promoting the school as nationally recognized: 鈥渢his school needs its faculty and students to push its name on a national scale.鈥 There are ways in which the new location works in the school鈥檚 favor, though; for one, Ave Maria is 鈥渢he only law school within ninety-plus miles,鈥 so 鈥渢he opportunities for internships are definitely there.鈥 The school 鈥渋s striving to improve the bar passage rate and is making significant progress鈥 after the relocation, partially due to a newly added 鈥渂ar prep鈥 class; some students believe that more 鈥渟tate specific classes鈥 might also be helpful. Overall, students choose Ave Maria for its 鈥渦nique educational philosophy that emphasizes the moral foundations of the law, presents insights from the Catholic intellectual tradition, and encourages a broader perspective of the law and its role in society.鈥
Career overview
Pass Rate for First-Time Bar Exam
60%
% of graduates who are employed within ten months of graduation
79%
Career Services
On campus summer employment recruitment for first year JD students
Yes
On campus summer employment recruitment for second year JD students
Yes
# of Employers that Recruit on Campus Each Year
50
Employers who most frequently hire graduates
Federal, State, and Trial Court Judges; United States Military (JAG),the Federal Government, local public defender and prosecutor's offices, small firms throughout the country, in-house corporate legal departments, non-profit and legal aid organizations.
Graduates Employed by Area
50%
Private Practice
17%
Government
11%
Business/Industry
1%
Judicial Clerkships
Graduates Employed by Region
68%
South
4%
South West
1%
MidWest
1%
Mountain
Prominent Alumni
Alexandria Swoyer
Legal Affairs Correspondent, The Washington Times
Joseph L. Toth
Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims
Charnele Dernback
Counsel, U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee
Melissa Cox
Judge, Michigan 3rd Circuit Court
Joshua McCaig
Polsinelli, Partner - Kansas City, MO
Dates
Financial Aid Rating
Jun 30
Application Deadlines
Jan 4
Financial Aid Statistics
Average Annual Total Aid Package Awarded
$69,353
% Students Receiving Some Aid
94%
Expenses per Academic Year
Estimated On-Campus Room and Board
$16,875
Estimated Off-Campus Room and Board
$16,875
Estimated Cost for Books / Academic Expense
$1,500
Student Body Profile
Total Enrollment
241
Number of Foreign Countries Represented
3
Average Age at Entry
26
% Out-of-State
14%
% International
3%
Demographics
35.00%
% Under-represented Minorities
96% are full time
4% are part time
40% female
60% male
Campus Life
Students Say
鈥淭he Naples, Florida area is a beautiful place to study,鈥 students agree, and the 鈥渃lassroom and campus [are] beautiful鈥 as well. Even though breaks in law school can be few and far between, students love that 鈥渢he beach is always there for a nice relaxing break鈥. However, some students claim that Naples isn鈥檛 much more than a pretty face: 鈥淣aples is small and the law school is small so if you want a life away from law school, it鈥檚 not easy to do鈥here aren鈥檛 a lot of twenty-somethings.鈥 That said, students bond together on campus: 鈥淎ve Maria School of Law is a small institution, which foster[s] a true sense of community and purpose.鈥 The 鈥渞igorous鈥 second semester is notoriously devoid of fun, as students go from 鈥渟ix classes to seven classes.鈥 As noted above in terms of the school鈥檚 improving bar passage rates, student reviews of Ave Maria鈥檚 locational integration are mixed. Students praise its 鈥渃lose proximity to a federal courthouse, creating many internship opportunities.鈥 Career Services was previously described as 鈥渋n shambles鈥 but during the 13-14 school year, the office increased recruitment activities and participation by over 50 percent. Perhaps, as one student diagnoses, 鈥淭he school simply needs time to adjust to a new location,鈥 and 鈥渢he bar passage rate will improve as the faculty and students adjust.鈥
More Information
% of Classrooms with Internet Access
100%
Admissions Office Contact
Contact
Tabitha McConnell
Director, Admissions & Outreach
Director, Admissions & Outreach
Address
1025 Commons Circle
Naples, FL 34119
Naples, FL 34119
Phone
239-687-5420
Email
info@avemarialaw.edu
