Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University
Tallahassee, Florida · Public · 20.6% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 28/100 · Below Benchmark
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Florida A&M University, a historically Black public land-grant in Tallahassee, posts an ROI score of 28 - Below Benchmark tier. Net price of $13,739 is moderate (in-state tuition is just $5,785), but Pell rate of 54.3% reflects the high need-based composition of the student body. The harder context here is that FAMU's mission and identity - as a flagship HBCU and a critical pipeline for Black professionals in Florida and the Southeast - doesn't fit the ROI calculator framework cleanly. The school produces meaningful numbers of accountants, engineers, and CS grads who do well (accounting four-year earnings $85,522; CS $83,041; construction engineering tech $98,272; nursing $73,658), but most students enter the school in majors with weak post-bachelor's earnings. Five of the largest cohorts - biology, business, criminal justice, psychology, allied health - post D or F ROI grades. Prospective students should weigh FAMU specifically through the lens of major choice and HBCU mission fit, not through pure financial-return math.
How Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University scores under our methodology
These are the College Scorecard measures that pull this school's CampusROI score down. They describe the published figures, not the quality of the education, and they are our reading of the data. Check them against your own aid offer and intended major.
- ROI Score28/100 - Below Benchmark tier of our scale (below 45). For context, 38% of the schools we score reach 60 or higher.
- Payback period20.9 years - The median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $5,785/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $17,725/yr |
| Average net price | $13,739/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $54,956 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $44,349 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $31,800 |
| Median debt at graduation | $23,548 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $250 |
| Estimated payback period | 20.9 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 53.3% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 7,582 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $5,785/year ($17,725/year out-of-state), which covers tuition and fees only. The net price counts books, supplies, and average living costs on top of tuition and fees, then subtracts grants and scholarships. For the average student here it comes to $13,739/year, or roughly $54,956 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $13,299/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $20,332/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $23,548, which works out to about $250 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($31,800) and comes to 0.74, under 1.0, meaning median debt is less than a full year of those earnings.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $13,299 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $10,921 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $15,269 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $18,325 |
| $110,001+ | $20,332 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families under $30,000 pay $13,299 net annually - modest discounting against the $13,739 average net price, with Pell carrying most of the load. Florida's Bright Futures and Florida Student Assistance Grant can help further. Four-year cost runs about $53,000. For a Pell-eligible accounting, CS, or engineering student who completes, the math pencils. For students in the school's larger cohorts (general allied health, multidisciplinary studies, biology), the bachelor's-only outcomes don't service the debt.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Note an inverted bracket: families earning $30,001-$48,000 pay $10,921 - LESS than the lowest-income tier and the lowest in the schedule. This reflects Pell + Florida grant stacking. The $48,001-$75,000 group pays $15,269, jumping to $18,325 at $75,001-$110,000. Middle-income four-year totals run $44,000-$73,000. Major choice dominates the value equation; outside of accounting, CS, engineering, and nursing, program-level earnings decide it.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $110,000 pay $20,332 - well above in-state tuition of $5,785, indicating room/board/fees and minimal merit aid at this bracket. Four years runs roughly $81,000. With median 10-year earnings of $44,349, lifetime ROI math is weak unless the student is in a high-earnings major.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | $46,081 | F |
| Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, General | $47,139 | F |
| Biology | $45,173 | D |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $53,902 | C |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $44,891 | D |
| Psychology | $39,472 | D |
| International Relations | $48,733 | D |
| Registered Nursing | $73,658 | B |
| Journalism | $50,832 | D |
| Social Work | $47,477 | D |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Construction Engineering Technology/Technician
Construction engineering technology graduates 14 students per year and posts the highest reported four-year median earnings on campus at $98,272, with $70,804 first-year. Median debt of $31,000 yields a 0.44 debt-to-earnings ratio and a B ROI grade. Florida's construction boom and FAMU's program reputation deliver strong placement.
Registered Nursing
Nursing graduates 56 students per year with $64,772 first-year and $73,658 four-year median earnings. Median debt of $23,750 produces a 0.37 debt-to-earnings ratio and a B ROI grade. Florida's nursing demand and FAMU's clinical placements at Tallahassee Memorial and other regional hospitals give graduates a strong launching point. One of the school's clearest value cases.
Computer and Information Sciences
CS graduates 41 students per year with $55,617 first-year and $83,041 four-year median earnings. Median debt of $24,500 yields a 0.44 debt-to-earnings ratio and a B ROI grade. The strong four-year earnings reflect Florida's tech sector growth and FAMU's growing tech recruiting pipeline. Solid choice for prospective CS students.
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General
General allied health is FAMU's largest cohort by far - 251 graduates per year - and posts an F ROI grade. First-year earnings of $27,553 and four-year earnings of $46,081 are paired with median debt of $27,750, producing a 1.01 debt-to-earnings ratio. This is the dominant program by enrollment and the most concerning by outcomes. Students in this track typically need to layer professional licensure (DPT, PA, MD, dentistry) on top of the bachelor's; without that next step, the bachelor's-only outcome is weaker.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business graduates 106 students per year with $40,874 first-year and $53,902 four-year median earnings. Median debt of $25,000 yields a 0.61 debt-to-earnings ratio and a C ROI grade.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 37.3% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 49.5% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 40.2% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 49.0% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 20.6% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 510-570 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 520-610 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 20-24 |
| Enrollment | 7,582 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 54.3% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $9,244 |
FAMU admits 20.6% of applicants. SAT mid-range runs 510-570 math and 520-610 reading; ACT spans 20-24. The selectivity is striking given the modest test ranges; this reflects FAMU's draw as the destination HBCU in Florida and the highly competitive applicant pool. The 53.4% completion rate is below what selectivity would predict, suggesting students face real persistence challenges - many of which are likely rooted in the high Pell rate and the financial strain of completion.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (this school) | 28 | $13,739 | $44,349 |
| Morehouse College | 29 | $39,013 | $52,889 |
| Winston-Salem State University | 27 | $13,479 | $45,344 |
| Prairie View A & M University | 27 | $13,570 | $45,411 |
| Tuskegee University | 26 | $35,013 | $49,641 |
| Edward Waters University | 15 | $13,649 | $34,782 |
Head-to-Head ROI Comparisons
See Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University side by side with similar schools on ROI, cost, earnings, and debt.
Who Thrives Here
FAMU fits a Florida or Southeast-region student - often Pell-eligible (54.3% Pell), often first-generation, often deeply committed to attending an HBCU - pursuing professional credentials in pharmacy, engineering, nursing, accounting, journalism, or law. Enrollment of 7,582 and a vibrant residential culture make this a transformative experience for students who fit. Strong fits include accounting, CS, engineering, and nursing students who can finish on time. The school's worst ROI tracks (general allied health at 251 graduates, multi-disciplinary studies at 110, biology at 107, business at 106, criminal justice at 102, psychology at 100) collectively dominate enrollment - prospective students should think carefully about which major they pursue.
The Verdict: Below Benchmark Under Our Scoring
Under our methodology, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University scores 28/100, which falls in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At a net price of $13,739 per year, with typical graduate earnings of $44,349 ten years after entry, we estimate the payback period at about 20.9 years. In our view that makes the financial case a hard one to make on the numbers alone, but those numbers are averages: your major, your aid package and what you want from a degree all change the picture, so run your own numbers before you commit.
What to keep an eye on: weak earnings relative to cost, a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.74 (median across the schools we score: 0.61), a three-year loan repayment rate of 49.5% (median across the schools we score: 73.6%), a long payback period.
Median debt of $23,548 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $31,800 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.74. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. Your major - and how much you borrow - really matters.
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University: Common Questions
Is Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University worth it?
In our view, the financial case is a hard one to make on the numbers alone. Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University scores 28/100 on our ROI scale, in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At $13,739 a year after aid against $44,349 in typical earnings ten years out, we estimate the payback period at about 20.9 years. Your major and aid package can change the picture, so run your own numbers.
How much does Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $13,739 a year, or roughly $54,956 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $44,349 ten years after enrolling, roughly $2,549 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 20.9 years for Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $23,548, against average earnings of $31,800 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.74. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. How much you borrow really matters.
What is the graduation rate at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University?
The six-year graduation rate is 53.3%. The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.