Florida Atlantic University
Boca Raton, Florida · Public · 66.1% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 75/100 · Strong Value
Florida Atlantic University scores 75 (Strong Value) on the CampusROI scale, powered by an exceptionally strong earnings premium sub-score of 94 (raw 0.621) against a low-cost base: in-state tuition is $4,879 and net price averages $8,752. Median 6-year earnings are $38,800 with a 10-year figure of $56,746, showing meaningful career progression. The 8-year payback period is solid for a large public university. Two sub-scores drag the overall down: the 63.8% repayment rate (sub-score 24 -- below the national median) reflects borrowers struggling to reduce principal, and the 62.6% completion rate (sub-score 64) means roughly 37% of enrolled students do not graduate. Median debt is a low $17,236, well below the national average. SAT mid-ranges are 510-590 Math and 530-610 Reading; ACT composite 21-26. Enrollment is 23,757. The 33.9% Pell grant rate reflects a significant low-income student share. FAU's program roster is broad and produces strong results in STEM and healthcare: Nursing (347 grads, B+), Electrical Engineering (B+), Mechanical Engineering (B+), and Computer Science/Information Sciences (B+, 180 grads) all perform well. Ocean Engineering is a distinctive specialty program available at few Florida institutions. Drama (F, ratio 1.280) and City Planning (F, ratio 1.217) are the weakest tracked programs.
Florida Atlantic University scores in the top 25% of all schools we track, with strong earnings outcomes relative to cost.
Florida Atlantic University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $4,879/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $17,324/yr |
| Average net price | $8,752/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $35,008 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $56,746 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $38,800 |
| Median debt at graduation | $17,236 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $183 |
| Estimated payback period | 8 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 62.6% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 23,757 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at Florida Atlantic University is $4,879/year ($17,324/year out-of-state). But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $8,752/year, or roughly $35,008 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $3,022/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $16,854/year. The school provides substantial aid to low-income students, making it significantly more affordable than the sticker price suggests.
The median graduate leaves with $17,236 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $183 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $56,746 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.44 - well within manageable territory.
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 | $3,022 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $4,135 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $8,106 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $14,440 |
| $110,001+ | $16,854 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The 0-30000 income bracket pays $3,022 per year at FAU -- one of the lowest net prices for any large public university in Florida. At $3,022 annually against $38,800 median 6-year earnings, the absolute financial access is exceptional. The 63.8% repayment rate is the primary concern: it indicates that a significant minority of FAU borrowers are not making progress on their loans. Low-income students who complete a STEM or nursing degree at this net price face a highly favorable financial outcome; those who do not complete carry debt without the earnings premium.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 30001-48000 bracket pays $4,135 and the 48001-75000 bracket pays $8,106. At $8,106, the 8-year payback calculation holds comfortably. The earnings premium of 62.1% above the high school benchmark is particularly meaningful for first-generation middle-income students who would otherwise enter the labor market without a degree. Program choice determines whether the investment pays off within the payback window: STEM and business programs reach break-even well within 8 years; Drama and City Planning do not.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
The 75001-110000 bracket pays $14,440 and the 110001-plus bracket pays $16,854. At $16,854 per year, FAU is still highly affordable relative to private peers and above-average public universities. The low debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.444 and 8-year payback apply most directly to students who graduate from B+ and B programs. High-income families considering FAU alongside flagship state options (UF, FSU) should compare program quality and specific graduate outcomes rather than overall rankings.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Florida Atlantic University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Biology | $47,707 | C |
| Registered Nursing | $91,953 | B+ |
| Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, General | $51,082 | C |
| Psychology | $48,754 | C |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $62,058 | B |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $53,545 | C+ |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | $51,640 | C |
| Marketing | $62,906 | C+ |
| Finance and Financial Management | $70,078 | B |
| Accounting | $77,465 | B+ |
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.
Registered Nursing
Registered Nursing (347 graduates) earns a B+ grade: $77,883 year-one and $91,953 year-four with $21,070 in median debt and a ratio of 0.271. This is the largest B+-or-better program by graduate count and one of the best debt-to-earnings ratios in the program roster. Year-one earnings of $78k are consistent with South Florida RN wages, which run above national averages due to cost of living. The $21,070 debt figure is notably low for a nursing program. Nursing is the clearest high-ROI pathway at FAU for students who can complete the competitive clinical curriculum.
Computer and Information Sciences
Computer and Information Sciences (180 graduates) earns a B+ grade: $58,379 year-one and $89,476 year-four with $18,337 in median debt and a ratio of 0.314. Year-one earnings of $58k are modest by CS standards but the four-year trajectory to $89k shows strong appreciation. The $18,337 debt figure is the lowest in the B+ engineering and CS tier, making this program unusually efficient. The year-one figure likely reflects South Florida's tech labor market, which runs below Bay Area or Seattle comparables.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration (311 graduates) earns a B grade: $46,662 year-one and $62,058 year-four with $17,700 in median debt and a ratio of 0.379. This is the second-largest program by graduate count after Biology. Year-one earnings of $47k are reasonable for Florida entry-level business roles; the debt of $17,700 against that earnings base creates manageable repayment pressure. The B grade reflects consistently good alignment between low cost, moderate debt, and reasonable earnings. Business Administration is the most accessible path to a B-grade ROI for students who are not pursuing STEM or nursing.
Ocean Engineering
Ocean Engineering (24 graduates) earns a B grade: $67,941 year-one and $80,093 year-four with $29,000 in median debt and a ratio of 0.427. This is one of the few programs of its type in the Scorecard data and reflects FAU's position on the South Florida coast. Year-one earnings of $68k are strong; the $29,000 debt is the highest among engineering programs at FAU, suppressing the grade from B+ to B. The program serves coastal infrastructure, offshore energy, and naval defense sectors in a geographically specific market.
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
Drama (23 graduates) earns an F grade: $18,452 year-one and $20,673 year-four with $23,625 in median debt and a ratio of 1.280. Year-one earnings of $18k are below poverty-level for South Florida's cost of living. The four-year figure of $21k shows almost no earnings growth, indicating these graduates are not progressing into stable professional performance careers. The ratio of 1.280 means debt exceeds annual year-one earnings by 28%. Students considering Drama at FAU should treat the Scorecard data as a direct signal about professional market conditions for performing arts graduates in this region.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 57.6% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 63.8% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 61.7% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 66.3% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 66.1% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 510-590 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 530-610 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 21-26 |
| Enrollment | 23,757 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 33.9% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $10,706 |
At 66.1% admission, FAU is moderately selective relative to Florida's public university system. SAT mid-ranges of 510-590M and 530-610R position applicants near or slightly above the national average. The gap between admission rate and completion rate (66% admitted, 63% of enrolled complete) suggests that admission is not a sufficient indicator of likely success; early academic performance and program fit matter more. STEM-track students with strong math preparation are best positioned to capitalize on the school's top-performing programs.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Scorecard peers include University of Central Florida and Louisiana State University -- large regional public universities with broad program portfolios. Among Florida public universities, FAU's $8,752 net price is among the lowest in the system, and the earnings premium sub-score of 94 ranks it well above most peers. The repayment rate of 63.8% (sub-score 24) is a persistent outlier: it suggests a specific population of borrowers who do not benefit fully from the credential. FAU competes most directly with UCF and USF for South Florida students; its ocean and coastal engineering programs are differentiated from those peers.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida Atlantic University (this school) | 75 | $8,752 | $56,746 |
| The University of Texas at Dallas | 84 | $18,267 | $68,227 |
| University of Central Florida | 79 | $10,411 | $58,308 |
| Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College | 76 | $19,151 | $61,251 |
| University of South Carolina-Columbia | 72 | $22,811 | $62,177 |
| Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University | 28 | $13,739 | $44,349 |
Who Thrives Here
Florida Atlantic University admits 66.1% of applicants and enrolls 23,757 students in Boca Raton, Florida. SAT mid-ranges are 510-590 Math and 530-610 Reading; ACT composite 21-26. Pell grant rate of 33.9% reflects a significant share of first-generation and lower-income students. FAU serves a large, diverse South Florida student population across Boca Raton and satellite campuses. The strongest value is in STEM, nursing, and business -- students in these tracks who graduate earn well above the $8,752 net price in year-one earnings. The 62.6% completion rate is a meaningful concern; students should assess program-specific persistence before enrolling.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
Florida Atlantic University delivers above-average financial returns for its graduates. At a net cost of $8,752 per year ($35,008 over four years), graduates earn a median of $56,746 ten years after enrollment. That puts the payback period at roughly 8 years - a solid return on the investment.
Key strengths include strong earnings premium over high school graduates, manageable debt relative to earnings. However, the data also shows concerning loan repayment rates.
Median debt of $17,236 against $56,746 in earnings is reasonable, though major choice matters significantly. Students in higher-earning programs will see better returns.
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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.