Florida College
Temple Terrace, Florida · Private Nonprofit · 69.7% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 44/100 · Poor Value
Florida College in Temple Terrace, Florida is a small Churches of Christ-affiliated private nonprofit that posts a Poor Value ROI score of 44/100. The structure shows a mission-driven school with mixed financial fundamentals. Tuition is $20,360 per year with a net price of $23,931 - notably, the net price exceeds tuition, reflecting room, board, and fees on top of relatively modest aid scaling. Four-year all-in cost is about $95,724. The big drag on the ROI score is the 27.9-year payback period and the meager 8.8% earnings premium over high-school grads - median earnings six years after entry are just $32,300, climbing to only $43,445 at ten years. On the bright side: median debt is low at $12,000 (one of the lowest in this batch), the repayment rate is strong at 86.4%, and debt-to-earnings of 0.372 is healthy. This is a financial profile where students borrow little but also earn little. The 54% completion rate is middling. For families choosing Florida College, the rationale is overwhelmingly mission and religious-community fit; the labor-market case alone does not justify the price.
The data raises concerns about Florida College
These metrics fall below the thresholds most financial advisors recommend for a sound college investment. Review them carefully before committing.
- ROI Score44/100 - Poor Value tier (below 45). Most 4-year schools we track score 60 or higher.
- Payback period27.9 years - Most 4-year schools we track have payback periods of 4-10 years.
Florida College
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $20,360/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $20,360/yr |
| Average net price | $23,931/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $95,724 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $43,445 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $32,300 |
| Median debt at graduation | $12,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $127 |
| Estimated payback period | 27.9 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 54.0% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 588 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at Florida College is $20,360/year. But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $23,931/year, or roughly $95,724 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $20,494/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $29,396/year.
The median graduate leaves with $12,000 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $127 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $43,445 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.37 - 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 | $20,494 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $19,241 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $19,530 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $25,004 |
| $110,001+ | $29,396 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 pay $20,494 per year net - which is essentially sticker price. Aid does not scale meaningfully for low-income families here. Four-year cost is $81,976. Against $43,445 ten-year earnings, the math is genuinely tough for lower-income households. The $30,001-$48,000 bracket pays $19,241 (a minor inversion - cheaper than the lowest bracket).
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income brackets pay $19,530 to $25,004 - relatively flat across $48k-$110k income. Four-year cost runs $78,000-$100,000. The narrow aid spread is unusual and suggests Florida College does not heavily means-test institutional aid.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $110,000 pay $29,396 per year - exceeding the $20,360 sticker tuition because room/board adds substantially. Four-year all-in is $117,584. The financial case here rests entirely on community and mission fit; the economic returns do not justify this price point for full-pay families.
Earnings by Major
Top 3 most popular majors at Florida College with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Liberal Arts and Sciences | $39,764 | B |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $61,597 | C+ |
| Health/Medical Preparatory Programs | $44,035 | - |
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.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business administration (15 grads) earns $40,888 at year one and $61,597 at year four, with $18,750 median debt and a 0.459 debt-to-earnings ratio - a C+ ROI grade. The four-year earnings ramp is decent and reflects a workmanlike business curriculum. One of the few clearly defensible program-level financial cases at Florida College.
Liberal Arts and Sciences
Liberal arts (22 grads) reports $39,764 in four-year earnings with $17,653 debt and a 0.444 debt-to-earnings ratio - a B ROI grade, oddly higher than business despite weaker raw earnings. The strong grade reflects the low debt load. Many of these graduates likely pursue ministry, teaching, or graduate study within Churches of Christ institutions.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 84.8% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 86.4% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 77.3% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 80.6% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 69.7% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 450-590 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 480-630 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 19-25 |
| Enrollment | 588 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 23.1% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $7,129 |
Florida College admits 69.66% of applicants. SAT mid-ranges are 450-590 math and 480-630 reading; ACT composite mid-range is 19-25. These are below national averages and consistent with a regional faith-affiliated school drawing primarily from Churches of Christ congregations across the Southeast. The moderate selectivity correlates reasonably with the 54% completion rate.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Scorecard peers include Baptist University of Florida, Barry University, Briar Cliff University, Saint Elizabeth University, and Parker University. Baptist University of Florida is the closest mission peer. Florida College's 44 ROI is mid-pack within this small faith-affiliated set - debt is unusually low (favorable) but earnings outcomes are below the broader peer group, especially the more pre-professional schools.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida College (this school) | 44 | $23,931 | $43,445 |
| Briar Cliff University | 46 | $23,907 | $54,475 |
| Barry University | 42 | $22,613 | $55,966 |
| Saint Elizabeth University | 41 | $23,125 | $53,038 |
| Parker University | 39 | $29,135 | $42,091 |
| Baptist University of Florida | 31 | $10,372 | $42,836 |
Who Thrives Here
Florida College enrolls just 588 students with a 23.1% Pell rate, indicating a moderately middle-class faith-community base. The fit is highly specific: students from Churches of Christ families seeking a small Christian liberal-arts environment with low borrowing. Students considering this school primarily for academic or career-prep reasons should look at Florida public alternatives (USF, UCF) at much lower cost.
The Verdict: The Numbers Don't Add Up
The financial data raises serious concerns about Florida College. With a net cost of $23,931 per year and median graduate earnings of only $43,445 ten years out, the estimated payback period exceeds 27.9 years. For most students, the financial return does not justify the cost.
Key strengths include manageable debt relative to earnings, high loan repayment success. However, the data also shows weak earnings relative to cost and a long payback period.
Median debt of $12,000 is very manageable against $43,445 in annual earnings - well within the financial advisor rule of thumb that total debt should not exceed first-year salary.
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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.