Florida International University
Miami, Florida · Public · 54.7% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 81/100 · Strong Value
Florida International University (FIU) is a large public research university in Miami, enrolling about 39,508 students. With in-state tuition of $6,565 and a net price of $9,288, FIU delivers research university infrastructure at some of the lowest public university prices in the southeastern United States. Its ROI score of 81 (Strong Value) is driven by an impressive 68.0% earnings premium over non-college workers, a seven-year payback period, and a median debt of only $16,500 — the lowest in this review batch for a non-Puerto Rico institution. Completion rate of 74.4% is strong for a large urban public university. The one structural weakness is the 62.6% repayment rate — below what the earnings picture would predict, likely reflecting a student population carrying federal income-driven repayment plans rather than paying down principal aggressively. Median six-year earnings of $41,500 and ten-year of $60,249 confirm graduates' upward trajectory. FIU's Miami location is a strategic asset: the city's international business, healthcare, construction, and hospitality sectors provide graduates with globally networked placement opportunities that few metropolitan research universities can match.
Florida International University scores in the top 25% of all schools we track, with strong earnings outcomes relative to cost.
Florida International University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $6,565/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $18,964/yr |
| Average net price | $9,288/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $37,152 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $60,249 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $41,500 |
| Median debt at graduation | $16,500 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $175 |
| Estimated payback period | 7 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 74.4% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 39,508 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at Florida International University is $6,565/year ($18,964/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 $9,288/year, or roughly $37,152 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $7,003/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $18,200/year.
The median graduate leaves with $16,500 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $175 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $60,249 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.40 - 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 | $7,003 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $7,873 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $10,925 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $14,568 |
| $110,001+ | $18,200 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Low-income students (under $30,000) pay $7,003 net — effectively the lowest sustainable cost for a research university education. Four-year investment approaches $28,000 — less than one year at many private institutions. With median six-year earnings of $41,500 and a seven-year payback from the institutional average, low-income FIU graduates in any STEM or health program achieve positive ROI well before their 30th birthday. Florida Bright Futures plus Pell can bring actual out-of-pocket cost to near zero for qualifying students.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $48,001–$75,000 band pays $10,925 net, with a four-year cost around $43,700. This is excellent value at any public research university, and exceptional given Miami's economic opportunities. Middle-income families who live in the Miami metro and choose FIU over out-of-state options are making an economically rational decision that the data strongly supports.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Households above $110,000 pay $18,200 net — still well under $73,000 for four years. At this price, FIU competes on merit against University of Florida ($20,000 net) and FSU. For international business, engineering, and nursing programs, FIU's Miami-specific advantages — industry access, language skills integration, global network — justify choosing it over Gainesville or Tallahassee for some career paths.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Florida International University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Psychology | $49,470 | C |
| Biology | $46,718 | C |
| Computer and Information Sciences | $90,397 | B+ |
| Finance and Financial Management | $71,355 | B |
| Hospitality Administration | $56,667 | C |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $55,830 | C+ |
| Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, General | $35,476 | C |
| International Business | $65,054 | B |
| Marketing | $64,423 | B |
| International Relations | $57,996 | C |
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
Nursing (216 graduates — a large cohort) earns $78,671 at one year and $98,635 at four, with $18,895 median debt and a 0.24 ratio — an A grade. At FIU's $9,288 net price, the nursing investment is among the most efficient in the country. Miami's massive healthcare sector — Jackson Health System, Baptist Health, UHealth — absorbs FIU BSN graduates at competitive rates. This is FIU's flagship ROI program and one of the strongest public nursing pathways in the Southeast.
Computer Engineering
Computer Engineering (119 graduates) earns $75,210 at one year and $101,224 at four, with $18,948 median debt and a 0.25 ratio — B+ grade. At under $19,000 in debt, FIU CE graduates leave with one of the best debt-to-four-year-earnings ratios in any public university program reviewed. Miami's tech ecosystem — Citrix, Carnival's digital teams, and a wave of tech company relocations — increasingly absorbs CE talent locally.
Construction Engineering Technology
Construction Engineering Technology (70 graduates) earns $73,602 at one year and $99,471 at four — remarkably strong for a technology track. The 0.30 ratio and B+ grade reflect both earnings strength and modest debt. South Florida's construction boom — fueled by population growth, hurricane resilience upgrades, and commercial development — creates extraordinary demand for construction-credentialed graduates. FIU's location is a structural employment advantage for this program.
Computer and Information Sciences
CIS is FIU's largest tech program by graduate count (701 reported). Graduates earn $62,562 at one year and $90,397 at four years, with $19,999 median debt and a 0.32 ratio (B+). At 701 graduates, FIU is producing tech talent at scale, feeding Miami's growing startup ecosystem, fintech sector, and global corporate tech hubs. The cost-to-outcome ratio makes FIU CIS one of the best public university technology investments in the Southeast.
International Business
International Business (476 graduates) earns $45,661 at one year and $65,054 at four, with $17,750 median debt and a 0.39 ratio (B grade). FIU's international business program is one of the most distinguished in the country, consistently ranked among top programs for Latin American business. Miami's role as the capital of U.S.-Latin American trade makes FIU IB graduates uniquely positioned in a way no other U.S. institution can replicate at this price point.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 57.2% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 62.6% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 62.3% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 66.1% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 54.7% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 520-620 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 550-640 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 21-27 |
| Enrollment | 39,508 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 41.4% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $11,817 |
FIU admits 54.7% of applicants — meaningfully selective for a large public university. SAT mid-range is 520–620 (math) and 550–640 (reading); ACT 21–27. This is a real threshold; students below the mid-range should assess their competitiveness. Florida's Bright Futures scholarship is a key financial driver for in-state students — maintaining the GPA and service requirements to qualify significantly reduces already-low net costs.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
FIU's ROI score of 81 places it second only to UConn Avery Point (87) among the schools reviewed here. Compared to its Scorecard peers — UCF, FAMU, Rutgers, Ohio State, and Virginia Tech — FIU is a remarkable value proposition. Rutgers and Ohio State carry similar or higher net prices with comparable median earnings, but FIU's $9,288 net price and $16,500 median debt create a financial profile that most flagship peers cannot match. FIU's primary underperformance metric — the 62.6% repayment rate — may reflect Miami's high cost of living driving income-driven repayment elections rather than true default or financial distress.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida International University (this school) | 81 | $9,288 | $60,249 |
| Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University | 89 | $24,953 | $81,698 |
| Rutgers University-New Brunswick | 83 | $24,406 | $74,479 |
| University of Central Florida | 79 | $10,411 | $58,308 |
| Ohio State University-Main Campus | 77 | $17,339 | $60,409 |
| Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University | 28 | $13,739 | $44,349 |
Who Thrives Here
FIU suits students — especially Miami-area residents — who want a research university education at public university prices, with Miami's global business environment as a backdrop. Engineering, nursing, computer science, and international business students get exceptional value. Students interested in hospitality management, architecture, or the performing arts should verify program rankings and employer connections before assuming the FIU brand translates equally across all disciplines. FIU's 41.4% Pell rate means it genuinely serves lower- and middle-income families alongside more affluent Miami professionals.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
Florida International University delivers above-average financial returns for its graduates. At a net cost of $9,288 per year ($37,152 over four years), graduates earn a median of $60,249 ten years after enrollment. That puts the payback period at roughly 7 years - a solid return on the investment.
Key strengths include strong earnings premium over high school graduates, a 74.4% graduation rate, manageable debt relative to earnings. However, the data also shows concerning loan repayment rates.
Median debt of $16,500 is very manageable against $60,249 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.