New College of Florida
Sarasota, Florida · Public · 73.2% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 61/100 · Fair Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
New College of Florida scores 61 (Fair Value). New College's net price is $7,195 and in-state tuition is $6,916. The problem is on the earnings side: $26,000 average six-year earnings produce a 12.9-year payback period. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.668 is elevated despite relatively low borrowing ($17,375 median debt), because the numerator - earnings - is so low. The 66.7% completion rate is adequate. This is a school whose financial picture looks better than it is because the cost is genuinely low, but graduates struggle early in their careers.
New College of Florida
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $6,916/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $29,944/yr |
| Average net price | $7,195/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $28,780 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $48,082 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $26,000 |
| Median debt at graduation | $17,375 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $184 |
| Estimated payback period | 12.9 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 66.7% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 843 |
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: $6,916/year ($29,944/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 $7,195/year, or roughly $28,780 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 $3,591/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $13,586/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $17,375, which works out to about $184 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($26,000) and comes to 0.67, 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 | $3,591 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $3,582 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $4,880 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $10,204 |
| $110,001+ | $13,586 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The 0-$30,000 income bracket pays only $3,591 per year - an extraordinarily low net price. For low-income students who complete a degree and proceed to graduate school or a state government career, New College represents a genuine economic opportunity. The 33.9% Pell rate confirms the institution serves a meaningful low-income population. Caution: the 66.7% completion rate means a third of enrolling students leave without a degree, and they still face limited employment options.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $48,001-$75,000 bracket pays $4,880 and the $75,001-$110,000 bracket rises to $10,204 per year. At these prices, New College is hard to beat on cost. The financial risk is entirely on the earnings side: the 12.9-year payback period means that even at very low net prices, median graduates take over a decade to break even - because their earnings start so low.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,000 or more pay $13,586 per year - $54,344 over four years. This is cheap in absolute terms. Full-pay students who treat New College as an undergraduate launchpad for selective graduate programs get genuine value at this price. Students who expect to enter the workforce directly after graduation will face income challenges regardless of what they paid to attend.
Earnings by Major
Top 2 most popular majors at New College of Florida with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Liberal Arts and Sciences | $39,137 | D |
| Interdisciplinary Studies | $41,759 | 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.
Interdisciplinary Studies
Interdisciplinary Studies (45 graduates) earns $32,858 year one and $41,759 year four with a C-grade debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.593 and $19,500 median debt. These are the better outcomes among New College's two reported programs.
Liberal Arts and Sciences
Liberal Arts and Sciences (55 graduates) earns only $20,395 year one and $39,137 year four with a D-grade debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.751 and $15,314 median debt. The four-year trajectory is modest. This is not a financially strong program for students who need to service debt quickly.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 74.4% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 76.8% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 71.2% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 78.3% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How New College of Florida’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 73.2% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 520-620 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 540-625 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 21-26 |
| Enrollment | 843 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 33.9% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $10,340 |
New College admits 73.2% of applicants with SAT Math 520-620 and Reading 540-625, ACT composite 21-26. Admission standards are higher than a 73% rate suggests - New College attracts self-selected students with strong academic records who want a non-traditional environment. The college has undergone significant governance changes since 2023; prospective students should research the current institutional direction before enrolling.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| New College of Florida (this school) | 61 | $7,195 | $48,082 |
| University of Central Florida | 79 | $10,411 | $58,308 |
| Miami University-Middletown | 63 | $10,809 | $55,076 |
| Ohio University-Chillicothe Campus | 60 | $5,755 | $52,581 |
| Montana State University-Northern | 55 | $12,664 | $49,505 |
| Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University | 28 | $13,739 | $44,349 |
Who Thrives Here
New College fits a specific student type: intellectually driven Florida residents who want a self-directed, narrative-evaluation environment at near-zero cost and who have a clear plan for graduate or professional school. Students who want structure, campus life breadth, or career placement infrastructure will find New College sparse. The 73.2% acceptance rate makes this accessible to most prepared applicants.
The Verdict: A Reasonable Bet - With Caveats
New College of Florida is a fair-value bet, but how well it pays off depends a lot on you. At $7,195 a year after aid ($28,780 over four years), with the typical graduate earning $48,082 a decade out, the cost takes about 12.9 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates. What to keep an eye on: a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.67 (median across the schools we score: 0.61).
Median debt of $17,375 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $26,000 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.67. 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.
New College of Florida: Common Questions
Is New College of Florida worth it?
In our view, it's a fair-value bet - whether New College of Florida is worth it depends a lot on your major and aid package. It scores 61/100 on our ROI scale. At $7,195 a year after aid ($28,780 over four years) against $48,082 in typical earnings a decade out, the cost takes about 12.9 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does New College of Florida 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 $7,195 a year, or roughly $28,780 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 New College of Florida graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $48,082 ten years after enrolling, roughly $6,282 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 New College of Florida?
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 12.9 years for New College of Florida. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do New College of Florida graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $17,375, against average earnings of $26,000 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.67. 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 New College of Florida?
The six-year graduation rate is 66.7%, at or above the 64% national average for four-year schools (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.