Nova Southeastern University
Fort Lauderdale, Florida · Private Nonprofit · 73.2% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 53/100 · Below Average Value
Nova Southeastern University, a large private nonprofit research university in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, posts a Below Average ROI score of 53/100. The composite is mixed: a 63.3% completion rate and 0.507 debt-to-earnings ratio are healthy, but the earnings premium subscore of 41 and the 61.5% three-year repayment rate hold the composite back. Sticker tuition is $38,700 and the average net price after aid is $30,371, totaling $121,484 over four years. Median earnings six years after entry are $47,800, climbing to $59,209 by year ten - reasonable but not exceptional given Nova's cost profile. Median federal debt is $24,250 with a 10.8-year payback period. The school's structural issue is the mix: roughly half its undergraduate cohort sits in Biology, Kinesiology, and Psychology programs that produce low first-year earnings while the other half (Nursing, Allied Health, Physiology) produces strong returns. The aggregate ROI averages these together.
Nova Southeastern University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $38,700/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $38,700/yr |
| Average net price | $30,371/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $121,484 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $59,209 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $47,800 |
| Median debt at graduation | $24,250 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $257 |
| Estimated payback period | 10.8 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 63.3% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 7,240 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at Nova Southeastern University is $38,700/year. But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $30,371/year, or roughly $121,484 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $26,603/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $35,443/year.
The median graduate leaves with $24,250 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $257 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $59,209 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.51 - within the recommended range but worth monitoring.
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 | $26,603 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $27,048 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $29,953 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $34,277 |
| $110,001+ | $35,443 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families under $30,000 pay $26,603 net per year, and the $30,001-$48,000 bracket pays $27,048. Pell and Florida state aid help, but four-year cost of roughly $106,000-$108,000 is heavy against $47,800 in median early-career earnings unless the student lands in Nursing or Allied Health.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $48,001-$75,000 bracket pays $29,953 and $75,001-$110,000 pays $34,277. The cost progression is reasonable and predictable. Middle-income families pursuing pre-health credentials can make the math work; those in liberal arts or business should compare carefully against state alternatives.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Households above $110,000 pay $35,443 per year, $141,772 over four years. For full-pay families the value proposition rests on Nova's pre-professional pipeline into its own graduate programs. Outside of that pathway, full-pay families overpay relative to outcomes.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Nova Southeastern University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | $88,004 | B |
| Biology | $57,249 | D |
| Psychology | $50,563 | D |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $55,487 | F |
| Allied Health Diagnostic and Treatment | $83,250 | B |
| Finance and Financial Management | $66,302 | C |
| Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology | $45,287 | D |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $67,851 | C+ |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $71,972 | - |
| Natural Resources Conservation | $22,098 | - |
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 is Nova's largest program by graduates (391) and earns a B ROI grade. First-year earnings of $77,224 climb to $88,004 by year four with $31,000 of median debt for a 0.401 debt-to-earnings ratio. South Florida's tight nursing labor market and Nova's clinical partnerships drive direct placement. This is the program that pulls the school's earnings average up.
Biology
Biology is the second-largest program (249 grads) but earns a D ROI grade. First-year earnings of just $23,110 against $21,750 of debt produce a 0.941 ratio. Four-year earnings of $57,249 reflect graduates who continue to professional school. For terminal-bachelor's Biology graduates the financial math is weak.
Psychology
Psychology (92 grads) earns a D ROI grade. First-year earnings of $24,711 are among the lowest at Nova, and the 0.931 debt-to-earnings ratio reflects that mismatch. Most graduates need master's or doctoral training to reach competitive earnings.
Kinesiology and Exercise Science
Kinesiology (64 grads) earns an F ROI grade with a 1.062 debt-to-earnings ratio. First-year earnings of $23,136 against $24,560 of debt is the program-level mismatch. Most graduates continue to PT or OT graduate programs at Nova or elsewhere; the four-year figure of $55,487 partly reflects that pipeline.
Allied Health Diagnostic and Treatment
Allied Health Diagnostic (48 grads) earns a B ROI grade. First-year earnings of $74,202 against $32,250 of debt yield a 0.435 ratio. The program pipelines into Nova's strong dental and optometry schools and other South Florida health systems, producing some of the school's best undergraduate financial outcomes.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 52.9% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 61.5% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 50.9% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 54.2% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 73.2% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 500-650 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 530-650 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 19-28 |
| Enrollment | 7,240 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 35.8% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $11,462 |
Nova accepts 73.2% of applicants. SAT mid-ranges of 500-650 math and 530-650 reading and ACT composite of 19-28 indicate a reasonably wide academic band with a competitive upper end. Students arriving with stronger preparation cluster in the pre-health and engineering tracks where outcomes are best. The relatively high admit rate combined with solid completion (63.3%) suggests the institution provides effective support for the students it admits.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Nova's peer set includes Florida and Mid-Atlantic privates: Barry University (similar South Florida Catholic private), Baptist University of Florida (smaller faith-based), Wilmington University (Delaware private), Indiana Wesleyan University National and Global, and High Point University. High Point produces materially better ROI thanks to higher earnings and selectivity. Barry is the closest South Florida comparison - similar cost, similar Nursing pipeline, similar mixed-outcome profile. Florida residents should benchmark against Florida public alternatives (FAU, FIU) before committing to Nova's price tag.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nova Southeastern University (this school) | 53 | $30,371 | $59,209 |
| Indiana Wesleyan University-National & Global | 61 | $16,898 | $59,986 |
| Wilmington University | 51 | $15,644 | $53,844 |
| High Point University | 50 | $38,707 | $61,389 |
| Barry University | 42 | $22,613 | $55,966 |
| Baptist University of Florida | 31 | $10,372 | $42,836 |
Who Thrives Here
Pell rate of 35.8% and enrollment of 7,240 mark Nova as a mid-size, mid-income leaning private. The campus draws heavily from South Florida and the broader Caribbean. Strongest fit: pre-health students with serious intent to continue to Nova's renowned graduate health programs (medical, dental, optometry, pharmacy). The undergraduate pre-health pipeline directly into Nova's professional schools is the school's clearest value proposition. Students drawn to the Florida sun-and-beach undergrad experience with no clear pre-health intent face weaker outcomes.
The Verdict: Proceed With Caution
The financial case for Nova Southeastern University is mixed. At $30,371 per year net cost, graduates earn a median of $59,209 ten years after entry - a payback period of 10.8 years. That's below the average return for four-year institutions, and prospective students should carefully consider whether the investment aligns with their financial goals.
Areas of concern include weak earnings relative to cost and concerning loan repayment rates.
Median debt of $24,250 against $59,209 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.