Strayer University-Florida
Tampa, Florida · Private For-Profit
ROI Score: 24/100 · Poor Value
Strayer University-Florida scores 24 (Poor Value), and the underlying numbers are unusual even for a for-profit. The 100% completion rate reported here is artifact-driven - it reflects the for-profit graduate-cohort accounting rather than first-time full-time entry data, so it should be heavily discounted as a signal. Where the institutional weakness is clearer: a 0.079 earnings premium (essentially zero advantage over a high school graduate), a 40.1-year payback period (essentially never), a 1.058 debt-to-earnings ratio (debt EXCEEDS annual earnings), and a 42.4% three-year repayment rate. Median student debt is $40,621 - the highest in the dataset's middle ranges - against just $38,400 median 6-year earnings, climbing only marginally to $40,092 at 10 years. The 78.7% Pell rate signals a heavily lower-income working-adult student body. Net price is $16,064 (with most income brackets unreported), and total 4-year cost is $64,256. The honest read: Strayer-Florida produces graduates who borrow heavily and earn modestly, with repayment performance that's among the weakest in the dataset. The for-profit business model concentrates risk on the student.
The data raises concerns about Strayer University-Florida
These metrics fall below the thresholds most financial advisors recommend for a sound college investment. Review them carefully before committing.
- ROI Score24/100 - Poor Value tier (below 45). Most 4-year schools we track score 60 or higher.
- Debt-to-earnings1.06 - Advisors recommend total student debt stay below one year of salary (ratio under 1.0).
- Payback period40.1 years - Most 4-year schools we track have payback periods of 4-10 years.
Strayer University-Florida
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $13,920/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $13,920/yr |
| Average net price | $16,064/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $64,256 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $40,092 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $38,400 |
| Median debt at graduation | $40,621 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $431 |
| Estimated payback period | 40.1 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 100.0% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,107 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at Strayer University-Florida is $13,920/year. But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $16,064/year, or roughly $64,256 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of N/A/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay N/A/year.
The median graduate leaves with $40,621 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $431 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $40,092 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 1.06 - above the recommended threshold where total debt should not exceed first-year salary.
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 | N/A |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $16,064 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | N/A |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | N/A |
| $110,001+ | N/A |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Net price by income is largely unreported here, with only the $30,001-$48,000 bracket showing $16,064. Low-income families considering Strayer should be aware that the 78.7% Pell rate suggests most students draw maximum federal aid, which then layers on top of substantial federal loan borrowing - the result is the $40,621 median debt figure. The math is structurally tough at this income tier; community-college transfer pathways are typically much stronger value.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income families in the $30,001-$48,000 bracket pay $16,064 net annually. With surrounding brackets unreported, it's hard to read the institutional aid pattern. What is clear: the median graduate borrows $40K against $38K-$40K earnings, a debt-to-earnings ratio above 1.0 that means a graduate's loan principal exceeds their first year's pre-tax pay.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Top-bracket data is not reported. High-income families would be unusual at a for-profit with this Pell concentration. If they're here, the math doesn't get materially better - the central problem is the earnings ceiling Strayer credentials produce in the Florida labor market, not the institutional aid level.
Earnings by Major
Top 5 most popular majors at Strayer University-Florida with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration and Management | $64,016 | F |
| Computer and Information Sciences | $82,304 | D |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $53,916 | F |
| Accounting | $66,108 | F |
| Information Science | $87,413 | D |
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 and Management
Business Administration and Management (109 graduates) is Strayer-Florida's largest program. Median earnings of $55,431 first-year and $64,016 four-year are surprisingly decent - reflecting that many Strayer students are working adults applying credentials to existing roles. But median debt of $56,517 produces a 1.020 debt-to-earnings ratio - debt exceeds first-year income - earning an F grade. The earnings reflect career-stage rather than the school's training; the debt is the school's contribution.
Computer and Information Sciences
Computer and Information Sciences (23 graduates) posts strong $67,315 first-year earnings climbing to $82,304 at four years. Median debt of $50,737 produces a 0.754 ratio (D grade). The earnings strongly suggest these are mid-career adult learners using the credential to formalize existing tech work; the debt level still creates years of repayment pressure regardless. Better than the Business track but still hard to defend at sticker.
Criminal Justice and Corrections
Criminal Justice (13 graduates) shows the worst program-level math: $43,405 first-year earnings against $56,937 median debt yields a 1.312 ratio (F grade). Florida criminal justice salaries are modest, and the four-year earnings of $53,916 don't redeem the borrowing. Anyone pursuing CJ credentials should look hard at Florida public alternatives (state universities and colleges with much lower tuition) before borrowing this much.
Accounting
Accounting (7 graduates) posts $52,373 first-year and $66,108 four-year earnings against $54,989 median debt - a 1.050 ratio and F grade. Like the other tracks, these are largely working-adult earnings rather than school-driven outcomes. Florida community colleges and SUS schools offer accounting programs at substantially lower cost with comparable or better outcomes.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 33.8% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 42.4% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 30.5% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 37.0% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Enrollment | 1,107 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 78.7% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $8,381 |
Admission rate is not reported in current Scorecard data, and SAT/ACT scores are also unavailable - typical for for-profit institutions that operate open-enrollment and do not require standardized testing. The 100% reported completion rate is metric noise for the for-profit context; prospective students should treat it as uninformative rather than a positive signal. There is no meaningful selectivity filter at this institution.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Peers include South University-West Palm Beach (also for-profit), Full Sail University, University of Advancing Technology, Arizona College of Nursing-Las Vegas, and Berkeley College-New York. The peer set is uniformly for-profit and uniformly characterized by very high debt and weak repayment. Within this set, Strayer-Florida's 42.4% repayment rate is on the weak end. Full Sail's specialty media/tech focus produces somewhat different earnings outcomes; Berkeley College-New York's metro placement produces somewhat stronger numbers. Across the for-profit segment, ROI math is structurally challenging because of high tuition relative to non-credentialed-equivalent earnings.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strayer University-Florida (this school) | 24 | $16,064 | $40,092 |
| Grand Canyon University | 25 | $22,472 | $42,186 |
| Herzing University-Kenosha | 23 | $23,066 | $36,909 |
| DeVry University-Ohio | 23 | $25,001 | $45,987 |
| Johnson & Wales University-Online | 21 | $20,252 | $43,418 |
| DeVry University-Florida | 21 | $29,477 | $45,987 |
Who Thrives Here
Strayer-Florida's 1,107 enrollment, 78.7% Pell rate, and adult-learner orientation define a working-adult market. Best fit (theoretical): adult learners who need credential flexibility (online, evening, accelerated) and have employer tuition support that meaningfully covers cost. Mismatch (more common in practice): students paying out of pocket via federal loans face a 1.058 debt-to-earnings ratio that means debt service consumes a large share of post-graduation income for years. Anyone considering Strayer should examine both Florida public alternatives (UF Online, USF, FIU) and community-college pathways before committing to this debt.
The Verdict: The Numbers Don't Add Up
The financial data raises serious concerns about Strayer University-Florida. With a net cost of $16,064 per year and median graduate earnings of only $40,092 ten years out, the estimated payback period exceeds 40.1 years. For most students, the financial return does not justify the cost.
Key strengths include a 100.0% graduation rate. However, the data also shows weak earnings relative to cost and high debt relative to what graduates earn and concerning loan repayment rates and a long payback period.
Median debt of $40,621 against $40,092 in earnings is concerning. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.01 exceeds the commonly recommended threshold. Major choice is critical here.
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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.