Trinity College of Florida
Trinity, Florida · Private Nonprofit · 91.9% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 6/100 · Poor Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Trinity College of Florida, a tiny (148 students) Bible college in Trinity, Florida, scores 6 (Poor Value tier) - one of the lowest scores in our dataset and the data tells an unambiguous story. Sticker tuition of $16,300 looks moderate, but average net price is actually higher at $20,297 - meaning the school provides essentially no institutional aid and net cost includes room/board. Four-year cost runs $81,188. Median earnings six years out are just $27,700, climbing only marginally to $32,465 by year ten - the flattest earnings curve in our dataset and below the high-school-only worker premium. The 999-year payback period flags that earnings never recoup costs against the federal benchmark, meaning the typical graduate's earnings premium over a high-school-educated worker doesn't cover the cost of attendance. Median federal debt is $23,250, with a 0.84 debt-to-earnings ratio. The completion rate of 0% is genuinely shocking - either the school had zero graduates in the reporting cohort or completion data is suppressed/unavailable. Three-year repayment rate of 46% is severely weak. Earnings premium of -0.031 (sub-score 4) is actually negative against benchmark. The honest read: Trinity College of Florida is a niche Bible-training credential, not a general-purpose college. Prospective students should treat this as ministry-formation enrollment with virtually no labor-market ROI.
The data raises concerns about Trinity College of Florida
These metrics fall below the thresholds most financial advisors recommend for a sound college investment. Review them carefully before committing.
- ROI Score6/100 - Poor Value tier (below 45). Most 4-year schools we track score 60 or higher.
- 6-year graduation rate0.0% - Well below the 60% national average. Non-completion is the fastest route to negative ROI.
- Payback period>50 years - Graduates earn at or near the level of high school completers - the cost may not recoup within a working career.
Trinity College of Florida
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $16,300/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $16,300/yr |
| Average net price | $20,297/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $81,188 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $32,465 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $27,700 |
| Median debt at graduation | $23,250 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $246 |
| Estimated payback period | >50 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 0.0% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 148 |
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: $16,300/year. Here's the part that matters - almost nobody pays that. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $20,297/year, or roughly $81,188 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 $16,224/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $24,304/year.
Most students borrow to get here. The median graduate leaves owing $23,250 in federal loans, which works out to about $246 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Hold that up against the $32,465 the typical graduate earns ten years out: the debt-to-earnings ratio comes to 0.84, within the range advisors call workable but worth keeping an eye on.
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 | $16,224 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $21,304 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $21,584 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $22,854 |
| $110,001+ | $24,304 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 pay $16,224 net annually, totaling about $64,896 over four years. The discount off published net price is small. With Pell aid plus federal loans, low-income families face significant residual costs against a labor-market outcome that doesn't justify the spend. Low-income families should think very carefully before enrolling here.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income families ($48,001-$75,000) pay $21,584 per year, about $86,336 over four years. Note: the $30,001-$48,000 bracket pays $21,304 - essentially the same as the bracket above. Aid grading is essentially absent across the middle brackets. Middle-income families pay close to full price.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
High-income families ($110,001+) pay $24,304 per year, totaling $97,216 across four years - exceeding the published 4-year cost figure. There is no meaningful aid grading at the high end. For high-income families, the financial math is decisive against unless mission alignment is the dominant decision factor.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 43.5% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 46.0% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 50.8% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 56.2% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Trinity College of Florida’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2023).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 91.9% |
| Enrollment | 148 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 47.6% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $5,600 |
Trinity College of Florida admits 91.9% of applicants - effectively open admissions. SAT and ACT data are not reported, consistent with the school's open-access ministry-training mission. The 0% completion rate (whether literal or a data artifact) is alarming and would be the dominant institutional concern for any prospective student. Selectivity is not the issue here; the institutional model itself produces difficult outcomes.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Trinity's peer set includes Baptist University of Florida (similar denominational mission), Barry University (much larger Catholic university - aspirational rather than direct peer), Martin University, Clinton College, and Crowley's Ridge College. The most direct peers - Baptist University of Florida, Clinton, and Crowley's Ridge - are similar small faith-based institutions; Trinity trails most of these on completion and earnings. Barry University is a much larger, more financially stable Catholic institution and not a useful direct comparison.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trinity College of Florida (this school) | 6 | $20,297 | $32,465 |
| Barry University | 42 | $22,613 | $55,966 |
| Baptist University of Florida | 31 | $10,372 | $42,836 |
| Crowley's Ridge College | 12 | $16,315 | $39,533 |
| Clinton College | 8 | $11,458 | $30,180 |
| Martin University | 2 | $18,114 | $22,544 |
Who Thrives Here
Trinity College of Florida fits one type of student: someone absolutely committed to evangelical Christian ministry, missions, or pastoral work who values the school's specific theological formation. Pell rate of 47.6% indicates a working-class student body. Enrollment of 148 makes this one of the smallest accredited four-year colleges in the country. The fit case is binary - either this is the right ministry-formation environment for a particular calling, or the financial math fails decisively. No student should evaluate this institution primarily on ROI.
The Verdict: The Numbers Don't Add Up
We'll be straight with you: the numbers at Trinity College of Florida are a real concern. With a net cost of $20,297 per year and the typical graduate earning only $32,465 ten years out, the estimated payback period exceeds >50 years. For most students, the financial return does not justify the cost - go in with your eyes open.
What to keep an eye on: weak earnings relative to cost, its 0.0% graduation rate, high debt relative to what graduates earn, concerning loan repayment rates, a long payback period.
Be careful with the debt here. A median $23,250 owed against $32,465 in earnings is heavy, and the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.72 is past the level advisors flag. Your major - and how much you borrow - really matters.
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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.