University of West Florida
Pensacola, Florida · Public · 58.2% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 62/100 · Fair Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
The University of West Florida earns a 62 (Fair Value) on the CampusROI scale. Average 6-year earnings of $33,600 and a 12.6-year payback period reflect a major mix heavily weighted toward lower-earning fields: Psychology (177 graduates, $27,563 year-one), Biology (112 graduates, $28,237 year-one), and Communication and Media Studies (101 graduates, $30,850 year-one) drag the aggregate. The headline conceals genuinely strong tracks: Registered Nursing (318 graduates, $73,787 year-one, $89,346 year-four, B+ ROI) and Electrical Engineering (51 graduates, $64,978 year-one, $91,813 year-four, B+ ROI) produce clean financial outcomes. In-state tuition is $6,360; the net price of $9,364 is accessible. A 58.8% completion rate is the most significant risk - roughly 4 in 10 students who enroll do not finish, and the repayment rate of 65.1% (three-year) indicates that a meaningful share of graduates struggle with loan repayment. Students who target nursing, engineering, or clinical sciences at UWF are likely to see solid returns. Students who enroll in humanities, social sciences, or arts fields face weak earning trajectories against a payback period that extends well over a decade.
University of West Florida
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $6,360/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $19,241/yr |
| Average net price | $9,364/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $37,456 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $49,137 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $33,600 |
| Median debt at graduation | $16,624 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $176 |
| Estimated payback period | 12.6 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 58.8% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 9,330 |
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: $6,360/year ($19,241/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 $9,364/year, or roughly $37,456 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 $4,815/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $16,620/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $16,624, which works out to about $176 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($33,600) and comes to 0.49, which in our view is comfortably manageable.
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 | $4,815 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $6,462 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $8,077 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $12,456 |
| $110,001+ | $16,620 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 pay a net price of $4,815 per year at UWF - the lowest in the school's aid schedule. Over four years that is roughly $19,260, making UWF genuinely affordable for low-income Florida residents. The 58.8% completion rate is the main risk: low-income students who do not complete face debt without credentials. For those who finish in a nursing or engineering program, the return is strong relative to cost.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $48,001-75,000 bracket pays $8,077 net price per year, rising to $12,456 for families earning $75,001-110,000. Middle-income families get reasonable pricing, but the return depends heavily on program choice. A UWF nursing graduate at these income brackets will clear debt in a few years; a Communication or Psychology graduate faces a much longer payback horizon against relatively modest cost.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning over $110,000 pay $16,620 net price per year - about $66,480 over four years. The payback period of 12.6 years is long at this cost level, reflecting the aggregate earnings drag from high-enrollment, low-earning programs. High-income families who send students into nursing, engineering, or computer science will see adequate returns. For those entering liberal arts or social sciences, the financial case at this price point is weak.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at University of West Florida with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | $89,346 | B+ |
| Psychology | $45,101 | C |
| Biology | $48,576 | C |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | $55,704 | C |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $48,645 | D |
| Communication and Media Studies | $51,352 | C |
| Business Administration and Management | $67,651 | C+ |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $42,115 | D |
| Mechanical Engineering | $58,548 | B+ |
| Computer and Information Sciences | $79,520 | B |
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
Registered Nursing is UWF's strongest program by both volume and ROI: 318 graduates, $73,787 median year-one earnings, $89,346 at year four, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.295 (B+ grade). Median debt of $21,740 is manageable relative to earnings velocity. This is the clearest case for ROI at UWF - the nursing pipeline into the Pensacola and Gulf Coast healthcare market produces reliable outcomes. Students who can gain admission to the nursing program and complete it are among the most financially resilient graduates on this campus.
Electrical Engineering
Electrical Engineering (51 graduates) earns $64,978 year-one and $91,813 year-four with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.277 (B+ grade). At a net price of ~$9,364 and median debt of $17,978, the payback math is favorable - among the best ROI outcomes at this institution. EE graduates enter defense, aerospace, and utility industries concentrated in the Florida Panhandle and along the Gulf Coast.
Computer and Information Sciences
Computer and Information Sciences (54 graduates) earns $45,733 year-one and $79,520 year-four with a B ROI grade (debt-to-earnings 0.424). The four-year trajectory to $79,520 is solid for a regional public. Median debt of $19,385 is moderate.
Psychology
Psychology is UWF's highest-enrollment major at 177 graduates, but the financial outcome is weak: $27,563 year-one, $45,101 year-four, C ROI grade with a 0.65 debt-to-earnings ratio. These graduates borrow a median $17,915. Graduate school is effectively required for clinical practice - and the Scorecard does not track those costs or outcomes.
Biology
Biology (112 graduates) earns $28,237 year-one and $48,576 year-four with a C ROI grade (debt-to-earnings 0.655). These are pre-professional students who largely intend medical or dental school - the Scorecard captures only those who enter the labor market directly. Students who enter healthcare graduate programs will have better outcomes, but also substantially more debt. As a terminal undergraduate degree, Biology at UWF does not produce strong financial returns relative to the debt incurred.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 60.8% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 65.1% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 59.1% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 66.5% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How University of West Florida’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
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 | 58.2% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 500-600 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 520-630 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 20-27 |
| Enrollment | 9,330 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 33.1% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $10,653 |
SAT ranges (500-600 Math, 520-630 Reading) and ACT 20-27 suggest the middle of the test-score distribution is solidly admitted. The net price for the lowest income bracket ($4,815) is the lowest in the schedule - a meaningful signal for Pell-eligible students. Florida residents benefit from a $6,360 in-state tuition that keeps total costs low for academically qualified local students.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
UWF's 58.8% completion rate and 12.6-year payback period are mediocre. UWF's key competitive advantage is low in-state cost and direct access to Pensacola-area healthcare employers.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of West Florida (this school) | 62 | $9,364 | $49,137 |
| University of Central Florida | 79 | $10,411 | $58,308 |
| Empire State University | 61 | $11,676 | $54,080 |
| College of Charleston | 57 | $18,960 | $56,416 |
| University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez | 53 | $17,936 | $48,992 |
| Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University | 28 | $13,739 | $44,349 |
Who Thrives Here
UWF admits 58.2% of applicants with a mid-range SAT of 500-600 Math and 520-630 Reading (ACT 20-27). Pell grant rate of 33.1% reflects a substantial working-class student population. The school is best suited for students who have a clear vocational target - nursing, engineering, health sciences - where UWF programs are demonstrably effective. Students undecided about a field or drawn to the arts, social sciences, or general business should model outcomes carefully before committing.
The Verdict: A Reasonable Bet - With Caveats
University of West Florida is a fair-value bet, but how well it pays off depends a lot on you. At $9,364 a year after aid ($37,456 over four years), with the typical graduate earning $49,137 a decade out, the cost takes about 12.6 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 three-year loan repayment rate of 65.1% (median across the schools we score: 73.6%).
Median debt of $16,624 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $33,600 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.49, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
University of West Florida: Common Questions
Is University of West Florida worth it?
In our view, it's a fair-value bet - whether University of West Florida is worth it depends a lot on your major and aid package. It scores 62/100 on our ROI scale. At $9,364 a year after aid ($37,456 over four years) against $49,137 in typical earnings a decade out, the cost takes about 12.6 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does University of West 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 $9,364 a year, or roughly $37,456 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 University of West Florida graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $49,137 ten years after enrolling, roughly $7,337 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 University of West 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 12.6 years for University of West Florida. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do University of West Florida graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $16,624, against average earnings of $33,600 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.49. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at University of West Florida?
The six-year graduation rate is 58.8%. The national average for four-year schools is 64% (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.