Cost of college in Florida
In-state tuition at a public 4-year college in Florida averages $4,317 a year, or $8,658 as a real net price after aid. Graduates earn a median $49,324 and owe about $13,219. The net price pays back in about 4.6 years.
How Florida compares to the US
Florida ranks #51 of 51 for public in-state tuition (#1 is the most expensive), and #43 of 51 for graduate earnings. It ranks #28 of 51 for payback, where #1 is the fastest.
| Metric | Florida | US average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition | $4,317 | $9,518 | -$5,201 |
| Out-of-state tuition | $15,044 | $23,652 | -$8,608 |
| Net price after aid | $8,658 | $13,788 | -$5,130 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs out | $49,324 | $56,427 | -$7,103 |
| Median debt at graduation | $13,219 | $17,856 | -$4,637 |
Source: College Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education, 2026 release. Public 4-year institutions, aggregated to the state level and enrollment-weighted.
Does a degree in Florida pay for itself?
Payback is the ROI figure this index adds: the years the college earnings premium takes to recoup the net price. A public 4-year degree in Florida costs about $34,632 over four years at net price, and recoups in about 4.6 years from the roughly $7,524-a-year premium graduates earn over a high-school graduate (a $41,800 baseline). That ranks #28 of 51 states and DC for payback. See the methodology for how it is built.
Private nonprofit 4-year colleges in Florida list about $34,963 in tuition and net out to about $29,980 after aid.
Frequently asked questions
How much does college cost in Florida?
At a public 4-year college in Florida, in-state tuition and fees average about $4,317 a year and out-of-state runs about $15,044. The net price after grants and scholarships, which also covers living costs, averages about $8,658. The national figures are $9,518 in-state and $13,788 net price.
What do college graduates in Florida earn and owe?
Ten years after starting, students from Florida's public 4-year colleges earn a median of about $49,324 a year and carry a median federal debt of about $13,219 at graduation, against a national median of $56,427 earnings and $17,856 debt.
Is college worth it in Florida?
A public 4-year degree in Florida costs about $34,632 over four years at net price and recoups in about 4.6 years from the roughly $7,524-a-year premium graduates earn over a high-school graduate (a $41,800 baseline). Nationally the payback is about 3.8 years.