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Santa Fe College — ROI, Cost & Payback

Public · Gainesville, FL · 11,122 students

The verdict

Santa Fe College charges a net price of $11,098/yr after aid — a 2-year total of $22,196. Median earnings ten years after entry are $41,631, below the $48,360 high-school baseline, so on this institution-wide metric the degree does not clear its cost. Program choice is what changes that. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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On institution-wide earnings, Santa Fe College does not clear its cost — it ranks #56 of 166 Florida colleges we track by ROI. The specific program you pick moves this more than the school average.

$11,098
Net price / yr
Scorecard, 2026
$41,631
Median earnings, 10 yrs
Scorecard, 2026
Payback
Our math, 2026
Admission rate
Scorecard, 2026
Santa Fe College: cost, earnings and payback
MeasureValueSource
Net price (after aid)$11,098/yrScorecard, 2026
Total net cost (2 yrs)$22,196our math
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry$41,631Scorecard, 2026
Earnings premium over HS baseline$-6,729/yrour math
Median debt (completers)$11,310Scorecard, 2026
Paybackdoes not clearour math
20-year net return$-156,776our math

College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.

How we compute this. Payback = total net cost ÷ annual earnings premium, where the premium is median earnings 10 years after entry minus the $48,360 baseline (BLS 2024 median for a high-school-diploma worker 25+). Total net cost = net price × 2 years. We do not discount future dollars. The institution-wide earnings figure blends every major — a specific program's payback can be far better or worse. Full method on the methodology page.

Santa Fe College: frequently asked questions

Is Santa Fe College worth the cost?
On institution-wide earnings, the degree does not clear its cost: graduates earn a median $41,631, at or below the $48,360 high-school baseline. The field you study matters far more here than the school average — a high-paying major can flip the math.
How long does a Santa Fe College degree take to pay off?
On institution-wide earnings it does not pay back, because median earnings sit at or below the $48,360 high-school baseline. A specific high-ROI program can still pay off.
How much does Santa Fe College cost after financial aid?
The median net price is $11,098/yr — about $22,196 over 2 years. That is what the typical aided student actually pays after grants and scholarships, not the published sticker price.
How does Santa Fe College compare to other Florida colleges?
It ranks #56 of 166 Florida colleges we track by payback. Its $41,631 median earnings trail the national median of $43,552, and its $11,098 net price is below the national median of $16,906.