Head-to-head comparison
Daytona State College vs Bethune-Cookman University: which has better ROI?
Option A Daytona Beach, FL
Daytona State College
- Net price / year
- $7,177
- Earnings, 10 years
- $37,096
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Daytona Beach, FL
Bethune-Cookman University
- Net price / year
- $12,030
- Earnings, 10 years
- $38,518
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Daytona State College comes closer — median earnings $37,096 against a $14,354 total, vs $38,518 at Bethune-Cookman University. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Daytona State College | Bethune-Cookman University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $7,177 | $12,030 |
| Total net cost | $14,354 | $48,120 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $37,096 | $38,518 |
| Median debt | $8,250 | $31,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$239,634 | -$244,960 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Daytona State College or Bethune-Cookman University?
Daytona State College, at $7,177 a year after aid versus $12,030 — a gap of $4,853 a year, or $33,766 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Daytona State College or Bethune-Cookman University graduates earn more?
Bethune-Cookman University graduates report a median $38,518 ten years after entry, $1,422 more than the $37,096 at Daytona State College. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Daytona State College or Bethune-Cookman University?
Daytona State College: its completers carry a median $8,250 in federal loans versus $31,000 at Bethune-Cookman University, a difference of $22,750. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
43% of students finish at Daytona State College, against 31% at Bethune-Cookman University. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.