Head-to-head comparison
Florida Atlantic University vs Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach: which has better ROI?
Option A Boca Raton, FL
Florida Atlantic University
- Net price / year
- $8,752
- Earnings, 10 years
- $56,746
- Payback
- 4.2 yrs
Option B Daytona Beach, FL
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach
- Net price / year
- $41,272
- Earnings, 10 years
- $84,131
- Payback
- 4.6 yrs
Florida Atlantic University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $35,008 in 4.2 years versus 4.6 years at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach, on median earnings of $56,746 vs $84,131 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Florida Atlantic University | Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $8,752 | $41,272 |
| Total net cost | $35,008 | $165,088 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $56,746 | $84,131 |
| Median debt | $17,236 | $23,666 |
| Payback | 4.2 yrs | 4.6 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $132,712 | $550,332 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Florida Atlantic University or Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach?
Florida Atlantic University, at $8,752 a year after aid versus $41,272 — a gap of $32,520 a year, or $130,080 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 Florida Atlantic University or Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach graduates earn more?
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach graduates report a median $84,131 ten years after entry, $27,385 more than the $56,746 at Florida Atlantic University. 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, Florida Atlantic University or Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach?
Florida Atlantic University: its completers carry a median $17,236 in federal loans versus $23,666 at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach, a difference of $6,430. 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?
67% of students finish at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach, against 63% at Florida Atlantic 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.