Head-to-head comparison
Florida Atlantic University vs Galen College of Nursing-Tampa Bay: 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 Saint Petersburg, FL
Galen College of Nursing-Tampa Bay
- Net price / year
- $28,197
- Earnings, 10 years
- $61,480
- Payback
- 4.3 yrs
Florida Atlantic University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $35,008 in 4.2 years versus 4.3 years at Galen College of Nursing-Tampa Bay, on median earnings of $56,746 vs $61,480 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Florida Atlantic University | Galen College of Nursing-Tampa Bay |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $8,752 | $28,197 |
| Total net cost | $35,008 | $56,394 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $56,746 | $61,480 |
| Median debt | $17,236 | $24,166 |
| Payback | 4.2 yrs | 4.3 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $132,712 | $206,006 |
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 Galen College of Nursing-Tampa Bay?
Florida Atlantic University, at $8,752 a year after aid versus $28,197 — a gap of $19,445 a year, or $21,386 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 Galen College of Nursing-Tampa Bay graduates earn more?
Galen College of Nursing-Tampa Bay graduates report a median $61,480 ten years after entry, $4,734 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 Galen College of Nursing-Tampa Bay?
Florida Atlantic University: its completers carry a median $17,236 in federal loans versus $24,166 at Galen College of Nursing-Tampa Bay, a difference of $6,930. 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?
63% of students finish at Galen College of Nursing-Tampa Bay, 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.