Head-to-head comparison
Florida Gulf Coast University vs Jacksonville University: which has better ROI?
Option A Fort Myers, FL
Florida Gulf Coast University
- Net price / year
- $12,568
- Earnings, 10 years
- $54,560
- Payback
- 8.1 yrs
Option B Jacksonville, FL
Jacksonville University
- Net price / year
- $25,180
- Earnings, 10 years
- $68,010
- Payback
- 5.1 yrs
Jacksonville University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $100,720 in 5.1 years versus 8.1 years at Florida Gulf Coast University, on median earnings of $68,010 vs $54,560 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Florida Gulf Coast University | Jacksonville University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $12,568 | $25,180 |
| Total net cost | $50,272 | $100,720 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $54,560 | $68,010 |
| Median debt | $17,622 | $22,000 |
| Payback | 8.1 yrs | 5.1 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $73,728 | $292,280 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Florida Gulf Coast University or Jacksonville University?
Florida Gulf Coast University, at $12,568 a year after aid versus $25,180 — a gap of $12,612 a year, or $50,448 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 Gulf Coast University or Jacksonville University graduates earn more?
Jacksonville University graduates report a median $68,010 ten years after entry, $13,450 more than the $54,560 at Florida Gulf Coast 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 Gulf Coast University or Jacksonville University?
Florida Gulf Coast University: its completers carry a median $17,622 in federal loans versus $22,000 at Jacksonville University, a difference of $4,378. 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?
57% of students finish at Florida Gulf Coast University, against 51% at Jacksonville 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.