Head-to-head comparison
Florida Gulf Coast University vs University of Miami: 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 Coral Gables, FL
University of Miami
- Net price / year
- $37,244
- Earnings, 10 years
- $75,328
- Payback
- 5.5 yrs
University of Miami has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $148,976 in 5.5 years versus 8.1 years at Florida Gulf Coast University, on median earnings of $75,328 vs $54,560 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Florida Gulf Coast University | University of Miami |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $12,568 | $37,244 |
| Total net cost | $50,272 | $148,976 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $54,560 | $75,328 |
| Median debt | $17,622 | $17,500 |
| Payback | 8.1 yrs | 5.5 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $73,728 | $390,384 |
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 University of Miami?
Florida Gulf Coast University, at $12,568 a year after aid versus $37,244 — a gap of $24,676 a year, or $98,704 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 University of Miami graduates earn more?
University of Miami graduates report a median $75,328 ten years after entry, $20,768 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 University of Miami?
University of Miami: its completers carry a median $17,500 in federal loans versus $17,622 at Florida Gulf Coast University, a difference of $122. 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?
84% of students finish at University of Miami, against 57% at Florida Gulf Coast 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.