Head-to-head comparison
Florida Southern College vs Barry University: which has better ROI?
Option A Lakeland, FL
Florida Southern College
- Net price / year
- $28,551
- Earnings, 10 years
- $55,294
- Payback
- 16.5 yrs
Option B Miami, FL
Barry University
- Net price / year
- $22,613
- Earnings, 10 years
- $55,966
- Payback
- 11.9 yrs
Barry University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $90,452 in 11.9 years versus 16.5 years at Florida Southern College, on median earnings of $55,966 vs $55,294 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Florida Southern College | Barry University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $28,551 | $22,613 |
| Total net cost | $114,204 | $90,452 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $55,294 | $55,966 |
| Median debt | $25,000 | $26,997 |
| Payback | 16.5 yrs | 11.9 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $24,476 | $61,668 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Florida Southern College or Barry University?
Barry University, at $22,613 a year after aid versus $28,551 — a gap of $5,938 a year, or $23,752 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 Southern College or Barry University graduates earn more?
Barry University graduates report a median $55,966 ten years after entry, $672 more than the $55,294 at Florida Southern 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, Florida Southern College or Barry University?
Florida Southern College: its completers carry a median $25,000 in federal loans versus $26,997 at Barry University, a difference of $1,997. 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?
71% of students finish at Florida Southern College, against 38% at Barry 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.