Head-to-head comparison
Florida Southern College vs Universal Technical Institute-South Florida Miramar: 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 Miramar, FL
Universal Technical Institute-South Florida Miramar
- Net price / year
- $28,759
- Earnings, 10 years
- $52,873
- Payback
- 12.7 yrs
Universal Technical Institute-South Florida Miramar has the better ROI: it clears its 2-year net cost of $57,518 in 12.7 years versus 16.5 years at Florida Southern College, on median earnings of $52,873 vs $55,294 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Florida Southern College | Universal Technical Institute-South Florida Miramar |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $28,551 | $28,759 |
| Total net cost | $114,204 | $57,518 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $55,294 | $52,873 |
| Median debt | $25,000 | $13,124 |
| Payback | 16.5 yrs | 12.7 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $24,476 | $32,742 |
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 Universal Technical Institute-South Florida Miramar?
Florida Southern College, at $28,551 a year after aid versus $28,759 — a gap of $208 a year, or $56,686 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 Universal Technical Institute-South Florida Miramar graduates earn more?
Florida Southern College graduates report a median $55,294 ten years after entry, $2,421 more than the $52,873 at Universal Technical Institute-South Florida Miramar. 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 Universal Technical Institute-South Florida Miramar?
Universal Technical Institute-South Florida Miramar: its completers carry a median $13,124 in federal loans versus $25,000 at Florida Southern College, a difference of $11,876. 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 70% at Universal Technical Institute-South Florida Miramar. 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.