Head-to-head comparison
Florida State University vs Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Worldwide: which has better ROI?
Option A Tallahassee, FL
Florida State University
- Net price / year
- $11,297
- Earnings, 10 years
- $61,675
- Payback
- 3.4 yrs
Option B Daytona Beach, FL
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Worldwide
- Net price / year
- $18,725
- Earnings, 10 years
- $84,131
- Payback
- 2.1 yrs
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Worldwide has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $74,900 in 2.1 years versus 3.4 years at Florida State University, on median earnings of $84,131 vs $61,675 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Florida State University | Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Worldwide |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $11,297 | $18,725 |
| Total net cost | $45,188 | $74,900 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $61,675 | $84,131 |
| Median debt | $18,000 | $23,666 |
| Payback | 3.4 yrs | 2.1 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $221,112 | $640,520 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Florida State University or Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Worldwide?
Florida State University, at $11,297 a year after aid versus $18,725 — a gap of $7,428 a year, or $29,712 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 State University or Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Worldwide graduates earn more?
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Worldwide graduates report a median $84,131 ten years after entry, $22,456 more than the $61,675 at Florida State 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 State University or Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Worldwide?
Florida State University: its completers carry a median $18,000 in federal loans versus $23,666 at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Worldwide, a difference of $5,666. 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?
86% of students finish at Florida State University, against 21% at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Worldwide. 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.