Head-to-head comparison
Florida State University vs Florida Atlantic University: 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 Boca Raton, FL
Florida Atlantic University
- Net price / year
- $8,752
- Earnings, 10 years
- $56,746
- Payback
- 4.2 yrs
Florida State University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $45,188 in 3.4 years versus 4.2 years at Florida Atlantic University, on median earnings of $61,675 vs $56,746 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Florida State University | Florida Atlantic University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $11,297 | $8,752 |
| Total net cost | $45,188 | $35,008 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $61,675 | $56,746 |
| Median debt | $18,000 | $17,236 |
| Payback | 3.4 yrs | 4.2 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $221,112 | $132,712 |
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 Florida Atlantic University?
Florida Atlantic University, at $8,752 a year after aid versus $11,297 — a gap of $2,545 a year, or $10,180 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 Florida Atlantic University graduates earn more?
Florida State University graduates report a median $61,675 ten years after entry, $4,929 more than the $56,746 at Florida Atlantic 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 Florida Atlantic University?
Florida Atlantic University: its completers carry a median $17,236 in federal loans versus $18,000 at Florida State University, a difference of $764. 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 63% at Florida Atlantic 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.