Head-to-head comparison
Hillsborough College vs The University of Tampa: which has better ROI?
Option A Tampa, FL
Hillsborough College
- Net price / year
- $3,861
- Earnings, 10 years
- $40,782
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Tampa, FL
The University of Tampa
- Net price / year
- $36,211
- Earnings, 10 years
- $59,436
- Payback
- 13.1 yrs
The University of Tampa has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $144,844 in 13.1 years versus not at all at Hillsborough College, on median earnings of $59,436 vs $40,782 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Hillsborough College | The University of Tampa |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $3,861 | $36,211 |
| Total net cost | $15,444 | $144,844 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $40,782 | $59,436 |
| Median debt | $9,762 | $24,211 |
| Payback | — | 13.1 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$167,004 | $76,676 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Hillsborough College or The University of Tampa?
Hillsborough College, at $3,861 a year after aid versus $36,211 — a gap of $32,350 a year, or $129,400 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 Hillsborough College or The University of Tampa graduates earn more?
The University of Tampa graduates report a median $59,436 ten years after entry, $18,654 more than the $40,782 at Hillsborough 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, Hillsborough College or The University of Tampa?
Hillsborough College: its completers carry a median $9,762 in federal loans versus $24,211 at The University of Tampa, a difference of $14,449. 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?
64% of students finish at The University of Tampa, against 34% at Hillsborough College. 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.