Head-to-head comparison
Santa Fe College vs University of Florida-Online: which has better ROI?
Option A Gainesville, FL
Santa Fe College
- Net price / year
- $11,098
- Earnings, 10 years
- $41,631
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Gainesville, FL
University of Florida-Online
- Net price / year
- $4,815
- Earnings, 10 years
- $71,588
- Payback
- 0.8 yrs
University of Florida-Online has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $19,260 in 0.8 years versus not at all at Santa Fe College, on median earnings of $71,588 vs $41,631 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Santa Fe College | University of Florida-Online |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $11,098 | $4,815 |
| Total net cost | $22,196 | $19,260 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $41,631 | $71,588 |
| Median debt | $11,310 | $15,000 |
| Payback | — | 0.8 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$156,776 | $445,300 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Santa Fe College or University of Florida-Online?
University of Florida-Online, at $4,815 a year after aid versus $11,098 — a gap of $6,283 a year, or $2,936 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 Santa Fe College or University of Florida-Online graduates earn more?
University of Florida-Online graduates report a median $71,588 ten years after entry, $29,957 more than the $41,631 at Santa Fe 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, Santa Fe College or University of Florida-Online?
Santa Fe College: its completers carry a median $11,310 in federal loans versus $15,000 at University of Florida-Online, a difference of $3,690. 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?
85% of students finish at University of Florida-Online, against 53% at Santa Fe 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.