Head-to-head comparison
University of Miami vs Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach: which has better ROI?
Option A Coral Gables, FL
University of Miami
- Net price / year
- $37,244
- Earnings, 10 years
- $75,328
- Payback
- 5.5 yrs
Option B Daytona Beach, FL
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach
- Net price / year
- $41,272
- Earnings, 10 years
- $84,131
- Payback
- 4.6 yrs
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $165,088 in 4.6 years versus 5.5 years at University of Miami, on median earnings of $84,131 vs $75,328 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of Miami | Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $37,244 | $41,272 |
| Total net cost | $148,976 | $165,088 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $75,328 | $84,131 |
| Median debt | $17,500 | $23,666 |
| Payback | 5.5 yrs | 4.6 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $390,384 | $550,332 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, University of Miami or Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach?
University of Miami, at $37,244 a year after aid versus $41,272 — a gap of $4,028 a year, or $16,112 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 University of Miami or Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach graduates earn more?
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach graduates report a median $84,131 ten years after entry, $8,803 more than the $75,328 at University of Miami. 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, University of Miami or Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach?
University of Miami: its completers carry a median $17,500 in federal loans versus $23,666 at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach, a difference of $6,166. 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?
84% of students finish at University of Miami, against 67% at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach. 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.