Florida Gateway College
Florida Gateway College — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Florida Gateway College at a Glance
Florida Gateway College (FGC), formerly Lake City Community College, is a public college in Lake City, Florida. It is part of the Florida College System and one of the institutions in the system designated a "state college", allowing it to offer four-year bachelor's degrees.
1947
79 years old
$19M
$18.9 million (2020)
4,958
132 acres
Identity
Is Florida Gateway College Worth It?
Florida Gateway College is one of the strongest value propositions in higher education. At $5,364/year net price and $37,894 median earnings, graduates earn 7.1× their annual cost within a decade of enrolling.
The investment pays for itself in just 0.6 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
A 55% graduation rate is a serious red flag — fewer than 6 in 10 students finish. Those who don't graduate may still carry student debt without the higher-earning credential to show for it.
Median student debt of $6,992 is manageable at just 18% of first-year post-graduation earnings.
Bottom line: Florida Gateway College delivers strong financial returns that justify the investment for most students.
How Florida Gateway College compares to peer public colleges of similar tier in FL
Ranked #5 of 153 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Chipola College | 100 | $1,133 | $37,378 |
| #2 | South Florida State College | 100 | $3,877 | $39,990 |
| #3 | Brazosport College | 100 | $4,732 | $45,910 |
| #4 | College of the Mainland | 100 | $1,342 | $39,639 |
| #5 | Florida Gateway College | 97 | $5,364 | $37,894 |
| #6 | West Virginia University at Parkersburg | 97 | $1,807 | $35,171 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of Florida Gateway College's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 4 in FL.
Best Programs at Florida Gateway College
Program-level earnings data isn't available for Florida Gateway College. When evaluating whether to attend, research outcomes for your specific major using the Department of Education's College Scorecard or ask the admissions office for placement rates.
As a general rule: STEM, nursing, accounting, and computer science programs tend to deliver the strongest ROI regardless of institution. Humanities and arts programs can still be worthwhile, but require more intentional career planning to achieve financial payoff.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $5,364/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Similar Colleges in FL
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- public
- Location
- Lake City, FL
- Student Body
- 2,301 students
- Graduation Rate
- 55%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $5,364
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $37,894
- Median Student Debt
- $6,992