Florida State University
Florida State University — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Florida State University at a Glance
Florida State University is a public research university in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. It is a senior member of the State University System of Florida and a preeminent university in the state. Chartered in 1851, it is located on Florida's oldest continuous site of higher education.
1851
175 years old
$1.1B
$1.11 billion (2025)
44,275
32,356 undergrad · 11,952 grad
14,163
1 acres
Identity
How to Apply to Florida State University
Official admissions pageDecember 17 (Early Decision)
$30
Fee waiver available
Not required
Recommendation letters
Fee waiver
Is Florida State University Worth It?
Florida State University is one of the strongest value propositions in higher education. At $11,297/year net price and $61,675 median earnings, graduates earn 5.5× their annual cost within a decade of enrolling.
The investment pays for itself in just 0.7 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
The 84% graduation rate means roughly 16% of students leave without a degree — taking on debt without the earnings boost that completion brings.
Admission is competitive with a 24% acceptance rate, so applicants should have strong academic credentials.
Bottom line: Florida State University delivers strong financial returns that justify the investment for most students.
How Florida State University compares to peer public colleges of similar tier nationally
Ranked #1 of 9 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 | Florida State University | 100 | $11,297 | $61,675 |
| #2 | University of Florida | 100 | $6,541 | $71,588 |
| #3 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | 100 | $11,655 | $72,200 |
| #4 | University of California-Santa Barbara | 98 | $16,109 | $74,915 |
| #5 | Utah Valley University | 94 | $6,376 | $55,486 |
| #6 | The University of Texas at Austin | 84 | $19,857 | $75,121 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of Florida State University's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 1 in FL.
Best Programs at Florida State University
The highest-earning program at Florida State University is Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering at $65,100/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at $20,200/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering graduate from Florida State University earns $65,100, while a Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities graduate earns $20,200. That's more than a 2× difference from the same institution. Choose your program carefully — it's the single biggest lever you control.
Debt also varies by program: Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering graduates carry $27,250 in median debt vs. $21,941 for Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $11,297/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
Programs & Earnings by Major
Graduate earnings data by field of study (4 years after graduation):
| Major | Earnings (4yr) | Earnings (1yr) | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering | $65,100 | $65,100 | $27,250 |
| Chemical Engineering | $64,900 | $64,900 | $27,875 |
| Computer Engineering | $64,300 | $64,300 | $22,250 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $60,300 | $60,300 | $23,548 |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | $58,500 | $58,500 | $23,000 |
| Management Information Systems and Services | $57,200 | $57,200 | $19,830 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $57,000 | $57,000 | $18,750 |
| Civil Engineering | $54,200 | $54,200 | $25,000 |
| Insurance | $52,900 | $52,900 | $18,750 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $52,600 | $52,600 | $21,100 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $50,800 | $50,800 | $22,275 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $48,200 | $48,200 | $18,750 |
| Real Estate | $47,600 | $47,600 | $18,750 |
| Marketing | $43,500 | $43,500 | $19,000 |
| Design and Applied Arts | $43,400 | $43,400 | $18,035 |
| Special Education and Teaching | $42,100 | $42,100 | $15,000 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $42,100 | $42,100 | $23,015 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $39,700 | $39,700 | $19,000 |
| Economics | $39,300 | $39,300 | $20,500 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $38,000 | $38,000 | $19,749 |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | $37,900 | $37,900 | $21,000 |
| Apparel and Textiles | $37,700 | $37,700 | $17,804 |
| Business/Commerce, General | $37,100 | $37,100 | $14,711 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | $37,000 | $37,000 | $15,907 |
| Social Sciences, General | $34,800 | $34,800 | $20,121 |
| Statistics | $34,500 | $34,500 | $24,672 |
| Mathematics | $34,100 | $34,100 | $19,864 |
| Political Science and Government | $32,100 | $32,100 | $17,750 |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | $31,700 | $31,700 | $20,922 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $31,500 | $31,500 | N/A |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $30,000 | $30,000 | $20,394 |
| Sociology | $29,600 | $29,600 | $24,424 |
| Health and Physical Education/Fitness | $29,300 | $29,300 | $21,000 |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | $28,800 | $28,800 | $22,000 |
| Parks, Recreation and Leisure Facilities Management | $28,700 | $28,700 | N/A |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | $28,200 | $28,200 | $21,409 |
| Chemistry | $28,100 | $28,100 | $23,750 |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | $28,100 | $28,100 | $20,324 |
| Philosophy | $28,000 | $28,000 | $25,250 |
| Social Work | $28,000 | $28,000 | $18,687 |
| History | $28,000 | $28,000 | $22,250 |
| Psychology, General | $27,500 | $27,500 | $21,185 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $27,400 | $27,400 | $21,000 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $27,200 | $27,200 | $20,750 |
| Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services | $27,200 | $27,200 | $20,125 |
| Anthropology | $26,500 | $26,500 | $15,750 |
| Geography and Cartography | $26,400 | $26,400 | $20,750 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $25,900 | $25,900 | $20,625 |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | $25,600 | $25,600 | $21,484 |
| Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences | $25,600 | $25,600 | $24,978 |
| Religion/Religious Studies | $24,900 | $24,900 | $22,402 |
| Music | $24,900 | $24,900 | $22,734 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $23,900 | $23,900 | $20,500 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $23,500 | $23,500 | $22,711 |
| Biology, General | $21,800 | $21,800 | $20,500 |
| East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $21,000 | $21,000 | $27,375 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $20,200 | $20,200 | $21,941 |
Similar Colleges in FL
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- public
- Location
- Tallahassee, FL
- Student Body
- 32,212 students
- Admission Rate
- 24%
- Graduation Rate
- 84%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $11,297
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $61,675
- Median Student Debt
- $18,000