Tallahassee State College
Tallahassee State College — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Tallahassee State College at a Glance
Tallahassee State College (TSC) is a public college in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. It is part of the Florida College System and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools has accredited the school. Peak enrollment was fall 2014 when TSC reported 38,017 students. From 1970 to 2024, the institution was known as Tallahassee Community College.
1966
60 years old
$30M
$30.4 million
11,671
1,468
200 acres
Identity
Is Tallahassee State College Worth It?
Tallahassee State College offers moderate value at $7,781/year net price. Graduates earn a median of $37,561, which is 30% below average — meaning the financial payoff takes longer than typical. Students should research specific program outcomes before committing.
The investment pays for itself in just 0.8 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
A 37% graduation rate is a serious red flag — fewer than 4 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 $7,668 is manageable at just 20% of first-year post-graduation earnings.
How Tallahassee State College compares to peer public colleges of similar tier in FL
Ranked #47 of 116 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 | Modesto Junior College | 100 | $2,818 | $42,368 |
| #2 | Indian River State College | 100 | $3,815 | $38,315 |
| #3 | Henry Ford College | 100 | $660 | $34,795 |
| #4 | South Texas College | 100 | $1,751 | $36,788 |
| #5 | Pensacola State College | 91 | $3,957 | $36,739 |
| #6 | Shasta College | 89 | $2,878 | $39,269 |
| #47 | Tallahassee State College | 45 | $7,781 | $37,561 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of Tallahassee State College's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 12 in FL.
Best Programs at Tallahassee State College
Program-level earnings data isn't available for Tallahassee State 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 $7,781/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
- Tallahassee, FL
- Student Body
- 11,053 students
- Graduation Rate
- 37%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $7,781
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $37,561
- Median Student Debt
- $7,668