The College of the Florida Keys
The College of the Florida Keys — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
The College of the Florida Keys at a Glance
The College of the Florida Keys (CFK) is a public college in Key West, Florida. It is part of the Florida College System. Its main campus is on Stock Island, adjacent to the only living coral reef in North America. CFK also operates two additional locations in the Florida Keys; one in Marathon and another in Key Largo. With its Key West location, CFK is the southernmost post-secondary school of any type within the contiguous United States. Florida Keys Community College was renamed to the Colleg…
1965
61 years old
$7M
$6.5 million (2024)
920
25
Identity
Is The College of the Florida Keys Worth It?
At a value score of 29/100, The College of the Florida Keys is a below-average value relative to its cost. Graduates earn $42,508 — 21% below average — while paying $13,636/year. Consider alternatives with better earnings-to-cost ratios.
The investment pays for itself in just 1.3 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.
Bottom line: consider whether the specific program you're interested in at The College of the Florida Keys has outcomes that justify the cost — the institution-wide numbers suggest caution.
How The College of the Florida Keys compares to peer public colleges of similar tier in FL
Ranked #59 of 82 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 | North Florida College | 100 | $804 | $33,929 |
| #3 | Alpena Community College | 100 | $3,320 | $36,442 |
| #4 | New College of Florida | 100 | $7,195 | $48,082 |
| #5 | Haskell Indian Nations University | 90 | $3,134 | $37,043 |
| #6 | University of Minnesota-Morris | 90 | $8,837 | $50,919 |
| #59 | The College of the Florida Keys | 29 | $13,636 | $42,508 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of The College of the Florida Keys's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 3 in FL.
Best Programs at The College of the Florida Keys
Program-level earnings data isn't available for The College of the Florida Keys. 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 $13,636/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
- Key West, FL
- Student Body
- 1,012 students
- Graduation Rate
- 37%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $13,636
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $42,508
- Median Student Debt
- $9,500