University of North Florida
University of North Florida — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
University of North Florida at a Glance
The University of North Florida (UNF) is a public research university in Jacksonville, Florida, United States. It is part of the State University System of Florida and is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award baccalaureate, masters, and doctorate degrees. Its campus comprises 1,300 acres amid a natural preserve on Jacksonville's Southside. It is classified among "R2: Doctoral Universities – High research activity". The current inter…
1965
61 years old
$165M
$164.5 million (2025)
16,406
14,662 undergrad · 2,381 grad
679
1,300 acres
Identity
How to Apply to University of North Florida
Official admissions page$30
Fee waiver available
Fee waiver
Is University of North Florida Worth It?
University of North Florida is one of the strongest value propositions in higher education. At $10,154/year net price and $56,343 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 69% graduation rate means roughly 31% of students leave without a degree — taking on debt without the earnings boost that completion brings.
Bottom line: University of North Florida delivers strong financial returns that justify the investment for most students.
How University of North Florida compares to peer public colleges of similar tier in FL
Ranked #7 of 38 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 | Foothill College | 100 | $7,653 | $57,072 |
| #2 | Modesto Junior College | 100 | $2,818 | $42,368 |
| #3 | Skyline College | 100 | $1,738 | $55,702 |
| #4 | St Petersburg College | 100 | $1,471 | $42,557 |
| #5 | CUNY Brooklyn College | 100 | $3,103 | $60,752 |
| #6 | CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice | 100 | $3,203 | $56,195 |
| #7 | University of North Florida | 95 | $10,154 | $56,343 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of University of North Florida's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 3 in FL.
Best Programs at University of North Florida
The highest-earning program at University of North Florida is Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering at $63,600/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services at $21,600/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering graduate from University of North Florida earns $63,600, while a Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services graduate earns $21,600. 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 $22,306 in median debt vs. $20,051 for Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $10,154/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 | $63,600 | $63,600 | $22,306 |
| Construction Engineering Technologies | $61,900 | $61,900 | $18,036 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $57,400 | $57,400 | $13,908 |
| Civil Engineering | $56,200 | $56,200 | $19,750 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $55,700 | $55,700 | $13,500 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $54,800 | $54,800 | $22,000 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $46,200 | $46,200 | $17,000 |
| Business/Managerial Economics | $46,100 | $46,100 | N/A |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $44,600 | $44,600 | $13,973 |
| International Business | $43,200 | $43,200 | $16,249 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $40,400 | $40,400 | $16,986 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $39,500 | $39,500 | $17,725 |
| Marketing | $39,500 | $39,500 | $16,531 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $39,300 | $39,300 | N/A |
| Special Education and Teaching | $38,500 | $38,500 | N/A |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | $37,900 | $37,900 | $16,500 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $34,400 | $34,400 | $15,000 |
| Economics | $33,100 | $33,100 | $13,250 |
| Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, General | $32,200 | $32,200 | $18,117 |
| Political Science and Government | $32,100 | $32,100 | $20,444 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $31,900 | $31,900 | $15,000 |
| Health and Physical Education/Fitness | $31,400 | $31,400 | $19,035 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $31,300 | $31,300 | $17,050 |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | $31,200 | $31,200 | $15,500 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $29,300 | $29,300 | $18,875 |
| Biology, General | $29,200 | $29,200 | $17,599 |
| Sociology | $28,400 | $28,400 | $21,500 |
| International/Global Studies | $28,000 | $28,000 | $15,075 |
| Psychology, General | $27,100 | $27,100 | $15,701 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $26,600 | $26,600 | $18,750 |
| History | $25,800 | $25,800 | $20,500 |
| Anthropology | $23,200 | $23,200 | $14,890 |
| Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services | $21,600 | $21,600 | $20,051 |
Similar Colleges in FL
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- public
- Location
- Jacksonville, FL
- Student Body
- 13,359 students
- Admission Rate
- 53%
- Graduation Rate
- 69%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $10,154
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $56,343
- Median Student Debt
- $15,531