Public · COLLEGE PAYOFF

Florida Gulf Coast University

Fort Myers, FL · 44 field-and-degree records

Earnings reported for 42 · Federal debt reported for 34

Based onObserved earnings + college priceEstimate10-year payoff
Estimated 10-year payoff
Negative payoff

−$121,032 over 10 years

Modeled from observed year-5 institution earnings and the institution-wide average net price over four years.

21.1 yrsTime to earn back the modeled cost
−53%Estimated return after 10 years
$55,924Observed earnings · year 5
Not reachedHighest annual price before payoff reaches $0
Start with your question

What do you want to understand?

ECONOMIC INVESTMENT → PAYBACK

Estimated payoff over ten years.

The scenario counts direct price and earnings forgone upfront, then applies the reported annual earnings premium.

10-YEAR PAYOFF CURVECumulative economic payoff after graduation
−$121,032at year 10
Net gainInvestment not yet recovered
NET GAIN$0UNRECOVERED
−$230,2720
2
4
6
8
−$121,03210
Years after graduationBreak-even: 21.1 years
FEDERAL COST DATA

Four ways to read college price.

Annual college-wide figures from the current College Scorecard release. Average net price covers full-time, first-time undergraduates receiving federal aid; public-college figures use in-state students. Program tuition and individual aid offers may differ.

Published in-state tuition$6,118
Sticker price
Published out-of-state tuition$25,162
Sticker price
Average net price$12,568
Title IV student average
Cost of attendance$20,807
Tuition + living budget
PRICE SOURCECollege reported · annual amount · federal dataset
PUBLISHED STUDENT BUDGET · 2024–25

What makes up the annual price?

Sticker-price components reported to IPEDS. Grants and scholarships are not subtracted here.

Tuition and required fees$6,118$25,162 for out-of-state students
Books and supplies$1,200Estimated academic-year allowance
On-campus housing and food$11,107$5,558 in other expenses reported separately
Estimated on-campus total$23,983Sum of available published components, before aid

Living off campus: $13,680 housing and food allowance plus $5,558 in other expenses.

Do not confuse this with net price. Net price subtracts average grants and scholarships. DegreeVerdict continues to use the separately labeled average net price in its standard college ROI scenario.

PRICE SENSITIVITY

The price can change the verdict.

Hold observed earnings constant and see how the modeled ten-year payoff changes as annual price rises.

What stays fixed$55,924 observed annual earnings · 4 years of study · $45,000 alternative annual earnings · ten-year horizonThe marked price is this college’s institution-wide average net price, not your personal aid offer. This is a sensitivity test, not a tuition quote or earnings forecast.
HOW STUDENTS ATTEND · 2023-24

Most students take at least some classes online.

IPEDS enrollment counts show course delivery across the whole institution. They do not indicate whether a specific degree can be completed online.

Fully online16%
2,956 students
Some online courses68%
12,569 students
No online courses16%
2,989 students
Undergraduates age 25+9.2%
Share of undergraduate enrollment

Institution-level attendance context from IPEDS. Program delivery is reported separately on degree pages and in the program directory. These figures do not enter ROI.

College identity and local contextAccreditation, institution type, dual enrollment and state prices
COLLEGE AT A GLANCE

Institution details

Current federal characteristics describing the college, not the outcomes of a specific program.

Accreditor
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Main award level
Bachelor’s degrees
Campus setting
Suburban
Admissions
Selective admission
Delivery
Campus or mixed delivery
Federal designation
No special designation reported
Sources: College Scorecard June 2026 release and IPEDS 2024 institutional characteristics.
DUAL-ENROLLMENT CONTEXT · 2024

325 high-school students took college courses.

IPEDS counts students enrolled in college credit while still in high school. A large dual-enrollment population can shape headline enrollment figures, especially at community colleges.

This is participation, not a college completion rate. It does not indicate how many students later enrolled after high school, earned a credential or entered the workforce.

STATE PRICE CONTEXT · 2024

Prices in Florida run 3% above the U.S. level.

BEA Regional Price Parities compare price levels across states. A value of 100 equals the national average.

Overall3% above U.S.
Goods2% below U.S.
Housing22% above U.S.
Utilities10% below U.S.
Other services1% above U.S.

Use this as geographic context, not a personal budget. It describes the state, not the campus neighborhood, and does not measure tuition or student-specific housing.

DegreeVerdict does not adjust reported earnings, college prices or ROI using this index.

Download the official BEA source →
THE NUMBERS BEHIND THE VERDICT

What it costs and what graduates earn

$12,568Average net price / year
$20,807Cost of attendance
$17,622Median federal student debt · completer borrowers
$187/moPublished 10-year payment estimate
$55,924Median earnings · year 5 after completion
57.4%Completion rate
63.4%Admission rate
1,114Average SAT score
22ACT midpoint
13,874Student size

Debt covers federal student-loan borrowers who completed. It does not include Parent PLUS or private loans. We show admissions scores only when a valid federal value is available.

QUESTIONS ANSWERED

What the numbers say about Florida Gulf Coast University

What does Florida Gulf Coast University cost?

Florida Gulf Coast University reports an average annual net price of $12,568 after grants and scholarships. This is an institution-wide average, not an individual aid offer.

What do Florida Gulf Coast University graduates earn?

The observed median earnings figure is $55,924 5 years after completion. It describes a federal cohort, not a guaranteed starting salary.

How much federal debt do Florida Gulf Coast University graduates have?

Completer borrowers report median cumulative federal student debt of $17,622. Parent PLUS and private loans are not included.

Is every degree at Florida Gulf Coast University worth the same?

No. The current release contains 44 field-and-degree records for Florida Gulf Coast University; 42 report year-4 earnings and 34 report federal debt. Outcomes can differ substantially by field and degree level.

DEBT AFTER COLLEGE

Are borrowers making progress?

Repayment progress, default and debt at exit describe different federal borrower cohorts. They are shown separately and do not change the ROI estimate.

1 year53%Paid down at least $1 of principal
3 years59%Paid down at least $1 of principal
5 years66%Paid down at least $1 of principal
7 years71%Paid down at least $1 of principal
Students who completed$17,622Median federal debt · 2,402 borrowers
Students who withdrew$7,500Median federal debt · 2,497 borrowers
Three-year cohort default rate0%Federal cohort measure, not the share currently behind on payments

Source: College Scorecard. Repayment progress is the share of borrowers who reduced principal by at least $1 at the stated measurement point. Debt covers federal student loans; Parent PLUS and private loans are excluded. Cohorts and reporting periods differ across measures.

2024–25 ENROLLMENT

Who studied here during the year

18,823Students enrolled at any point
15,978Undergraduate students
2,845Graduate students

Unduplicated students enrolled at any point from July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025. This full-year measure is different from a fall headcount and does not enter ROI.

More student and earnings detailPrice by family income, retention, equity and common industries
PRICE BY FAMILY INCOME

Average net price is not one price

Federal averages for aided students in each family-income band. Your aid offer can differ.

$0–30k$8,220
$30–48k$8,191
$48–75k$10,999
$75–110k$15,450
$110k+$18,829
LONGER-TERM CONTEXT

What happens beyond the first earnings measure

Year 5$55,924
Year 6$45,029
Year 10$54,560
Full-time retention
83.2%
Part-time retention
65.3%
Completion within 200% of normal time
58.9%

Earnings timepoints may use different historical cohorts and should not be read as one group’s guaranteed salary growth.

WHO PAYS, WHO FINISHES, WHO EARNS

Outcomes are not the same for every family.

These federal cohorts add context that a single college average can hide. Missing figures remain unreported rather than estimated.

Pell Grant students53%

Complete within 150% of the expected time

61% received a Pell Grant within eight years
Parent borrowing$17,250

Median Parent PLUS debt

579 parent borrowers in the reported cohort
First-generation students$11,658

Median federal student debt

59% making progress in repayment after three years
Student family incomeMedian earnings after 10 yearsObserved federal cohorts
Lower income$53,976Earnings are not a guarantee
Middle income$55,146Earnings are not a guarantee
Higher income$54,310Earnings are not a guarantee
Three-year repayment progress
Lower income55%
Middle income61%
Higher income63%
Undergraduate student composition
White50%
Black4%
Hispanic26%
Asian2%

Source: College Scorecard, June 2026 release. Parent PLUS debt belongs to parents; student-debt measures exclude Parent PLUS and private loans. Cohort definitions differ by measure.

NATIONAL CONTEXT

How this college compares

Percentiles compare this institution with currently operating colleges that report the same federal measure.

74thEarnings percentile
49thCompletion percentile
WHAT STANDS OUT

A faster read on this college

These summaries use every reportable field-and-credential record at this institution. They do not fill privacy-suppressed outcomes.

$58,149Median year-4 earnings across reportable program categories
$19,715Median federal debt across categories that report debt
33%Of comparable categories above their same-field national benchmark
EARNINGS OVER TIME

What graduates earned in later years

$40,960Year 1
$59,369Year 4
$55,924Year 5

Each year can represent a different federal cohort, so the points do not track the same people over time.

DEGREES AT THIS COLLEGE

Your choice of degree can change the payoff.

Graduate earnings differ by field and credential, even within the same college.

1Computer Engineering · Bachelor's Degree$98,6502Biomedical/Medical Engineering · Bachelor's Degree$91,6763Accounting and Related Services · Master's Degree$90,9044Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing · Bachelor's Degree$86,4525Public Administration · Master's Degree$85,0526Civil Engineering · Bachelor's Degree$84,4517Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions · Doctoral Degree$79,3358Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering · Bachelor's Degree$78,238

Observed year-4 earnings · compare the same field and credential across colleges

Strongest relative outcomes

Programs that stand out against the same-degree benchmark

This view rewards performance relative to the same field and credential, not simply majors that pay more everywhere.

1Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and MethodsBachelor's Degree · $58,115 reported+23%vs same-degree national median$19,489federal debt2Student Counseling and Personnel ServicesMaster's Degree · $67,595 reported+12%vs same-degree national medianNot availablefederal debt3Special Education and TeachingBachelor's Degree · $56,467 reported+12%vs same-degree national median$22,931federal debt4HistoryBachelor's Degree · $56,543 reported+12%vs same-degree national median$21,240federal debt5Education, GeneralBachelor's Degree · $55,116 reported+11%vs same-degree national median$20,755federal debt6Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/FitnessBachelor's Degree · $58,179 reported+7%vs same-degree national median$15,000federal debt
BUILD A REAL SHORTLIST

Comparable colleges in FL

Currently operating public institutions with the closest combination of annual net price and observed year-5 earnings. Similarity is descriptive, not a quality ranking.

Jacksonville, FL

University of North Florida

Annual net price
$10,154
Observed earnings · year 5
$55,626
Modeled 10-year ROI
-52%
Open college profile →
Orlando, FL

University of Central Florida

Annual net price
$10,411
Observed earnings · year 5
$58,196
Modeled 10-year ROI
-40%
Open college profile →
Boca Raton, FL

Florida Atlantic University

Annual net price
$8,752
Observed earnings · year 5
$56,588
Modeled 10-year ROI
-46%
Open college profile →
Tampa, FL

University of South Florida

Annual net price
$9,812
Observed earnings · year 5
$57,660
Modeled 10-year ROI
-42%
Open college profile →
DEGREE OUTCOMES

Compare fields and degree levels

Showing the 40 highest-earning records from 44 field-and-degree records. Use the program directory to search the complete set.

Major or fieldDegree levelEarnings, year 4Federal debt2024–25 graduates
Computer EngineeringBachelor's Degree$98,650$25,000Not reported
Biomedical/Medical EngineeringBachelor's Degree$91,676$23,000Not reported
Accounting and Related ServicesMaster's Degree$90,904Not availableNot reported
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingBachelor's Degree$86,452$19,5000
Public AdministrationMaster's Degree$85,052Not availableNot reported
Civil EngineeringBachelor's Degree$84,451$19,480Not reported
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic ProfessionsDoctoral Degree$79,335Not available28
Environmental/Environmental Health EngineeringBachelor's Degree$78,238$19,929Not reported
Finance and Financial Management ServicesBachelor's Degree$75,767$21,239Not reported
Management Information Systems and ServicesBachelor's Degree$74,739$21,924Not reported
Educational Administration and SupervisionMaster's Degree$73,910Not availableNot reported
Accounting and Related ServicesBachelor's Degree$72,207$14,910Not reported
Student Counseling and Personnel ServicesMaster's Degree$67,595Not availableNot reported
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied ProfessionsBachelor's Degree$67,069Not available3
MarketingBachelor's Degree$67,034$19,375Not reported
Business Administration, Management and OperationsBachelor's Degree$66,349$20,356Not reported
Natural Resources Conservation and ResearchMaster's Degree$66,340Not availableNot reported
Curriculum and InstructionMaster's Degree$61,774Not availableNot reported
Social WorkMaster's Degree$61,073Not availableNot reported
Hospitality Administration/ManagementBachelor's Degree$60,011$21,000Not reported
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/FitnessBachelor's Degree$58,179$15,000Not reported
Public HealthBachelor's Degree$58,119$19,295Not reported
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and MethodsBachelor's Degree$58,115$19,489Not reported
Legal Support ServicesBachelor's Degree$56,695$22,777Not reported
HistoryBachelor's Degree$56,543$21,240Not reported
Special Education and TeachingBachelor's Degree$56,467$22,931Not reported
Communication and Media StudiesBachelor's Degree$56,455$19,258Not reported
Education, GeneralBachelor's Degree$55,116$20,7550
Political Science and GovernmentBachelor's Degree$54,824$21,4780
Criminal Justice and CorrectionsBachelor's Degree$54,215$21,660Not reported
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, GeneralBachelor's Degree$54,006$18,7724
Social WorkBachelor's Degree$53,707$18,837Not reported
Biology, GeneralBachelor's Degree$53,352$23,000Not reported
Psychology, GeneralBachelor's Degree$52,722$19,500Not reported
Security Science and TechnologyBachelor's Degree$52,096$19,046Not reported
Natural Resources Conservation and ResearchBachelor's Degree$51,265$19,215Not reported
SociologyBachelor's Degree$50,136Not availableNot reported
Environmental/Natural Resources Management and PolicyBachelor's Degree$48,942$21,730Not reported
Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, GeneralBachelor's Degree$48,879$19,500Not reported
English Language and Literature, GeneralBachelor's Degree$45,842$16,144Not reported

Graduate counts come from IPEDS and group related majors into the same federal field. Missing earnings or debt values remain labeled as unavailable.

Search every Florida Gulf Coast University program record →

Earnings, price, completion and enrollment are observed federal measures. ROI, payoff and break-even are modeled scenarios built from those measures and fixed assumptions. College payoff is not the payoff of every degree at this school; use the program table for a more precise comparison.