2023 Best Value Schools in Florida
Highlighting Quality Schools With More Affordable Prices
There are so many programs in today's world that it can tough to figure out which one is the right one for you. As online education oppotunities continue to grow, you're not restricted to just schools in your local area anymore. Even some of the 'big name' schools are offering online courses. Also, there are a number of trade schools and bootcamps with offerings that you might find attractive.
Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Course Advisor has created the Best Value Schools in Florida to help you in your search for the best school for you. This report analyzed 74 schools in Florida to see which ones offered the best value programs for students. The goal was to highlight schools with more affordable prices than others offering similar quality experiences.
This ranking is not just a list of inexpensive schools. We also consider each school's quality, since we believe a low-quality school may not be a 'bargain' at any price. Specifically, our score for quality is discounted by the published tuition and fees charged by the given college. This gives the cost per unit of quality for each college. The more quality your dollar buys, the better the value.
For nationwide and regional rankings, we use out-of-state tuition and fees in our calculations. For statewide rankings, we use average in-state tuition and fees.
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Top Value Schools in Florida
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our 2023 rankings named Tallahassee Community College the best value school in Florida for students working on their degree. Tallahassee Community College is a fairly large public school situated in Tallahassee, Florida. It awarded 3,119 degrees in 2020-2021.
Tallahassee Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $8,062 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $21,387 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $83, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, Tallahassee Community College graduates make an average of $34,440 annually.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Hillsborough Community College. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Schools in Florida list. Tampa, Florida is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 6,012 students in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at HCC are $9,111 per year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $18,698 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $114 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, HCC graduates make an average of $40,156 annually.
HCC also claimed a spot on our Best Schools in Florida list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools in this category.
The excellent programs at Valencia College helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best value schools in Florida. Valencia College is a large public school situated in Orlando, Florida. It awarded 18,199 degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Valencia College are $9,383 per year. On average, students take out $18,372 in loans while pursuing their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $83, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, Valencia College graduates make an average of $37,350 annually.
A rank of #4 on this year’s list means St Petersburg College is a great place for students who want to get the most value for their educational dollar. SPC is a public institution located in Clearwater, Florida. The school has a large population, and it awarded 7,209 degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at SPC are $9,286 a year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $25,619 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, SPC graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $40,600 during the early year of their career.
On top of its placing in our value ranking, SPC also did well on our Best Schools in Florida list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Santa Fe College. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Best Value Schools in Florida list. Santa Fe College is a public institution located in Gainesville, Florida. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 3,450 degrees in 2020-2021.
Santa Fe College undergraduate students pay an average of $9,189 in tuition and fees each year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $21,007 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $108. During the early years of their career, Santa Fe College graduates make an average of $39,905 annually.
Florida State College at Jacksonville ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Schools in Florida list. Located in Jacksonville, Florida, the large public school handed out 9,256 degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at FSCJ are $9,631 a year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $19,613 in student loans. During the early years of their career, FSCJ graduates make an average of $41,241 annually.
Indian River State College landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value programs. Located in Fort Pierce, Florida, the fairly large public school handed out 4,469 degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Indian River State College are $10,201 a year. On average, students take out $13,075 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, Indian River State College graduates make an average of $35,566 annually.
Eastern Florida State College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for students. It came in at #8 on the list. EFSC is located in Cocoa, Florida and has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 4,291 degrees to qualified students.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at EFSC are $10,976 a year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $18,763 in student loans.After graduating from EFSC, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $35,517 during the early years of their career.
Miami Dade College landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value programs. Located in Miami, Florida, the large public school handed out 17,521 degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at MDC are $9,661 a year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $16,593 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from MDC, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $37,255 during the early years of their career.
College of Central Florida came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Schools in Florida ranking. This medium-sized public school is located in Ocala, Florida, and it awarded 2,743 degrees in 2020-2021.
CF undergraduate students pay an average of $10,517 in tuition and fees each year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $20,689 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from CF, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $40,629 during the early years of their career.
Florida SouthWestern State College landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value programs. Florida SouthWestern State College is a fairly large public school located in Fort Myers, Florida that handed out 3,130 degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at FSW are $12,979 per year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $17,143 in student loans.After graduating from FSW, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $48,021 during the early years of their career.
In addition to its best value ranking, and one of the reasons why the school is on the list, FSW is ranked #5 for overall quality in Florida.
Broward College landed the #12 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value programs. BC is located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 13,738 degrees to qualified students.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at BC are $8,952 per year. On average, students take out $15,086 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, BC graduates make an average of $42,319 annually.
Gulf Coast State College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for students. It came in at #13 on the list. Located in Panama City, Florida, the small public school handed out 1,138 degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at GCSC are $8,635 per year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $13,074 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, GCSC graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $41,189 during the early year of their career.
Saint Johns River State College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for students. It came in at #14 on the list. Saint Johns River State College is a medium-sized public school located in Palatka, Florida that handed out 1,555 degrees in 2020-2021.
St. Johns River Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $10,347 in tuition and fees each year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $19,313 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, St. Johns River Community College graduates make an average of $39,307 annually.
Pensacola State College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for students. It came in at #15 on the list. Pensacola State is a public institution located in Pensacola, Florida. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 2,418 degrees in 2020-2021.
Pensacola State undergraduate students pay an average of $9,482 in tuition and fees each year. On average, students take out $11,752 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from Pensacola State, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $34,015 during the early years of their career.
University of Florida-Online ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Schools in Florida list. This medium-sized public school is located in Gainesville, Florida, and it awarded 857 degrees in 2020-2021.
UF Online undergraduate students pay an average of $16,579 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $19,514 in student loans. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $208. Once they receive their degree, UF Online graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $36,889 during the early year of their career.
UF Online not only placed well in our value ranking, but it is also #1 on our Best Schools in Florida list.
Seminole State College of Florida came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Schools in Florida ranking. This fairly large public school is located in Sanford, Florida, and it awarded 6,961 degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Seminole State are $11,456 per year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $19,694 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, Seminole State graduates make an average of $37,833 annually.
Daytona State College came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Schools in Florida ranking. Daytona Beach, Florida is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 3,872 students in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Daytona State College are $11,994 a year. On average, students take out $15,475 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, Daytona State College graduates make an average of $38,012 annually.
Polk State College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for students. It came in at #19 on the list. Polk State is a public institution located in Winter Haven, Florida. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 2,762 degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Polk State are $12,271 per year. On average, students take out $17,299 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from Polk State, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $40,275 during the early years of their career.
Polk State excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 15% of all schools on our Best Schools in Florida list.
Palm Beach State College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for students. It came in at #20 on the list. This large public school is located in Lake Worth, Florida, and it awarded 7,049 degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Palm Beach State College are $10,910 a year. On average, students take out $14,679 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from Palm Beach State College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $36,671 during the early years of their career.
Chipola College ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Schools in Florida list. Chipola is a small public school situated in Marianna, Florida. It awarded 560 degrees in 2020-2021.
Chipola undergraduate students pay an average of $8,950 in tuition and fees each year. On average, students take out $11,601 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, Chipola graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $40,619 during the early year of their career.
North Florida College landed the #22 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value programs. NFC is located in Madison, Florida and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 421 degrees to qualified students.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at NFC are $11,460 per year. On average, students take out $12,993 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, NFC graduates make an average of $40,855 annually.
Florida Gateway College ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Schools in Florida list. FGC is a small public school situated in Lake City, Florida. It awarded 1,009 degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at FGC are $11,747 per year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $10,896 in student loans.After graduating from FGC, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $35,950 during the early years of their career.
State College of Florida - Manatee - Sarasota came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Schools in Florida ranking. State College of Florida - Manatee - Sarasota is a medium-sized public school situated in Bradenton, Florida. It awarded 2,597 degrees in 2020-2021.
State College of Florida - Manatee - Sarasota undergraduate students pay an average of $11,595 in tuition and fees each year. On average, students take out $18,641 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, State College of Florida - Manatee - Sarasota graduates make an average of $46,325 annually.
Read full report on State College of Florida - Manatee - Sarasota
Northwest Florida State College came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Schools in Florida ranking. NWFSC is a public institution located in Niceville, Florida. The school has a small population, and it awarded 1,254 degrees in 2020-2021.
NWFSC undergraduate students pay an average of $12,067 in tuition and fees each year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $11,352 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, NWFSC graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $38,913 during the early year of their career.
Best Value Schools in the Southeast Region
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Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
References
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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