Florida State University vs Palm Beach State College
A side-by-side look at cost, graduate earnings, debt and return on investment. The better figure in each row is highlighted.
| Florida State University Tallahassee, FL | Palm Beach State College Lake Worth, FL | |
|---|---|---|
| ROI verdict | Strong return | Break-even |
| 10-year ROI | +210% | +39% |
| 10-year net gain | $108,893 | $15,202 |
| Median earnings (5 yr) | $61,064 | $50,451 |
| Median earnings (1 yr) | $47,345 | $43,936 |
| Average net price | $11,297 | $9,182 |
| Median debt | $18,000 | $7,081 |
| Break-even | 3.2 yrs | 7.2 yrs |
| Graduation rate | 86% | 41% |
| Admission rate | 24% | — |
Florida State University
Strong return
+$108,893 over 10 years
Graduate earnings clearly outpace the cost and debt — this degree pays back quickly.
Palm Beach State College
Break-even
+$15,202 over 10 years
The payoff is roughly break-even — the degree recovers its cost, but slowly.
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard. ROI is computed by Degree Return — see how. Read the methodology. Data as of 2024.