Fort Lauderdale, Florida Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)
Executive Summary (TL;DR)
Colleges in Fort Lauderdale, Florida: median public in-state tuition $26,016 (+356.4% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $53,684 (-9.6% vs U.S.) employment-outcome proxy 89.2% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $17,280 (+28.0% vs U.S.) 50,305 students enrolled statewide.
Overview
Colleges and universities in Fort Lauderdale serve students across Florida with associate, bachelor's, and graduate pathways. 7 reporting campuses in this city profile, with about 50,305 students enrolled in federal data, and median in-state tuition near $26,016. Tables below compare costs, completion, earnings, and standout institutions against Fort Lauderdale, Florida and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.
Fort Lauderdale vs Florida & national benchmarks
Medians aggregate institution-level College Scorecard fields unless noted. Enrollment is total undergraduate headcount summed across reporting campuses.
| Geography | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion rate | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Lauderdale, Florida | $26,016 | $24,810 | $17,280 | 57.9% | 50,305 |
| Florida (state median) | $3,110 | $7,285 | $13,758 | 51.0% | 855,761 |
| United States | $5,700 | $9,912 | $13,500 | 49.3% | 14,465,291 |
Earnings & employment outcomes: Fort Lauderdale, Florida vs benchmarks
Scorecard does not publish formal job-placement rates. We use the share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled (working ÷ working + not working) as a federal employment-outcome proxy. 2-yr and 3-yr default rates are federal cohort default shares (0–1 scale). We show 2-yr default as the primary benchmark; 3-yr default appears only when enough campuses report non-suppressed values (otherwise —). 3-yr repayment progress is the share of completers making progress on loans after 3 years. Sample: bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200. Medians pool campus-level values.
| Geography | Median earnings (10 yr) | Working & not enrolled (8 yr) | Retention (FT yr 1) | 2-yr default | 3-yr default | 3-yr repayment progress | Debt ÷ earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Lauderdale, Florida | $53,684 | 89.2% | 75.6% | 7.8% | — | 49.1% | 0.51 |
| Florida (state median) | $56,370 | 91.7% | 75.6% | 5.5% | — | 65.3% | 0.35 |
| United States | $59,401 | 93.0% | 76.4% | 5.0% | — | 73.8% | 0.36 |
Other cities in Florida (3+ campuses)
Other cities in the same state with at least three reporting campuses.
| City | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion | Enrollment | Earnings (10 yr) | Working (8 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Lauderdale, Florida | $26,016 | $24,810 | $17,280 | 57.9% | 50,305 | $53,684 | 89.2% |
| Orlando | $17,013 | $19,736 | $17,052 | 51.0% | 110,503 | $69,124 | 93.3% |
| Miami | $15,796 | $20,918 | $9,500 | 51.9% | 107,556 | $64,837 | 91.2% |
| Tampa | $18,145 | $21,228 | $16,250 | 50.9% | 74,134 | $44,016 | 87.8% |
| Gainesville | $5,128 | $15,357 | $11,498 | 82.6% | 52,208 | $78,456 | 94.0% |
| Gainesville | $5,128 | $15,357 | $11,498 | 82.6% | 52,208 | $78,456 | 94.0% |
| Tallahassee | $5,720 | $11,132 | $13,000 | 61.5% | 51,736 | $60,164 | 93.8% |
| Jacksonville | $15,733 | $22,664 | $14,900 | 34.9% | 41,036 | $59,626 | 91.8% |
| Jacksonville | $15,733 | $22,664 | $14,900 | 34.9% | 41,036 | $59,626 | 91.8% |
| United States | $5,700 | $9,912 | $13,500 | 49.3% | 14,465,291 | $59,401 | 93.0% |
Top college in Fort Lauderdale, Florida by graduation rate (150% time)
Ranked by 150% time completion rate (4-year bachelor's-predominant institutions, enrollment ≥ 500). Higher rate = more students finishing within 150% of normal time.
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Rank 1, Graduation Rate, 61.8%, Nova Southeastern University
Nova Southeastern University
Top college in Fort Lauderdale, Florida by employment outcome (8 yrs after entry, working & not enrolled)
Ranked by share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled — a federal outcome proxy, not a verified job-placement rate. Enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Employment Outcome, 92.3%, Nova Southeastern University
Nova Southeastern University
Most selective college in Fort Lauderdale, Florida (lowest admission rate)
Ranked by lowest admission rate (most selective first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500 and a reported admission rate.
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Rank 1, Admission Rate, 73.2%, Nova Southeastern University
Nova Southeastern University
Top 2 colleges in Fort Lauderdale, Florida by entry-level earnings (1 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings one year after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; reflects completers in reported CIP programs, not all entrants.
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Rank 1, Entry-Level Earnings, $85,460, Arizona College of Nursing-Fort Lauderdale
Arizona College of Nursing-Fort Lauderdale
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Rank 2, Entry-Level Earnings, $81,837, Nova Southeastern University
Nova Southeastern University
Top 2 colleges in Fort Lauderdale, Florida by early-career earnings (4 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings four years after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; program cohort, not institution-wide median.
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Rank 1, Early-Career Earnings, $122,809, Nova Southeastern University
Nova Southeastern University
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Rank 2, Early-Career Earnings, $87,378, Arizona College of Nursing-Fort Lauderdale
Arizona College of Nursing-Fort Lauderdale
Top college in Fort Lauderdale, Florida by mid-career earnings (6 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings six years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Mid-Career Earnings, $63,346, Nova Southeastern University
Nova Southeastern University
Top college in Fort Lauderdale, Florida by 8-year earnings (8 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings eight years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 8-Yr Earnings, $68,265, Nova Southeastern University
Nova Southeastern University
Top college in Fort Lauderdale, Florida by long-term earnings (10 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings ten years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr Earnings, $66,144, Nova Southeastern University
Nova Southeastern University
Top college in Fort Lauderdale, Florida by 10-year ROI
Ranked by 10-year return on investment (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200 and a computed ROI in the EDsmart dataset.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr ROI, $192,195, Nova Southeastern University
Nova Southeastern University
Most affordable college in Fort Lauderdale, Florida (net price)
Ranked by lowest average net price (most affordable first). Uses overall net price, or mid-income bracket net price for public schools when available. Enrollment ≥ 300.
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Rank 1, Net Price, $27,714, Nova Southeastern University
Nova Southeastern University
Top college in Fort Lauderdale, Florida by first-year retention (full-time)
Ranked by first-year, full-time retention rate (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, First-Year Retention, 75.6%, Nova Southeastern University
Nova Southeastern University
In-state tuition: Fort Lauderdale, Florida vs benchmarks
Sticker price
Fort Lauderdale, Florida median in-state tuition is $26,016, +356.4% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: Fort Lauderdale, Florida vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Fort Lauderdale, Florida is $17,280 (+28.0% vs U.S. median $13,500). Regional median: $15,558.
Median earnings (10 years out): Fort Lauderdale, Florida vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in Fort Lauderdale, Florida center around $53,684 (-9.6% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: Fort Lauderdale, Florida vs benchmarks
Working & not enrolled
The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 89.2% at the median Fort Lauderdale, Florida campus (-3.9 pp vs U.S.).
Percent of 8-year cohort working and not enrolled (not a formal placement rate).
Analysis & insights
EDsmart Data aggregates institution-level College Scorecard data for this profile. Highlights below compare local medians to U.S. and regional benchmarks.
Costs & borrowing
Fort Lauderdale, Florida median public in-state tuition is $26,016, about +356.4% vs the national median. Versus the Southeast region, tuition is +404.5%.
Median graduate debt is $17,280 (+28.0% above the U.S. median of $13,500). Low sticker prices do not always mean low borrowing—living costs, time-to-degree, and aid mix matter.
Earnings, employment & retention
Among bachelor's-predominant campuses with ≥200 students, median 10-year earnings in Fort Lauderdale, Florida are $53,684, about -9.6% vs the U.S. campus median ($59,401).
The median campus reports 89.2% of its 8-year cohort as working and not enrolled—our closest federal proxy to a placement rate. The U.S. campus median is 93.0% (-3.9 pp). Formal job-placement statistics are not published in Scorecard; treat this as a comparative outcome indicator, not a hire guarantee.
First-year, full-time retention at the median campus is 75.6% vs a U.S. median of 76.4%—a leading indicator for completion and time-to-degree.
Loan repayment indicators at the median campus: 2-yr default 7.8% (U.S. 5.0%); 3-yr repayment progress 49.1% (U.S. 73.8%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include Nova Southeastern University (92.3%)—useful anchors for local reporting on where graduates are most often working rather than still enrolled.
Completion & workforce context
Average institution-level completion rate across all sectors in Fort Lauderdale, Florida is 57.9% (national institution average about 49.3%).
Frequently Asked Questions
How many colleges are in Fort Lauderdale?
This city profile covers 7 campuses in Fort Lauderdale, Florida with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.
How much does college cost in Fort Lauderdale?
Median in-state tuition in Fort Lauderdale is $26,016 and median net price is $24,810. For Florida overall, medians are $3,110 and $7,285; U.S. medians are $5,700 and $9,912.
What do graduates earn in Fort Lauderdale?
Median 10-year earnings for campuses in Fort Lauderdale is $53,684 vs $56,370 for Florida and $59,401 nationally.
What is student debt like for Fort Lauderdale colleges?
Median completer debt in Fort Lauderdale is $17,280 vs $13,758 for Florida and $13,500 nationally.
What are the best colleges in Fort Lauderdale?
Top campuses on this page include Nova Southeastern University (graduation) and Nova Southeastern University (10-yr earnings). See Top 10 lists for admission, affordability, and employment metrics.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in Fort Lauderdale?
Among 7 campuses in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, 3 campuses report at least 25% Hispanic undergraduate enrollment in U.S. Department of Education data; examples include Broward College, Keiser University-Ft Lauderdale, and Nova Southeastern University.
Sources & related
- Florida college profile
- All college profiles
- National benchmarks
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
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