Tallahassee, Florida Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)
TL;DR
EDsmart Data analysis of 2024 College Scorecard data for Tallahassee, Florida shows: median public in-state tuition $5,720 (+3.8% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $53,012 (-2.4% vs U.S.) employment-outcome proxy 89.1% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $13,500 (+0.5% vs U.S.) 51,736 students enrolled statewide.
Key Facts
- Institutions in this profile: 7 campuses
- Total college enrollment: 51,736 students
- Median public in-state tuition: $5,720 (+3.8% vs U.S.)
- Median earnings 10 years after entry: $53,012 (-2.4% vs U.S.)
- Working & not enrolled (8-yr cohort proxy): 89.1% (+1.1 pp vs U.S.)
- Median net price: $11,297 (+13.3% vs U.S.)
- Median student debt at graduation: $13,500 (+0.5% vs U.S. $13,432); regional median $14,173
- Average completion rate (institutions in state): 53.3%
- Median first-year retention (full-time, 4-yr): 92.6%
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Overview
EDsmart Data summarizes higher-education outcomes for campuses in Tallahassee, Florida—costs, debt, enrollment, completion, earnings, and standout institutions—against Florida and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.
Tallahassee 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tallahassee, Florida | $5,720 | $11,297 | $13,500 | 53.3% | 51,736 |
| Florida (state median) | $3,110 | $7,247 | $13,000 | 53.6% | 857,173 |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,967 | $13,432 | 50.3% | 14,484,370 |
Earnings & employment outcomes: Tallahassee, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tallahassee, Florida | $53,012 | 89.1% | 92.6% | 7.8% | — | 59.2% | 0.41 |
| Florida (state median) | $49,137 | 82.9% | 75.6% | 5.5% | — | 65.9% | 0.42 |
| United States | $54,323 | 87.9% | 76.3% | 5.0% | — | 73.7% | 0.41 |
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tallahassee, Florida | $5,720 | $11,297 | $13,500 | 53.3% | 51,736 | $53,012 | 89.1% |
| Orlando | $17,408 | $19,775 | $13,048 | 38.9% | 110,169 | $65,295 | 83.1% |
| Miami | $15,868 | $18,120 | $9,500 | 54.8% | 107,560 | $55,966 | 84.7% |
| Tampa | $18,145 | $19,484 | $13,000 | 48.9% | 74,134 | $40,092 | 79.2% |
| Gainesville | $5,128 | $15,692 | $15,000 | 84.7% | 52,208 | $71,588 | 88.7% |
| Gainesville | $5,128 | $15,692 | $15,000 | 84.7% | 52,208 | $71,588 | 88.7% |
| Fort Lauderdale | $25,056 | $22,838 | $24,149 | 61.0% | 50,305 | $46,933 | 80.6% |
| Jacksonville | $15,733 | $21,981 | $13,000 | 35.5% | 41,036 | $56,343 | 87.1% |
| Daytona Beach | $14,794 | $15,378 | $23,666 | 36.9% | 29,907 | $84,131 | 85.1% |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,967 | $13,432 | 50.3% | 14,484,370 | $54,323 | 87.9% |
Top 10 colleges in Tallahassee, 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, 85.6%, Florida State University
Florida State University
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Rank 2, Graduation Rate, 53.3%, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University
Top 10 colleges in Tallahassee, 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, 89.6%, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University
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Rank 2, Employment Outcome, 88.5%, Florida State University
Florida State University
Top 10 most selective colleges in Tallahassee, 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, 20.6%, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University
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Rank 2, Admission Rate, 24.2%, Florida State University
Florida State University
Top 10 colleges in Tallahassee, 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, $78,941, Florida State University
Florida State University
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Rank 2, Entry-Level Earnings, $70,804, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University
Top 10 colleges in Tallahassee, 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, $114,802, Florida State University
Florida State University
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Rank 2, Early-Career Earnings, $98,272, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University
Top 10 colleges in Tallahassee, 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, $49,814, Florida State University
Florida State University
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Rank 2, Mid-Career Earnings, $36,153, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University
Top 10 colleges in Tallahassee, 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, $55,983, Florida State University
Florida State University
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Rank 2, 8-Yr Earnings, $42,044, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University
Top 10 colleges in Tallahassee, 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, $61,675, Florida State University
Florida State University
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Rank 2, 10-Yr Earnings, $44,349, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University
Top 10 colleges in Tallahassee, 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, $224,214, Florida State University
Florida State University
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Rank 2, 10-Yr ROI, $125,606, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University
Top 10 most affordable colleges in Tallahassee, 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, $11,297, Florida State University
Florida State University
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Rank 2, Net Price, $13,739, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University
Top 10 colleges in Tallahassee, 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, 96.0%, Florida State University
Florida State University
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Rank 2, First-Year Retention, 89.2%, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University
In-state tuition: Tallahassee, Florida vs benchmarks
Sticker price
Tallahassee, Florida median in-state tuition is $5,720, +3.8% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: Tallahassee, Florida vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Tallahassee, Florida is $13,500 (+0.5% vs U.S. median $13,432). Regional median: $14,173.
Median earnings (10 years out): Tallahassee, Florida vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in Tallahassee, Florida center around $53,012 (-2.4% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: Tallahassee, Florida vs benchmarks
Working & not enrolled
The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 89.1% at the median Tallahassee, Florida campus (+1.1 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
Tallahassee, Florida median public in-state tuition is $5,720, about +3.8% vs the national median. Versus the Southeast region, tuition is +14.6%.
Median graduate debt is $13,500 (+0.5% above the U.S. median of $13,432). 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 Tallahassee, Florida are $53,012, about -2.4% vs the U.S. campus median ($54,323).
The median campus reports 89.1% of its 8-year cohort as working and not enrolled—our closest federal proxy to a placement rate. The U.S. campus median is 87.9% (+1.1 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 92.6% vs a U.S. median of 76.3%—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 59.2% (U.S. 73.7%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (89.6%), Florida State University (88.5%)—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 Tallahassee, Florida is 53.3% (national institution average about 50.3%).
FAQ
How many colleges are in Tallahassee?
EDsmart Data analysis: this city profile covers 7 campuses in Tallahassee, Florida with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.
How much does college cost in Tallahassee?
EDsmart Data analysis: median in-state tuition in Tallahassee is $5,720 and median net price is $11,297. For Florida overall, medians are $3,110 and $7,247; U.S. medians are $5,512 and $9,967.
What do graduates earn in Tallahassee?
EDsmart Data analysis: median 10-year earnings for campuses in Tallahassee is $53,012 vs $49,137 for Florida and $54,323 nationally.
What is student debt like for Tallahassee colleges?
EDsmart Data analysis: median completer debt in Tallahassee is $13,500 vs $13,000 for Florida and $13,432 nationally.
What are the best colleges in Tallahassee?
EDsmart Data analysis: top campuses on this page include Florida State University (graduation) and Florida State University (10-yr earnings). See Top 10 lists for admission, affordability, and employment metrics.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in Tallahassee?
EDsmart Data analysis: among 7 campuses in Tallahassee, Florida, 1 historically Black college or university (HBCU, IPEDS HBCU flag), including Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University; 1 campus with at least 25% Hispanic enrollment in College Scorecard demographics—a common Hispanic-serving institution (HSI) eligibility proxy; examples include Tallahassee State College.
Sources & related
- Florida college profile
- All college profiles
- National benchmarks
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
- Download: JSON