Miami, Florida Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)
TL;DR
EDsmart Data analysis of 2024 College Scorecard data for Miami, Florida shows: median public in-state tuition $15,868 (+187.9% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $55,966 (+3.0% vs U.S.) employment-outcome proxy 84.7% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $9,500 (-29.3% vs U.S.) 107,560 students enrolled statewide.
Key Facts
- Institutions in this profile: 39 campuses
- Total college enrollment: 107,560 students
- Median public in-state tuition: $15,868 (+187.9% vs U.S.)
- Median earnings 10 years after entry: $55,966 (+3.0% vs U.S.)
- Working & not enrolled (8-yr cohort proxy): 84.7% (-3.2 pp vs U.S.)
- Median net price: $18,120 (+81.8% vs U.S.)
- Median student debt at graduation: $9,500 (-29.3% vs U.S. $13,432); regional median $14,173
- Average completion rate (institutions in state): 54.8%
- Median first-year retention (full-time, 4-yr): 83.3%
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Overview
EDsmart Data summarizes higher-education outcomes for campuses in Miami, Florida—costs, debt, enrollment, completion, earnings, and standout institutions—against Florida and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.
Miami 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami, Florida | $15,868 | $18,120 | $9,500 | 54.8% | 107,560 |
| 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: Miami, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami, Florida | $55,966 | 84.7% | 83.3% | 6.5% | — | 51.1% | 0.27 |
| 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami, Florida | $15,868 | $18,120 | $9,500 | 54.8% | 107,560 | $55,966 | 84.7% |
| Orlando | $17,408 | $19,775 | $13,048 | 38.9% | 110,169 | $65,295 | 83.1% |
| 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% |
| Tallahassee | $5,720 | $11,297 | $13,500 | 53.3% | 51,736 | $53,012 | 89.1% |
| 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 Miami, 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, 74.4%, Florida International University
Florida International University
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Rank 2, Graduation Rate, 37.9%, Barry University
Barry University
Top 10 colleges in Miami, 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, 85.9%, Florida International University
Florida International University
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Rank 2, Employment Outcome, 81.5%, Barry University
Barry University
Top 10 most selective colleges in Miami, 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, 54.7%, Florida International University
Florida International University
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Rank 2, Admission Rate, 77.2%, Barry University
Barry University
Top 10 colleges in Miami, 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, $144,190, Barry University
Barry University
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Rank 2, Entry-Level Earnings, $78,671, Florida International University
Florida International University
Top 10 colleges in Miami, 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, $134,968, Barry University
Barry University
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Rank 2, Early-Career Earnings, $101,224, Florida International University
Florida International University
Top 10 colleges in Miami, 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, $47,768, Florida International University
Florida International University
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Rank 2, Mid-Career Earnings, $47,637, Barry University
Barry University
Top 10 colleges in Miami, 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, $54,823, Barry University
Barry University
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Rank 2, 8-Yr Earnings, $54,465, Florida International University
Florida International University
Top 10 colleges in Miami, 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, $60,249, Florida International University
Florida International University
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Rank 2, 10-Yr Earnings, $55,966, Barry University
Barry University
Top 10 colleges in Miami, 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, $225,290, Florida International University
Florida International University
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Rank 2, 10-Yr ROI, $150,160, Barry University
Barry University
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Rank 3, 10-Yr ROI, $10,540, Albizu University-Miami
Albizu University-Miami
Top 10 most affordable colleges in Miami, 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, $9,288, Florida International University
Florida International University
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Rank 2, Net Price, $22,613, Barry University
Barry University
Top 10 colleges in Miami, 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, 91.8%, Florida International University
Florida International University
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Rank 2, First-Year Retention, 63.4%, Barry University
Barry University
In-state tuition: Miami, Florida vs benchmarks
Sticker price
Miami, Florida median in-state tuition is $15,868, +187.9% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: Miami, Florida vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Miami, Florida is $9,500 (-29.3% vs U.S. median $13,432). Regional median: $14,173.
Median earnings (10 years out): Miami, Florida vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in Miami, Florida center around $55,966 (+3.0% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: Miami, Florida vs benchmarks
Working & not enrolled
The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 84.7% at the median Miami, Florida campus (-3.2 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
Miami, Florida median public in-state tuition is $15,868, about +187.9% vs the national median. Versus the Southeast region, tuition is +217.9%.
Median graduate debt is $9,500 (-29.3% below 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 Miami, Florida are $55,966, about +3.0% vs the U.S. campus median ($54,323).
The median campus reports 84.7% 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% (-3.2 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 83.3% 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 6.5% (U.S. 5.0%); 3-yr repayment progress 51.1% (U.S. 73.7%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include Florida International University (85.9%), Barry University (81.5%)—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 Miami, Florida is 54.8% (national institution average about 50.3%).
FAQ
How many colleges are in Miami?
EDsmart Data analysis: this city profile covers 39 campuses in Miami, Florida with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.
How much does college cost in Miami?
EDsmart Data analysis: median in-state tuition in Miami is $15,868 and median net price is $18,120. For Florida overall, medians are $3,110 and $7,247; U.S. medians are $5,512 and $9,967.
What do graduates earn in Miami?
EDsmart Data analysis: median 10-year earnings for campuses in Miami is $55,966 vs $49,137 for Florida and $54,323 nationally.
What is student debt like for Miami colleges?
EDsmart Data analysis: median completer debt in Miami is $9,500 vs $13,000 for Florida and $13,432 nationally.
What are the best colleges in Miami?
EDsmart Data analysis: top campuses on this page include Florida International University (graduation) and Florida International University (10-yr earnings). See Top 10 lists for admission, affordability, and employment metrics.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in Miami?
EDsmart Data analysis: among 39 campuses in Miami, Florida, 31 campuses with at least 25% Hispanic enrollment in College Scorecard demographics—a common Hispanic-serving institution (HSI) eligibility proxy; examples include Barry University, Albizu University-Miami, and Florida International University; 2 religiously affiliated private nonprofit campuses (IPEDS RELAFFIL); most common affiliations: Roman Catholic (2).
Sources & related
- Florida college profile
- All college profiles
- National benchmarks
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
- Download: JSON