Orlando, Florida Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)
TL;DR
Colleges in Orlando, Florida: median public in-state tuition $17,408 (+215.8% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $65,295 (+20.1% vs U.S.) employment-outcome proxy 83.1% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $13,097 (-1.3% vs U.S.) 110,503 students enrolled statewide.
Key Facts
- Institutions in this profile: 23 campuses
- Total college enrollment: 110,503 students
- Median public in-state tuition: $17,408 (+215.8% vs U.S.)
- Median earnings 10 years after entry: $65,295 (+20.1% vs U.S.)
- Working & not enrolled (8-yr cohort proxy): 83.1% (-4.8 pp vs U.S.)
- Median net price: $18,176 (+82.3% vs U.S.)
- Median student debt at graduation: $13,097 (-1.3% vs U.S. $13,271); regional median $14,456
- Average completion rate (institutions in state): 38.9%
- Median first-year retention (full-time, 4-yr): 70.2%
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Overview
Colleges and universities in Orlando serve students across Florida with associate, bachelor's, and graduate pathways. 23 reporting campuses in this city profile, with about 110,503 students enrolled in federal data, and median in-state tuition near $17,408. Tables below compare costs, completion, earnings, and standout institutions against Orlando, Florida and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.
Orlando 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orlando, Florida | $17,408 | $18,176 | $13,097 | 38.9% | 110,503 |
| Florida (state median) | $3,110 | $7,247 | $13,000 | 53.0% | 855,761 |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,969 | $13,271 | 50.3% | 14,468,221 |
Earnings & employment outcomes: Orlando, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orlando, Florida | $65,295 | 83.1% | 70.2% | 4.1% | — | 67.5% | 0.33 |
| Florida (state median) | $49,232 | 82.9% | 75.6% | 5.5% | — | 65.3% | 0.41 |
| United States | $54,384 | 88.0% | 76.4% | 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orlando, Florida | $17,408 | $18,176 | $13,097 | 38.9% | 110,503 | $65,295 | 83.1% |
| Miami | $15,868 | $18,120 | $9,500 | 54.8% | 107,556 | $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% |
| 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% |
| Jacksonville | $15,733 | $21,981 | $13,000 | 35.5% | 41,036 | $56,343 | 87.1% |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,969 | $13,271 | 50.3% | 14,468,221 | $54,384 | 88.0% |
Top 2 colleges in Orlando, 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, 78.0%, University of Central Florida
University of Central Florida
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Rank 2, Graduation Rate, 38.9%, AdventHealth University
AdventHealth University
Top 2 colleges in Orlando, 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, 83.8%, University of Central Florida
University of Central Florida
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Rank 2, Employment Outcome, 82.5%, AdventHealth University
AdventHealth University
Most selective college in Orlando, 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, 40.1%, University of Central Florida
University of Central Florida
Top 2 colleges in Orlando, 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, $77,225, AdventHealth University
AdventHealth University
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Rank 2, Entry-Level Earnings, $76,819, University of Central Florida
University of Central Florida
Top 2 colleges in Orlando, 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, $106,680, University of Central Florida
University of Central Florida
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Rank 2, Early-Career Earnings, $87,330, AdventHealth University
AdventHealth University
Top 2 colleges in Orlando, 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, $63,230, AdventHealth University
AdventHealth University
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Rank 2, Mid-Career Earnings, $47,137, University of Central Florida
University of Central Florida
Top 2 colleges in Orlando, 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, $68,561, AdventHealth University
AdventHealth University
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Rank 2, 8-Yr Earnings, $52,921, University of Central Florida
University of Central Florida
Top 2 colleges in Orlando, 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, $72,282, AdventHealth University
AdventHealth University
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Rank 2, 10-Yr Earnings, $58,308, University of Central Florida
University of Central Florida
Top 2 colleges in Orlando, 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, $211,954, University of Central Florida
University of Central Florida
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Rank 2, 10-Yr ROI, $189,715, AdventHealth University
AdventHealth University
Top 3 most affordable colleges in Orlando, 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, $10,411, University of Central Florida
University of Central Florida
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Rank 2, Net Price, $19,775, Ana G. Mendez University
Ana G. Mendez University
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Rank 3, Net Price, $30,135, AdventHealth University
AdventHealth University
Top 3 colleges in Orlando, 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, 92.3%, University of Central Florida
University of Central Florida
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Rank 2, First-Year Retention, 70.2%, Ana G. Mendez University
Ana G. Mendez University
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Rank 3, First-Year Retention, 64.0%, AdventHealth University
AdventHealth University
In-state tuition: Orlando, Florida vs benchmarks
Sticker price
Orlando, Florida median in-state tuition is $17,408, +215.8% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: Orlando, Florida vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Orlando, Florida is $13,097 (-1.3% vs U.S. median $13,271). Regional median: $14,456.
Median earnings (10 years out): Orlando, Florida vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in Orlando, Florida center around $65,295 (+20.1% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: Orlando, Florida vs benchmarks
Working & not enrolled
The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 83.1% at the median Orlando, Florida campus (-4.8 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
Orlando, Florida median public in-state tuition is $17,408, about +215.8% vs the national median. Versus the Southeast region, tuition is +248.7%.
Median graduate debt is $13,097 (-1.3% below the U.S. median of $13,271). 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 Orlando, Florida are $65,295, about +20.1% vs the U.S. campus median ($54,384).
The median campus reports 83.1% of its 8-year cohort as working and not enrolled—our closest federal proxy to a placement rate. The U.S. campus median is 88.0% (-4.8 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 70.2% 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 4.1% (U.S. 5.0%); 3-yr repayment progress 67.5% (U.S. 73.7%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include University of Central Florida (83.8%), AdventHealth University (82.5%)—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 Orlando, Florida is 38.9% (national institution average about 50.3%).
Frequently Asked Questions
How many colleges are in Orlando?
This city profile covers 23 campuses in Orlando, Florida with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.
How much does college cost in Orlando?
Median in-state tuition in Orlando is $17,408 and median net price is $18,176. For Florida overall, medians are $3,110 and $7,247; U.S. medians are $5,512 and $9,969.
What do graduates earn in Orlando?
Median 10-year earnings for campuses in Orlando is $65,295 vs $49,232 for Florida and $54,384 nationally.
What is student debt like for Orlando colleges?
Median completer debt in Orlando is $13,097 vs $13,000 for Florida and $13,271 nationally.
What are the best colleges in Orlando?
Top campuses on this page include University of Central Florida (graduation) and AdventHealth University (10-yr earnings). See Top 10 lists for admission, affordability, and employment metrics.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in Orlando?
Among 23 campuses in Orlando, Florida, 13 campuses with at least 25% Hispanic enrollment in College Scorecard demographics—a common Hispanic-serving institution (HSI) eligibility proxy; examples include University of Central Florida, AdventHealth University, and Orange Technical College-South Campus; 1 religiously affiliated private nonprofit campus (IPEDS RELAFFIL); most common affiliations: Seventh Day Adventist (1).
Sources & related
- Florida college profile
- All college profiles
- National benchmarks
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
- Download: JSON