Nova Southeastern University
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33328-2004
About Nova Southeastern University
Nova Southeastern University is a private research university in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, serving roughly 7,240 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 73.21% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $59,209 among students who received federal aid.
Key findings
- Nova Southeastern University charges 32% above the national private non-profit median tuition ($38,700).
- Versus the Florida median, sticker tuition is about 2.3×.
- Completion within 150% of normal time is 63.34%.
- Median earnings 10 years after entry are $59,209.
Research findings
Finding
Modeled return on investment at Nova Southeastern University is strong.
Estimated ROI reaches about 387% using Scorecard cost and 10-year earnings fields in this extract.
Interpretation: On this institution-wide model, typical graduate earnings over a decade substantially exceed estimated net education cost.
Limitation: ROI is institution-wide and not program-specific; individual outcomes vary by major, aid package, and labor market.
Finding
Nova Southeastern University awards credentials across a wide program mix.
IPEDS completions cover more than 132 distinct degree programs at this campus.
Interpretation: Institutional averages blend very different fields; program-level completions and earnings matter more than the campus mean alone.
Limitation: Completions counts are not enrollment demand and do not measure program quality.
Cost benchmarks
| Benchmark | Median Tuition | Median Net Price | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nova Southeastern University | $38,700 | $30,371 | 1 |
| Private Non-profit (national median) | $29,325 | — | 1,444 |
| Florida (state median) | $16,838 | $7,247 | 176 |
| Rural (locale median) | $14,160 | $18,700 | 1,649 |
| United States (national median) | $11,900 | $17,156 | — |
Compares this campus to school-type, state, and locale medians plus a U.S. national median (College Scorecard–derived). Locale groups campuses by NCES locale type; state tuition is the median published tuition among campuses in that state.
Average net price is 22% below published tuition at Nova Southeastern University
Key findings
- Nova Southeastern University's average net price ($30,371) is 22% below published tuition ($38,700).
- Nova Southeastern University charges 32% above the national private non-profit median tuition ($38,700).
- Versus the Florida median, sticker tuition is about 2.3×.
Nova Southeastern University tuition
Published undergraduate tuition $38,700
Finding Nova Southeastern University charges 32% above the national private non-profit median tuition.
Evidence Published tuition is $38,700. That is 32% above the national private non-profit median ($29,325). Versus the Florida median ($16,838), sticker tuition is about 2.3×. Versus the U.S. median ($11,900), sticker is about 3.3×.
Method Sticker tuition compared with Scorecard-derived medians by ownership, state, locale, and national rollups when available.
Interpretation Published tuition measures sticker price relative to private non-profit and geographic peers; it does not equal what undergraduates typically pay after aid.
Limitation Sticker comparisons omit room, board, and institutional aid; average net price and income-band net prices are the stronger signals of typical family cost.
Evidence: published tuition at Nova Southeastern University versus school-type, state, locale, and U.S. medians.
Evidence: average net price at Nova Southeastern University versus state, locale, and U.S. medians.
What undergraduates typically pay
Finding Average net price at Nova Southeastern University is $30,371.
Evidence College Scorecard average net price is $30,371 (cost of attendance minus average grant aid for aided undergraduates). That is about $23,124 above the Florida median net price. Versus rural campuses, net price runs $11,671 above the locale median.
Method Average net price from College Scorecard; compared with state, locale, and U.S. medians from EDsmart aggregates.
Interpretation Average net price is a stronger institutional cost signal than published tuition because it incorporates grant aid.
Limitation The campus average masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average.
Key takeaway Nova Southeastern University’s published tuition substantially overstates typical undergraduate cost: average net price is about 22% lower after grants and scholarships.
Nova Southeastern University: research record
Canonical EDsmart Data findings for Nova Southeastern University—costs, outcomes, admissions, and programs—with evidence and methodology notes.
Research findings
Interpretation
The combination of completion and 10-year earnings is a multidimensional outcomes signal; it does not measure educational quality by itself.
Financial profile
Annual tuition
$38,700
Avg. net price
$30,371
Net price by family income
| Income bracket | Avg. annual net price |
|---|---|
| $0–$30,000 | $26,603 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $27,048 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $29,953 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $34,277 |
| $110,001+ | $35,443 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $154,800. See cost investigation.
Student outcomes
Share of first-year students returning the following fall.
Graduation rate and 10-year earnings are in the hero strip above; see Graduates for more.
What Nova Southeastern University is known for
Top program completions
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse440
- Osteopathic Medicine/Osteopathy367
- Education, General268
- Biology/Biological Sciences, General259
- Family Practice Nurse/Nursing248
See earnings & programs for more.
Admissions landscape
- Broad access — most applicants are admitted.
- Yield: 16% of admitted students enrolled.
- Average SAT: 1157
- Midpoint ACT: 25
See Admissions for the full funnel.
Is Nova Southeastern University a good school?
Data-framed fit—not a prestige rating.
Nova Southeastern University is a good school for those looking for strong completion alongside solid mid-career earnings.
EDsmart Data does not assign an opinion score; this framing summarizes the strongest Scorecard signals for this campus.
More from the data
Location, control, enrollment, and aid context for Nova Southeastern University.
Campus
Location
Fort Lauderdale, FL
City / state
- ZIP
- 33328-2004
- NCES locale
- Rural fringe
Compared with Rural campuses nationally, net price is 62% above the median for Rural campuses ($18,700 median).
Control
Institution type
Private Non-profit
Control
- Region
- Southeast
- Carnegie
- Doctoral Universities: High Research Activity
Size
Enrollment
7,240
Total enrollment
- Undergraduate
- 7,726
- Graduate
- 13,599
- Full-time share
- 94%
Student aid
Debt & aid
$24,250
Median federal loan debt
- Pell grant share
- 35.81%
Total Cost, Aid & Default
Total Cost of Attendance
Tuition vs average net price after aid for Nova Southeastern University.
Financial Aid by Income Level
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Nova Southeastern University was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Nova Southeastern University in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $25,430 | $25,430 | $27,998 |
| 2014 | $26,700 | $26,700 | $25,476 |
| 2015 | $27,660 | $27,660 | $23,765 |
| 2016 | $28,736 | $28,736 | $24,663 |
| 2017 | $29,880 | $29,930 | $26,606 |
| 2018 | $30,900 | $30,900 | $25,816 |
| 2019 | $32,110 | $32,110 | $23,905 |
| 2020 | $33,430 | $33,430 | $25,833 |
| 2021 | $34,570 | $34,570 | $25,737 |
| 2022 | $36,300 | $36,300 | $28,219 |
| 2023 | $37,080 | $37,080 | $31,303 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
How difficult is it to get in?
Acceptance Rate
This institution has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified applicants.
Applicants → admits → first-time enrollment from College Scorecard / IPEDS. Bar widths are scaled for readability at highly selective schools.
Test Scores
Average 1157 (middle 50% not reported)
Midpoint 25 (middle 50% not reported)
Scores for enrollees who submitted tests (College Scorecard).
Academic Requirements
Estimated from admission selectivity and test scores. Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
Estimated range · median 3.20
Estimated GPA band from selectivity and test scores — not an official requirement.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Nova Southeastern University reported total enrollment of about 7,240 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 28% male and 72% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes Hispanic or Latino (32.6%), White (27.3%), and Black or African American (15.2%). About 35.81% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 37.3% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
94.3% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Nova Southeastern University in 2024 is 7,240 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 7,726 students. Graduate enrollment is about 13,599 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
75.6%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
Largest share of total enrollment in our College Scorecard extract.
College Scorecard student demographics (total enrollment shares).
Do students complete their programs?
Time to Complete
55.20% 100% Completion Time
63.34% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 55.20% of students graduating from Nova Southeastern University completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse: 12% male / 88% female
- Osteopathic Medicine/Osteopathy: 46% male / 54% female
- Education, General: 18% male / 82% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Largest group by summed IPEDS award counts across reported programs.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
Nova Southeastern University graduates earn a median of $59,209 ten years after entry
Finding Earnings, debt, and program mix define the financial profile of Nova Southeastern University.
Evidence Median earnings 10 years after entry: $59,209. Median federal loan debt: $24,250. Average net price used in cost models: $30,371.
Method College Scorecard median earnings (10-year), median debt, and EDsmart ROI / payback models using campus net price.
Interpretation Institution-wide ROI and debt ratios summarize campus averages; program choice still drives individual outcomes.
Limitation Salary reflects median earnings ten years after entry; ROI is not program-specific.
Key takeaway Nova Southeastern University graduates report median earnings of $59,209 ten years after entry—an institution-wide outcomes signal, not a program guarantee.
Return on Investment
Debt and 4-year net cost vs. cumulative 10-year median earnings for Nova Southeastern University.
Top Programs by Completions
Largest 10 programs by IPEDS completions (132 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
IPEDS award counts for the largest programs at Nova Southeastern University.
Employment Outcomes
Median earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after entry for Nova Southeastern University graduates.
How financially powerful is this institution?
Finding: federal finance and Scorecard instructional fields for Nova Southeastern University—endowment assets (fiscal year 2023), instructional staffing and expenditure. Compared with state, regional, and U.S. medians from EDsmart Data institutional financials.
Institutional endowment
$224.9M
End-of-year assets · Fiscal year 2023
- Florida median 6.3× the median ($35.9M)
- Southeast median 12× the median ($19.4M)
- U.S. median 8.5× the median ($26.4M)
- Florida median 1.5× the median ($7,784)
- Southeast median 1.2× the median ($9,308)
- U.S. median 0.95× the median ($12,100)
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 48.2%
- Florida median 0.0 pp at median (48.2%)
- Southeast median 11.2 pp below median (59.4%)
- U.S. median 9.8 pp below median (58.0%)
- Average faculty salary (monthly): $11,462
- Florida median 1.7× the median ($6,877)
- Southeast median 1.7× the median ($6,825)
- U.S. median 1.5× the median ($7,615)
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $18,297
- Florida median 3.2× the median ($5,803)
- Southeast median 2.8× the median ($6,602)
- U.S. median 2.5× the median ($7,288)
Instructional metrics from College Scorecard. Peer medians are campus-level; see the institutional financials deep dive. Detailed non-instructional staff counts are not included here.
Nova Southeastern University at a glance
Nova Southeastern University
Nova Southeastern University is a private non-profit institution in Fort Lauderdale, FL, classified as Doctoral Universities: High Research Activity.
- Largest programs (IPEDS awards)
- Registered Nursing/Registered NurseOsteopathic Medicine/OsteopathyEducation, General
- Largest enrollment groups
- Hispanic or Latino32.6%White or Caucasian27.3%Black or African American15.2%
- Opportunity College (2025)
- Higher access & higher earnings · Browse OCU directory
Schools near Nova Southeastern University
Other campuses in Fort Lauderdale, FL when available, plus nearby institutions in Florida.
Similar schools
Peers matched by the same EDsmart outcomes grade (Grade C) within Florida, then by similar ownership and admissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Nova Southeastern University located?
Nova Southeastern University is located in Fort Lauderdale, FL.
What is Nova Southeastern University's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at Nova Southeastern University is 73.2% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 17,621 applicants and 12,805 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
What is Nova Southeastern University's tuition?
Nova Southeastern University tuition (published undergraduate sticker price) is $38,700 in the latest College Scorecard data. Average net price after grant aid is $30,371 for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid.
How much does Nova Southeastern University cost?
Reported tuition is $38,700 and average net price is $30,371 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $16,840 annually.
Why is Nova Southeastern University's net price so much lower than tuition?
At Nova Southeastern University, published tuition is $38,700 while average net price is $30,371—about 22% lower. Average net price subtracts grant and scholarship aid from cost of attendance for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid (College Scorecard). Institutional aid therefore compresses sticker price into a lower typical undergraduate cost signal. The campus average still masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average. EDsmart Data treats the sticker–net gap as an analytical finding, not advice about individual aid offers.
What explains Nova Southeastern University's return on investment in EDsmart Data?
EDsmart Data models ROI using campus average net price ($30,371), completion (63.3% within 150% of normal time where reported), and median earnings ten years after entry ($59,209). High completion and strong mid-career earnings relative to net cost raise modeled ROI; the estimate is institution-wide and not program-specific. Debt-to-earnings ratios, when available, further contextualize borrowing pressure. Limitations include suppressed fields, program mix, and labor-market variation over time.
What is the student body demographics at Nova Southeastern University?
Nova Southeastern University reports undergraduate enrollment of about 7,726 students, Hispanic or Latino (32.6%), White (27.3%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Nova Southeastern University?
About 37.3% of students at Nova Southeastern University are first-generation college students.
What test scores do students need for Nova Southeastern University?
Among enrolled students who submitted scores, Nova Southeastern University reports midpoint SAT about 1157 and midpoint ACT about 25.
What do graduates of Nova Southeastern University earn?
Median earnings are $58,153 six years after entry and $59,209 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Nova Southeastern University?
The 150%-time completion rate is 63.3% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Nova Southeastern University students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $24,250.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology & Data Scope
This profile uses institution-level fields from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, merged with IPEDS directory attributes where needed for locale, ownership, and program completions.
Benchmark rows compare this campus to NCES locale-type medians (for example Suburban) from our processed location extract. Implied U.S. medians are derived from locale-vs-national percentage fields in that extract—not a separate national Scorecard table.