Florida Polytechnic University is among the 20 best universities in the nation for return on investment, outperforming some of the country’s most prestigious institutions.
That’s according to a new analysis[1] by EDsmart, a data-driven college ratings publisher. EDsmart evaluated 1,755 four-year colleges nationwide and ranked Florida Poly among the schools with the highest-value degrees based on cost, with an ROI of 163%. That’s 15 percentage points higher than the national average ROI at elite universities such as Harvard, Yale, Princeton and MIT.
The Lakeland-based STEM university ranks among longer-tenured universities such as Cal State and the City University of New York.
“Florida Poly continues to prove that students don’t need to attend an Ivy League school to achieve outstanding career success,” said Andy Oguntola, Florida Poly’s assistant vice president for enrollment management. “Our graduates’ strong return on investment shows how affordable, high-quality STEM education can lead to incredible outcomes.”
Florida Poly graduates earn the highest median salaries among all institutions in the State University System one year after graduation, according to the state’s Board of Governors, and have the lowest student debt, according to the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. The university has not raised tuition since it opened in 2014, and its rates remain the lowest among the state’s public universities.
“As we continue to grow and innovate, our commitment to affordability and student success will keep Florida Poly among the nation’s top institutions,” Provost Brad Thiessen said. “These rankings are just the beginning of what’s ahead.”
The analysis defines ROI as how much a graduate earns for every dollar invested in their degree. EDsmart used U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard data and considered factors such as total degree cost, average time to earn a degree, and average salary six years after graduation to calculate ROI.
“Prestige isn’t the same as payoff,” EDsmart founder and CEO Tyson Stevens said. “Our analysis shows many regional schools deliver more value on this ROI metric than elite peers.”
In August, student loan referral service Student Choice[2] also found degrees in computer science and engineering deliver the highest ROI for college students nationwide, with averages of 310% and 326%, respectively. At Florida Poly, where the majority of students pursue these high-value degrees, the ROI was even higher.
Florida Poly also has earned distinction for academic excellence, career outcomes and affordability, including rankings at:
— No. 1 public college in the South for five consecutive years (U.S. News & World Report).
— No. 1 for highest alumni wages among Florida’s state universities, with a median of $66,800 one year after graduation (Florida Board of Governors).
— Top 10 Best Value College in the U.S. (Research.com).
— Top 10 in the nation for best career outcomes for two consecutive years (WalletHub).
— Top 30 in the nation for public engineering programs without a Ph.D. (U.S. News & World Report).
References
- ^ new analysis (www.edsmart.org)
- ^ Student Choice (floridapoly.edu)