Bethune-Cookman University

Bethune-Cookman University's program mix is anchored in Business and professional fields aligned with workforce demand in Florida's service and hospitality economy. Psychology, General is the largest program with 60 graduates, followed by Criminal Justice, Kinesiology, Business Administration, and Communication and Media Studies.

Across 18 programs serving roughly 386 students annually, the institution concentrates on applied professional preparation rather than research-intensive fields. The earnings pattern reflects the institution's regional positioning and program focus.

Nursing leads with median earnings of $76,641 four years after enrollment among 10 graduates, followed by Business Administration with $50,413 and Criminal Justice with $46,540. General Studies graduates earn $42,127, and Psychology, General reaches $37,793.

These outcomes cluster in the moderate range for four-year earnings, reflecting the applied-professional and service-sector orientation of the institution's dominant programs. The program portfolio emphasizes direct-to-workforce pathways in business, hospitality, education, and health-related fields where graduates enter employment immediately rather than pursuing graduate study.

This positioning aligns with regional labor-market demand in central Florida, where hospitality, tourism, healthcare, and business services represent substantial employment sectors. The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how these fields align with national wage trends and regional hiring patterns.

Bethune-Cookman University's published cost of attendance is $29,764. Net price by income band shows meaningful variation: low-income families pay approximately $10,896, middle-income families pay around $14,346, and higher-income families pay approximately $18,654.

Azimuth ranks Bethune-Cookman University #660 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. The affordability rank reflects both the headline sticker price and the debt load graduates carry; [net price and sticker price can differ substantially](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/), and understanding that gap matters when comparing institutions.

Bethune-Cookman participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs. Families apply for need-based aid using the FAFSA, and individual aid packages vary by demonstrated need and family circumstances.

Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $31,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $29,770; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $46,007, median federal debt of $31,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $350 under standard ten-year repayment.

For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).

Graduates of Bethune-Cookman University earn median 4-year earnings of $46,007, placing Bethune-Cookman University in the 3.2 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $2,931 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Bethune-Cookman University in the 69.8 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.

Azimuth ranks Bethune-Cookman University #1308 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Bethune-Cookman University's program portfolio centers on Business, which anchors the institution's earnings profile.

Psychology, General is the largest program with 60 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $37,793, representing 0.7x the national benchmark for the field. Criminal Justice enrolls 57 graduates with median 4-year earnings of $46,540, and Kinesiology contributes 42 graduates to the institution's degree output.

The Business Administration program graduates 42 students earning median 4-year earnings of $50,413 at 0.7x the national benchmark, while Communication and Media Studies enrolls 41 graduates with median 4-year earnings of $30,852 at 0.5x the benchmark. This program mix reflects Bethune-Cookman University's focus on career-oriented fields that connect directly to regional labor-market demand in Florida's hospitality, business services, and professional sectors.