Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Eckerd College #1471 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $20,955 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Eckerd College in the 4.8 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Eckerd College sits in the 9.6 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. --- Eckerd College's composite ranking reflects strong financial outcomes for students, with graduates achieving higher-than-expected earnings compared with similar institutions. The institution's biological sciences focus contributes to these outcomes, with median 4-year earnings placing it among the top performers in its cohort.
Azimuth ranks Eckerd College #1471 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private baccalaureate college in Saint Petersburg, Florida, Eckerd College enrolls roughly 1,888 undergraduates. Retention is 75.8% and the six-year graduation rate is 65.9%, reflecting the institution's ability to support students through degree completion. Eckerd College delivers solid long-term financial outcomes anchored in a focused academic portfolio. Azimuth ranks Eckerd College #1393 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $20,955 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Eckerd College in the 4.8 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution's strength in Biological Sciences aligns with regional employer demand in Florida's life sciences and healthcare sectors, supporting competitive early-career earnings and steady career progression. Access and affordability round out the composite profile. Eckerd College enrolls 20.8% Pell-eligible students and 20.4% first-generation undergraduates, reflecting a moderately selective admissions posture. Azimuth ranks Eckerd College in the 3.6 percentile for affordability and the 12.2 percentile for access among nonprofit four-year institutions. For families weighing the institution's private tuition against its demonstrated financial outcomes, the composite positioning reflects a balanced value proposition — solid return on investment paired with meaningful access for low-income and first-generation students.
Eckerd College's published cost of attendance is $68,944. Need-based financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $29,615, middle-income families pay around $34,294, and higher-income families pay approximately $43,955. Azimuth ranks Eckerd College #1374 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. Eckerd College participates in federal need-based aid programs, including Pell Grants and Direct Loans, alongside institutional aid. The college's aid structure is need-based, with no merit component; families apply using the FAFSA and CSS Profile. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $27,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $52,772; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $48,651, median federal debt of $27,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $305 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Eckerd College is a strong fit for students drawn to the biological sciences and marine studies who want a small private college experience in Saint Petersburg, FL. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $48,651, placing Eckerd College in the 9.6 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. They earn about $20,955 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 4.8 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The college enrolls a meaningful share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 20.8% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 20.4% are first-generation — with a 51.1% Pell graduation rate. Published cost of attendance is $43,955, and median federal debt at graduation is $27,000. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the 75.8% admit rate makes the application process selective, and the program mix favors the Biological Sciences (10% of degrees). Students whose interests align with these areas will find strong outcomes relative to FL's no-degree baseline of $31,626.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
Personalized cost and earnings calculator
This is the Eckerd College hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Eckerd College's published cost of attendance is $68,944. Need-based financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $29,615, middle-income families pay around $34,294, and higher-income families pay approximately $43,955.
Azimuth ranks Eckerd College #1374 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
Eckerd College participates in federal need-based aid programs, including Pell Grants and Direct Loans, alongside institutional aid. The college's aid structure is need-based, with no merit component; families apply using the FAFSA and CSS Profile.
Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $27,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $52,772; 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 $48,651, median federal debt of $27,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $305 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 Eckerd College earn median 4-year earnings of $48,651, placing Eckerd College in the 9.6 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $20,955 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Eckerd College in the 4.8 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Eckerd College #1393 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern reflects Eckerd College's concentration in biological sciences and related health fields.
Natural Resources Conservation and Research is the largest program with 83 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $39,932, performing at 0.7x the national benchmark for the field. Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology, Evolution, Systematics, and Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology enrolls 80 graduates with median 4-year earnings of $48,631, also at 1.0x the benchmark.
Zoology/Animal Biology and Biology, General round out the largest programs, with Biology, General graduates earning $47,814 four years after enrollment at 0.8x the field benchmark. Psychology, General completes the top five with 37 graduates earning $53,220.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Toccoa Falls College Similar quality tier in Southeast (#36291 ranked) | GA | 66% | $36,630 | #36291 | Compare |
Young Harris College Similar quality tier in Southeast (#36286 ranked) | GA | 63% | $47,195 | #36286 | Compare |
Dean College Similar quality tier (#36285 ranked) | MA | 74% | $38,109 | #36285 | Compare |
Houghton University Similar quality tier (#36280 ranked) | NY | 89% | $46,721 | #36280 | Compare |
Truett Mcconnell University Similar quality tier in Southeast (#36278 ranked) | GA | 78% | $46,700 | #36278 | Compare |
Business/Commerce, General
15 graduates
Business Administration, Management and Operations
17 graduates
Communication and Media Studies
21 graduates
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
10 graduates
Psychology, General
37 graduates
Eckerd College's program mix is anchored in biological sciences, marine sciences, and environmental studies — a signature shaped by the institution's coastal Florida location and liberal arts identity. Natural Resources Conservation and Research is the largest program with 83 graduates, followed by Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology, Evolution, Systematics, and Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology, Zoology/Animal Biology, Biology, General, and Psychology, General.
Across 0 ranked programs serving roughly 502 students annually, the institution's strongest earnings outcomes cluster in applied and professional fields. Business/Commerce, General leads the earnings profile, with 15 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $63,660.
Business Administration follows with graduates earning $61,685, and Communication and Media Studies delivers median earnings of $60,969. These outcomes reflect Eckerd College's positioning as a private liberal arts college where career-oriented programs in business, health professions, and applied sciences drive stronger financial returns than the institution's broader biological and environmental science portfolio.
The program mix reflects a balance between foundational science education — where Natural Resources Conservation and Research and Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology, Evolution, Systematics, and Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology enroll substantial cohorts — and applied professional pathways where graduates enter the workforce directly. Several of the institution's programs in Biological Sciences are grad-school-dependent pathways where four-year earnings undercount lifetime trajectory because meaningful shares of graduates continue to graduate or professional school.
By contrast, programs in business, accounting, and health professions are high-mobility direct-to-workforce pathways where four-year earnings reflect actual labor-market outcomes. The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how Eckerd College's program families align with regional and national labor-market demand.
