Florida Polytechnic combines focused technical education with outstanding financial outcomes. Graduates achieve solid earnings in engineering and computer science fields while maintaining debt levels $7,250 below peer institutions, creating sustainable career pathways.
Solid outcomes relative to educational investment
With excellent performance, driven by low debt levels and manageable net prices
With above average performance, indicating moderate enrollment of Pell-eligible and first-generation students
Also showing above average performance in economic advancement outcomes
Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Full AnalysisFlorida Polytechnic University delivers strong value through the combination of specialized STEM outcomes and exceptional debt management. Graduates achieve median earnings of $77,545 six years after enrollment, supported by unusually low median debt of $14,250 that ranks at the 87.0th percentile nationally.
This creates a highly favorable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.18, meaning graduates typically owe less than one-fifth of their annual income in student loans. Compared to peer institutions with median debt of $21,500, Florida Polytechnic students graduate with $7,250 less debt burden.
Students seeking specialized STEM education with strong career outcomes, particularly in Computer Graphics, Engineering, and technical fields. Well-suited for those prioritizing small class sizes and focused curriculum at a public institution with manageable costs and excellent debt affordability.
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.
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This is the Florida Polytechnic University hub overview page. For comprehensive institutional data including detailed charts and metrics, visit the full analysis at /school/florida-polytechnic-university/analysis.
Specialized STEM education with exceptional affordability
Florida Polytechnic University leads with excellent affordability performance at the 94.4th percentile nationally. Located in Lakeland, Florida, this small public university combines specialized STEM education with strong financial outcomes.
Florida Polytechnic maintains moderately selective admission with a 55.7% acceptance rate while enrolling 33.1% Pell-eligible students and 17.3% transfer students. The institution demonstrates strong return performance at the 83.1st percentile, reflecting solid post-graduation outcomes relative to educational investment.
With SAT scores among the highest we track at the 97.0th percentile and median test scores of 1294, Florida Polytechnic attracts academically strong students to its focused technical curriculum. The university's mobility performance ranks at the 58.5th percentile, indicating above average economic advancement outcomes for graduates across diverse backgrounds.
Florida Polytechnic admits approximately 55.7% of applicants, meaning roughly 1 in 2 applicants receives an offer of admission. This places the university in the moderately selective category, making it more accessible than highly competitive institutions while maintaining academic standards.
The peer median admission rate of 84.2% indicates Florida Polytechnic is more selective than typical small public universities by nearly 30 percentage points. This level of selectivity means qualified students with solid academic preparation have reasonable chances of admission, though the technical focus of programs requires strong mathematics and science backgrounds.
Students considering Florida Polytechnic should view it as a match or safety school if their academic credentials align with the university's standards. The specialized STEM curriculum means applicants should demonstrate interest and aptitude in technical fields rather than broad liberal arts preparation.
Unlike highly selective research universities where exceptional students face uncertainty, Florida Polytechnic's admission process allows qualified candidates to plan with confidence while building college lists that include both more and less selective technical institutions.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Florida Polytechnic's published cost of attendance is $20,807 per year, consisting of $4,940 in in-state tuition, $21,005 for out-of-state students, $12,940 for room and board, and $1,200 for books and supplies. However, the average student pays just $9,899 after financial aid, representing savings of $10,908 from the sticker price.
This net price falls $3,403 below the peer median of $13,302, making Florida Polytechnic more affordable than similar small public institutions. The substantial gap between published costs and actual net price reflects the university's commitment to accessibility through financial aid targeting.
Out-of-state students face higher tuition but benefit from the same aid programs that reduce overall costs. The combination of moderate sticker prices and generous aid makes technical education accessible to students from diverse economic backgrounds, supporting the university's mission of expanding STEM career pathways.
Florida Polytechnic graduates demonstrate solid early-career earnings outcomes based on a six-year post-enrollment cohort of 34 graduates. Median earnings reach $77,545 six years after enrollment, reflecting the technical focus of the university's programs.
Computer Engineering graduates lead with median earnings of $65,126, followed by Mechanical Engineering at $62,595 and Computer Graphics at $61,197. While earnings data is limited to the six-year horizon, these outcomes position graduates competitively in technical fields.
Approximately 25.3% of graduates continue to graduate or professional study, indicating strong preparation for both advanced education and workforce entry. The concentrated program offerings in engineering and computer science create focused career pathways with consistent outcomes across the university's technical disciplines.
With all three programs showing earnings above $60,000 within six years, Florida Polytechnic demonstrates effectiveness in preparing students for well-compensated technical careers despite its small size and recent establishment.
Electrical and Electronics Engineering.
17 graduates
Computer Engineering, General.
42 graduates
Mechanical Engineering.
61 graduates
Computer Graphics.
162 graduates
Florida Polytechnic offers 3 bachelor's degree programs with federal earnings data, all demonstrating strong national and state performance. Computer Graphics ranks #4 nationally and #1 in Florida, producing 162 graduates with median earnings of $61,197 and an exceptional value score of 80.0.
This program represents the university's largest enrollment with 61.1% of graduates. Computer Engineering ranks #100 nationally and #8 in Florida, graduating 42 students with median earnings of $65,126 and a value score of 19.5.
Mechanical Engineering ranks #212 nationally and #9 in Florida, producing 61 graduates with median earnings of $62,595. All three programs carry flagship status at the university, reflecting Florida Polytechnic's concentrated focus on technical disciplines with strong career outcomes.
