Graduate earnings are in line with similar institutions.
What graduates earn 10 years after enrollment.
Annual salary at 10 years
Lower quartile earnings
Upper quartile earnings
How graduate earnings grow in the decade after enrollment.
Florida State graduates experience steady earnings growth throughout their early and mid-career progression. Median earnings begin at $49,814 six years after enrollment, advance to $55,983 at eight years, and reach $61,675 at ten years—representing 23.8% growth between the six-year and ten-year marks.
How outcomes compare to similar institutions.
Graduate earnings align with peer institutions — outcomes are in line with similar schools.
Financial justification for the investment.
Excellent affordability. Median debt of $18,000 is well under annual earnings, enabling comfortable repayment.
Florida State graduates complete their education with median debt of $18,000, below the peer median of $20,000 and resulting in favorable debt positioning relative to similar institutions. Debt levels span from $8,400 at the 25th percentile to $27,750 at the 75th percentile, indicating controlled borrowing patterns across the student body.
Florida State University demonstrates around the national average return performance with a return index percentile of 47.4%. While graduates earn a median of $61,675 ten years after enrollment—ranking in the 75th percentile nationally—they earn $10,920 below expectations based on student demographics and institutional characteristics.
Approximately 21.2% of Florida State graduates continue to graduate or professional school, with high confidence in this estimate based on program mix...
Program mix explains much of the earnings story.
Florida State's strongest earnings outcomes emerge from technical and business programs, with Artificial Intelligence leading at $77,447 median earnings and Banking and Financial Support Services following at $75,328. Accounting Technology produces graduates earning $74,193, while Digital Marketing delivers $62,764 earnings.
These programs demonstrate how specialized skills and technical expertise translate to premium labor market outcomes. Psychology, despite representing the university's largest program with 825 graduates, produces more modest earnings of $44,481, reflecting different career trajectories in social services and education.
See which programs drive the strongest earnings and career trajectories
Earnings outcomes at Florida State span a meaningful range reflecting diverse career pathways and program choices. The distribution from $40,653 at the 25th percentile to $90,690 at the 75th percentile creates a 2.2:1 ratio between top and bottom quartile earners.
