Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks New College of Florida #897 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $17,972 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing New College of Florida in the 7.4 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks New College of Florida #283 for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions. ---
Azimuth ranks New College of Florida #897 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A public baccalaureate college in Sarasota, Florida, New College of Florida enrolls roughly 843 undergraduates. Retention is 75.6% and the six-year graduation rate is 66.7%, reflecting strong persistence and degree completion for a liberal arts institution. Where New College of Florida performs strongest is return on investment. Azimuth ranks New College of Florida #1445 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $43,848. They earn about $17,972 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing New College of Florida in the 7.4 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. This performance is notable for a small liberal arts college, where program breadth is intentionally limited and earnings outcomes depend heavily on how well the institution prepares students for competitive labor markets. Access and affordability anchor the institution's profile. New College of Florida enrolls 33.9% Pell-eligible students and 20.9% first-generation undergraduates, reflecting a commitment to broad access within a selective admissions framework. Azimuth ranks New College of Florida in the 26.7 percentile for access and the 95.6 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. For students who gain admission and can manage the cost of attendance, the combination of strong earnings outcomes, liberal arts rigor, and small-college mentorship creates a compelling value proposition — particularly for families seeking a distinctive educational model that delivers measurable financial returns.
New College of Florida's published cost of attendance is $24,449. Net price by income band reveals a progressive aid structure: low-income families pay approximately $3,591, middle-income families pay around $4,880, and higher-income families pay approximately $13,586. Azimuth ranks New College of Florida #64 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. As a public liberal arts college, New College of Florida combines the tuition structure of a state institution with the residential experience and small-class model of a private college. Need-based aid closes a meaningful portion of the gap between sticker price and what families actually pay, particularly for low-income students. The college participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs, and families apply using the FAFSA. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $17,375, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $17,666; 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 $43,848, median federal debt of $17,375 projects to a monthly payment of about $196 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
New College of Florida is a strong fit for students seeking a small, public liberal arts education in FL with an emphasis on Liberal Arts fields and undergraduate research opportunities. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $43,848, placing New College of Florida in the 2.3 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $17,972 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 7.4 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The college enrolls students from a range of backgrounds, with 33.9% of undergraduates receiving Pell Grants and 20.9% identifying as first-generation. These figures track FL's regional labor market and represent meaningful returns relative to the state's no-degree-equivalent earnings baseline of $31,626. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the 73.2% admit rate makes the application process selective, and the program mix favors liberal arts fields over professional ones. Students whose interests align with these areas will find a distinctive undergraduate experience.
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
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This is the New College Of Florida 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.
New College of Florida's published cost of attendance is $24,449. Net price by income band reveals a progressive aid structure: low-income families pay approximately $3,591, middle-income families pay around $4,880, and higher-income families pay approximately $13,586.
Azimuth ranks New College of Florida #64 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.
As a public liberal arts college, New College of Florida combines the tuition structure of a state institution with the residential experience and small-class model of a private college. Need-based aid closes a meaningful portion of the gap between sticker price and what families actually pay, particularly for low-income students.
The college participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs, and families apply using the FAFSA. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $17,375, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $17,666; 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 $43,848, median federal debt of $17,375 projects to a monthly payment of about $196 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 New College of Florida earn median 4-year earnings of $43,848, placing New College of Florida in the 2.3 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $17,972 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing New College of Florida in the 7.4 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks New College of Florida #1445 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern reflects New College's liberal arts foundation and the diversity of career paths its graduates pursue.
General Studies is the largest program with 77 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $39,137, at 0.7x the national benchmark for the field. The Biological and Physical Sciences program graduates 55 students with median 4-year earnings of $41,759, at 0.7x the benchmark.
Natural Resources Conservation and Research and Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services round out the largest programs, each enrolling 10 and 8 graduates respectively. These outcomes correspond to New College's strength in Liberal Arts fields, where graduates build careers across education, research, nonprofit leadership, and professional service sectors.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
University Of Puerto Rico-Utuado Similar quality tier (#29411 ranked) | PR | 64% | $23,906 | #29411 | Compare |
Valley City State University Similar quality tier (#29375 ranked) | ND | 99% | $52,725 | #29375 | Compare |
University Of Montevallo Similar quality tier in Southeast (#29361 ranked) | AL | 54% | $42,957 | #29361 | Compare |
Puerto Rico Conservatory Of Music Similar quality tier (#29481 ranked) | PR | 78% | $19,474 | #29481 | Compare |
University Of Wisconsin-Superior Similar quality tier (#29997 ranked) | WI | 93% | $49,606 | #29997 | Compare |
Biological and Physical Sciences
55 graduates
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
77 graduates
New College of Florida anchors its academic identity in the liberal arts tradition, a program mix that emphasizes breadth across humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences rather than concentration in a single professional field. The largest programs by enrollment reflect this distribution: General Studies leads with 77 graduates, followed by Biological and Physical Sciences with 55 graduates, Natural Resources Conservation and Research with 10 graduates, Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services with 8 graduates, and International/Globalization Studies with 6 graduates.
Across 5 total programs, 0 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold, serving roughly 156 students annually. The earnings landscape at New College of Florida reflects the liberal arts model: outcomes are distributed across fields rather than concentrated in a single high-earning major.
Biological and Physical Sciences leads for median earnings four years after enrollment at $41,759, with 55 graduates, while General Studies follows at $39,137 for 77 graduates. This pattern is characteristic of institutions where students pursue intellectual breadth and develop analytical skills across disciplines rather than training narrowly for a single profession.
The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how liberal arts fields align with labor-market trajectories over time. Liberal arts institutions like New College of Florida position graduates for careers that value adaptability and critical thinking across sectors—education, nonprofit leadership, public service, business, and creative fields—rather than direct pipeline placement into a single industry.
Four-year earnings reflect early-career outcomes in these diverse pathways, and many graduates continue to graduate or professional school, meaning the full financial trajectory extends well beyond the four-year window captured here.
