The University of Florida is the best value college in the Sunshine State, according to a new report analyzing the best colleges at the best price.
Getting a degree is important to many since it can increase skill sets, general knowledge and overall net worth, but where students decide to get a college degree can often have a big impact on their pocketbooks.
Increasing college costs are a growing concern for many students who realize earning a college degree can often come at a steep price.
The SmartAsset report analyzed the state’s schools and found the University of Florida topped the list of the top 10 Florida schools with the best value.
To analyze the true cost of attending a school, the report included tuition (including in-state tuition, where applicable), student living costs (which includes room and board, books, supplies, transportation and other personal expenses as well as the average amount for scholarships) and grants offered to students of the school.
To interpret what exactly students were getting in return for their investment, SmartAsset looked at the student retention rate (the percentage of students re-enrolling at the institution the next year) as well as the average starting salary.
The report weighted all five categories to come up with a ranking and then created an index where the number one school was assigned a 100.
The Gainesville-based University of Florida, which is home to over 60,000 students, was awarded the top spot in the rankings.
This was the second year the University of Florida topped the list.
Student living costs were comparatively low for UF on the list, with costs equaling around $13,000. The college with the lowest cost of living was Rollins College (which placed No. 8 on the list) followed by Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU).
Of all the schools, UF had the highest retention rate at 96 percent, followed by its main rival, Florida State University (No. 3 on the list), which had a retention rate of 92 percent.
UF also had the highest starting salary of any public university, with graduates making around $50,000 after college.
Placing second on the list was FAMU, where students made around $46,000 as their starting salary while tuition was relatively inexpensive, costing nearly $5,800.
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona beach placed third on the list, with students having the highest average starting salary at $57,000. Tuition costs were much higher at Embry-Riddle, however, costing around $31,000.
To see the full report, click here.
Reach reporter Allison Nielsen by email at allison@sunshinestatenews.com or follow her on Twitter: @AllisonNielsen.
