Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University

FAMU's Health Sciences program trails most Florida alternatives by a significant margin, with first-year earnings of $27,553 falling well below the state median of $31,182. Among 20 Florida programs, this ranks only at the 40th percentile—meaning typical community colleges and regional universities consistently deliver better outcomes. The gap is even starker nationally, where this program sits in just the 11th percentile, earning nearly $8,000 less than the national median. Given FAMU's 21% admission rate and strong institutional reputation, these outcomes don't match the selectivity.

The debt burden makes the picture more challenging. At $27,750, graduates carry more debt than typical Florida peers (state median: $23,242), and that debt nearly equals their entire first-year salary. While earnings do grow 32% over four years to $36,452, graduates spend those crucial early career years with an uncomfortable debt load relative to income. For context, Seminole State College graduates—from a far less selective institution—earn $46,328 right out of the gate, nearly 70% more.

If your child is committed to FAMU for compelling reasons (HBCU experience, scholarship offers, campus culture), understand that this particular program will likely mean tighter finances early on than comparable options in Florida. The value proposition improves only if FAMU offers substantially lower out-of-pocket costs than alternatives like UWF or UNF, which deliver meaningfully stronger financial outcomes.