Statistics at Florida International University

FIU's Statistics bachelor's degree faces an uphill challenge: while similar programs in Florida suggest first-year earnings around $53,000 against estimated debt of $20,000, this trails the national median for statistics graduates by roughly $6,500. That gap matters in a field where analytical skills typically command strong starting salaries. The state's flagship programs—particularly UF and UCF—report outcomes in the high $50,000s, suggesting FIU's location in Miami's job market hasn't translated into the earnings premium you might expect from a major metro area.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.38 looks manageable on paper, roughly matching what most Florida statistics programs deliver. But the real question is opportunity cost: statistics graduates nationally earn nearly $60,000 in their first year, and this estimated $53,000 figure places FIU's program closer to the bottom than the top of Florida's competitive landscape. With 40% of students receiving Pell grants, many families here are counting on strong post-graduation returns.

If your child is set on FIU for location or cost reasons, this program won't bury them in debt. But push hard on internship opportunities and whether the program has strong placement relationships with Miami's finance, healthcare, and tech sectors—because the baseline outcomes from peer programs suggest they'll need every advantage to match what competing Florida schools deliver.