Est. Earnings (1yr)
$35,361
Est. from FL median (11 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$30,624
Est. from FL median (7 programs)

Analysis

A bachelor's degree in liberal arts from Florida Southern carries an estimated $30,624 in debt—roughly $5,000 above what comparable programs in Florida typically produce. When measured against estimated first-year earnings of $35,361, that's nearly a dollar of debt for every dollar earned in year one. At a selective private college charging premium tuition, you'd hope for better financial positioning than what similar public universities deliver, yet the earnings estimate here aligns almost exactly with Florida's state median for this major.

The broader Florida landscape reveals substantial variation in liberal arts outcomes. University of Miami graduates in this field earn over $50,000 their first year, while even large public institutions like UCF and USF report earnings in the mid-to-upper $40,000s—all with actual data showing significantly stronger results than what peer programs suggest for Florida Southern. That $15,000+ gap between this estimated outcome and proven top performers in the state is hard to ignore when the debt burden appears elevated.

The fundamental challenge here is straightforward: you're looking at private college pricing with estimated outcomes that mirror mid-tier public programs. Unless your child has compelling reasons to pursue this specific path at Florida Southern—strong scholarship aid, particular faculty connections, or career goals where the liberal arts degree serves primarily as a credential—programs with documented stronger earnings and lower debt exist throughout Florida.

Where Florida Southern College Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all liberal arts and sciences, general studies and humanities bachelors's programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs in Florida

Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Florida (41 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
Florida Southern CollegeLakeland$42,360$35,361*—$30,624*—
University of MiamiCoral Gables$59,926$50,614*$51,653$28,590*0.56
University of Central FloridaOrlando$6,368$48,391*$47,044$15,135*0.31
Barry UniversityMiami$33,450$46,015*$40,411$46,429*1.01
University of South FloridaTampa$6,410$45,230*$45,069$30,676*0.68
Saint Leo UniversitySaint Leo$28,360$40,874*$45,963$30,624*0.75
National Median—$36,340*—$27,000*0.74
* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with liberal arts and sciences, general studies and humanities graduates

Postsecondary Teachers, All Other

All postsecondary teachers not listed separately.

About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Florida Southern College, approximately 26% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the median of 11 similar programs in FL. Actual outcomes may vary.