With the average cost of a four-year degree continuing to soar, 81% of American college students now believe tuition is out of control, according to a recent WalletHub survey. The report also reveals growing concerns over student debt, job prospects and the overall return on investment in a college education.
At Florida Polytechnic University, students find a different experience.
As the state’s only public university exclusively dedicated to STEM, Florida Poly delivers a high-quality, in-demand education in a tight-knit campus environment – and does so at one of the lowest tuition rates in the nation.
Annual in-state tuition and fees remain at $4,940, a rate that has not increased since its first academic year in 2014-2015 and is the lowest in Florida.
That cost is nearly half the national average of $9,750 for in-state tuition at four-year public institutions, according to the Education Data Initiative. At private universities, the average tuition rises to $38,421.
“Affordability gets students through the door – but it’s the hands-on, industry-driven STEM education we offer that keeps them inspired and sets them apart,” said Dr. Andy Oguntola, Florida Poly’s assistant vice president of enrollment management.
The University’s affordability extends beyond its low tuition. Florida Poly offers generous need- and merit-based scholarships, provides access to work-study opportunities, and supports state initiatives like Florida Bright Futures, making an exceptional STEM education accessible to more students.
While nearly one in four students surveyed by WalletHub are unsure whether their tuition is worthwhile investment, and many worry about debt and job prospects, Florida Poly students and graduates defy these trends, as shown by these recent stats:
- Florida Poly alumni earn the highest salaries in the State University System one year after graduation and do so with the least amount of debt.
- Florida Poly is ranked No. 8 nationwide for best career outcomes and is No. 1 among public institutions, according to WalletHub’s 2025 Rankings.
- More than 60% of Florida Poly freshmen do not utilize student loans.
- Florida Poly was ranked the No. 1 public college in the Southeast and the No. 2 best value public college in 2024-25 by U.S. News and World Report.
- Florida Poly was listed as No. 2 in the state for best cost and financing, according to WalletHub’s 2025 Rankings.
- Only 25% of Florida Poly students take out federal loans, and the average debt among those graduates is $14,250 – the lowest among all public universities in the state – compared to the $35,745 national average.
“When I was choosing a college, I considered schools like Rochester Institute of Technology or Columbia, but affordability was really important, and Florida Poly’s cost and unique major concentrations stood out,” said Lang Towl ’25, who just earned a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering and will soon begin work as a distribution engineer at Duke Energy.
“I once heard colleges described as 19th-century institutions trying to solve 20th-century problems, but Florida Poly really felt like a 21st-century institution solving 21st-century problems,” he said.
Contact:
Lydia Guzmán
Director of Communications
863-874-8557
