Measuring the Economic Success of Florida’s Graduates
Florida has a large and complex system of higher education. Measuring the Economic Success of Florida’s Graduates provides students, parents, and others with information on graduates of Florida’s public institutions of higher education.
The report shows that higher education credentials are correlated with earnings upon program completion. However, the payoff varies by credential level, program, and institution. Knowing about variations in the economic payoff of degrees and programs of study is important—and further analysis may be needed to better understand specific institutional and program implications and nuances. The data reported here, however, should be made widely accessible to the public and should inform students, their families, taxpayers, and their representatives about the labor market outcomes of programs, degrees, and colleges.
Key Findings
- The most popular credentials among Florida completers are the bachelor’s degree awarded by State University System of Florida institutions, associate in arts degree, and associate in science degree.
- Completers with an advanced technical certificate received the highest median wages one year after graduation ($44,436) across all programs and credential levels. Completers with an advanced technical certificate also received the highest median wages five years after graduation ($59,368) across all programs and credential levels.
- Apprenticeship completers from Florida College System institutions had the highest rate of full-time employment (77%), across all credential levels and programs. Advanced technical certificate holders had the highest rate of employment in any form (85%) across all credential levels and programs.
- Completers of the associate in arts degree and college credit certificate most frequently continued education in another public institution, across all credential levels.
- Completers with a bachelor’s degree from a State University System of Florida institution had the lowest rate of public assistance, across all credential levels.