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Miami, FL · Private University

Is Miami Dade College Worth It?

ROI analysis based on real earnings and cost data

Strong ROIRanked #855 of 3,472 schools by ROI

Key Numbers

10-Year Earnings

$40,654

median, 10 years after enrollment

In-State Tuition

$2,838

per year

Out-of-State Tuition

$9,661

per year

Total 4-Year Cost

$38,644

tuition only (4 years)

ROI Ratio

4.21x

earnings ÷ annual tuition

Payback Period

6.8 yrs

years to recoup total cost

Graduation Rate

44.7%

6-year graduation rate

Median Debt

$9,252

at graduation

Avg Net Price

$5,929

after aid & scholarships

Earnings vs. Annual Cost

10-year median earnings compared to annual tuition

Median Earnings (10yr)$40,654
Annual Tuition$9,661
National Median Earnings$45,000

Miami Dade College graduates earn $4,346 less than the national median of workers with any education level.

What You'd Actually Pay

Average net price after grants and scholarships, by family income

Under $30,000$5,108/yr
$30,000 – $48,000$6,372/yr
$48,000 – $75,000$8,830/yr
$75,000 – $110,000$9,796/yr
Over $110,000$9,102/yr

Source: IPEDS net price data. Actual costs vary based on individual financial circumstances.

Highest-Earning Majors

Top programs at Miami Dade College ranked by graduate earnings

1
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.$90,158

271 graduates

2
Special Education and Teaching.$53,935

53 graduates

3
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods.$51,545

43 graduates

4
Computer and Information Sciences, General.$49,903

136 graduates

5
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services, Other.$43,666

140 graduates

Earnings shown are 4-year post-graduation medians where available, otherwise 1-year medians.

ROI by Major at Miami Dade College

All available majors ranked by graduate earnings. Your major matters as much as your school.

Your major matters more than your school

At Miami Dade College, the gap between the highest-earning major (Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing: $90,158) and the lowest (Film/Video and Photographic Arts: $20,611) is $69,547/yr, bigger than the difference between many schools.

MajorEarningsROI
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingBest ROI(1yr data)$90,1589.3x
Special Education and Teaching(1yr data)$53,9355.6x
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods(1yr data)$51,5455.3x
Computer and Information Sciences, General(1yr data)$49,9035.2x
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services, Other(1yr data)$43,6664.5x
Business Administration, Management and Operations$42,9274.4x
Biology, General(1yr data)$34,5683.6x
Film/Video and Photographic ArtsLowest(1yr data)$20,6112.1x

Earnings are 4-year post-graduation medians where available, otherwise 5-year or 1-year. ROI = earnings ÷ annual tuition.

The Bottom Line

Miami Dade College stands out as a strong financial investment among U.S. colleges. Graduates earn $40,654 10 years after starting, $4,346 below the national median of $45,000. Graduates typically break even on their investment within 6.8 years, a reasonable timeline.

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Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Tuition data from IPEDS. ROI calculations are for informational purposes only and reflect median outcomes.