At $35,448/yr net price, Florida Career College-Lauderdale Lakes graduates earn $28,928/yr within 10 years of enrollment.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $35,448 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $141,792 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $28,928/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | $-5,072/yr |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 42.9% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $9,500 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $35,659/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $32,942/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR). | Certificate | $33,565 | $9,500 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General. | Associate | $27,874 | $18,347 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Associate | $26,353 | $28,285 |
| Public Health. | Associate | $22,874 | $20,000 |
| Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians. | Certificate | $21,761 | $10,313 |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services. | Certificate | $19,306 | $9,500 |
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants. | Certificate | $15,511 | $9,500 |
| Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services. | Certificate | $15,488 | $11,718 |
The Risk Factor
42.9% of students at Florida Career College-Lauderdale Lakes graduate within 6 years. More than half of students finish, but the dropout rate is a real factor in whether this investment pays off.
Analysis
The financial return at Florida Career College-Lauderdale Lakes is weak. You pay roughly $35,000 a year in net price, and the typical graduate earns under $29,000 a decade after enrolling. That means one year of cost exceeds a full year of median post-graduation pay. Even with a modest median debt of $9,500, the earnings you can expect do not justify the price you pay to attend.
The HVAC certificate is the only program that comes close to working. It pays the most of any offering here and carries the same $9,500 debt as the school's median, so you finish with a marketable skilled trade and a manageable loan. South Florida's construction and building maintenance market keeps demand steady for that credential.
The associate degrees are where the math breaks. Computer and information sciences pays about $27,900 but leaves you with over $18,000 in debt. Nursing is worse: around $26,000 in earnings against more than $28,000 in debt, so you owe more than a full year's pay for a degree that should command far higher wages in Florida's hospital market. Public health pays under $23,000 on $20,000 of debt. In each case you take on associate-level debt for certificate-level or lower earnings.
The specific risk here is the net price. Families earning under $30,000 pay slightly more than higher earners, and the sticker cost barely moves as income drops. Low-income families carry the same heavy price with the least ability to absorb it.
Consider this school only for the HVAC certificate, and only if a trade career fits your plans. If you want the nursing or computer associate degrees, a Florida community college will cost a fraction of this and leave you with less debt.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Florida Career College-Lauderdale Lakes worth the cost?
The numbers suggest poor value with graduates earning $28,928 annually after paying $35,448 per year for school. Only the HVAC program shows decent earning potential at $33,565, while most other programs lead to below-average wages.
What are the best paying programs at Florida Career College-Lauderdale Lakes?
HVAC technology offers the highest earnings at $33,565 annually, followed by general computer science at $27,874. Nursing and public health programs pay significantly less despite being popular career fields.
How much debt do Florida Career College-Lauderdale Lakes graduates have?
The median debt is relatively low at $9,500, but with average earnings of $28,928, graduates may still struggle to justify the investment. The low debt reflects the school's focus on shorter certificate programs rather than degrees.
What is the graduation rate at Florida Career College-Lauderdale Lakes?
Only 43% of students graduate, meaning most who enroll never finish their programs. Combined with below-average earnings for graduates, this creates significant financial risk for prospective students.