At $34,536/yr net price, Florida Career College-West Palm Beach graduates earn $28,928/yr within 10 years of enrollment.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $34,536 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $138,144 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $28,928/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | $-5,072/yr |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 51.1% |
| 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 | $34,429/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $34,167/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $36,143/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $39,731/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 |
| Public Health. | Associate | $22,874 | $20,000 |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services. | Certificate | $21,794 | $9,500 |
| 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
51.1% of students at Florida Career College-West Palm Beach 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
Florida Career College-West Palm Beach charges about $34,500 a year, and ten years after enrolling the median graduate earns under $29,000. That gap alone tells you the return here is weak. You pay roughly a year's worth of median post-graduation salary for a single year of school.
The HVAC certificate is the one program that pays off. It carries a $9,500 debt load and leads to around $33,500 a year, the highest earnings on the list. If you come here, this is the program to pick. It is also a certificate, so you finish faster and borrow less than the associate tracks.
The associate degrees are where the math breaks down. Computer and Information Sciences leaves you with over $18,000 in debt for about $27,900 a year. Public Health is worse: roughly $20,000 in debt against $22,900 in earnings. You take on double the HVAC debt for lower pay. The Health and Medical Administrative certificate keeps debt at $9,500 but pays under $22,000.
The specific risk here is that the net price does not drop for lower-income families. If your family earns under $30,000, you still face about $34,400 a year, nearly the same as families earning more. Sticker relief that exists at many schools is not showing up here. With a 51% graduation rate, roughly half of you leave without finishing, and the debt does not disappear when the credential does.
This school is a reasonable fit only if you enroll in the HVAC certificate, finish it, and step into the West Palm Beach trades market. For any of the associate programs, the earnings do not justify the cost, and a community college HVAC or health program will cost far less for similar or better pay.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Florida Career College-West Palm Beach worth the cost?
Florida Career College-West Palm Beach has poor return on investment, with graduates earning just $28,928 ten years after enrollment despite a net price of $34,536 per year. Only the HVAC program shows decent earning potential at $33,565.
What are the best paying programs at Florida Career College-West Palm Beach?
HVAC technology is the only program at Florida Career College-West Palm Beach that pays well, with graduates earning $33,565. Computer science and health programs typically earn $21,000-$27,000, which may not justify the high tuition costs.
How much student debt do Florida Career College-West Palm Beach graduates have?
Florida Career College-West Palm Beach graduates have a median debt of $9,500, which is relatively low compared to many for-profit schools. However, with low graduate earnings of under $29,000, even this modest debt load can be challenging to repay.
What is the graduation rate at Florida Career College-West Palm Beach?
Florida Career College-West Palm Beach has a 51% graduation rate, meaning nearly half of students don't complete their programs. Combined with low post-graduation earnings, this creates significant financial risk for students who don't finish.