At $32,089/yr net price, Meridian College graduates earn $33,735/yr within 10 years of enrollment.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $32,089 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $128,356 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $33,735/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | $-265/yr |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 50.8% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $13,000 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $30,995/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $30,316/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $32,441/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $36,062/yr |
| $110,001+ | $36,062/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions. | Associate | $31,670 | $27,000 |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services. | Certificate | $29,685 | $13,000 |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services. | Certificate | $25,194 | $13,000 |
The Risk Factor
50.8% of students at Meridian College 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
Meridian College's numbers are hard to defend financially. You pay about $32,000 a year in net price, and ten years after enrolling the median earnings sit at $33,735. That means roughly a year of full cost buys you a wage that barely clears what many jobs pay without any degree at all. This is a weak return, and the price does most of the damage.
The programs here are all health-focused, and none of them push earnings meaningfully above the median. The allied health associate degree tops the list at $31,670, but it also carries $27,000 in debt, more than double the debt of the two medical certificate programs. So the credential that pays the most also costs you the most to finance. The medical administrative and medical assisting certificates land near $29,685 and $25,194, both below the school-wide median. There is no bachelor-level program data here, so treat this as certificate and associate-level career training, priced like a four-year degree.
The specific risk at Meridian is the mismatch between cost and payoff. A 50.8% graduation rate means you have roughly a coin-flip chance of finishing, and if you leave without the credential you still owe. The $13,000 median debt looks modest until you set it against $33,735 earnings and the high yearly price.
The net price barely moves by income. Families earning under $30,000 pay about $30,995. families over $110,000 pay $36,062. That flat structure means low-income families carry nearly the same sticker as wealthy ones, which hits hardest at the bottom.
Consider Meridian only if you have a specific Sarasota-area health employer lined up and can finish quickly. If you can access a community college for the same medical assisting or allied health training, look there first.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Meridian College worth the cost?
With graduates earning $33,735 ten years after enrollment and a net price of $32,089 per year, Meridian College offers minimal return on investment. The low graduation rate of 50.8% adds significant risk to an already poor financial outcome.
What programs at Meridian College have the best job prospects?
Allied Health Diagnostic programs show the highest earnings at $31,670, followed by Health and Medical Administrative Services at $29,685. However, all top programs still produce earnings below the school's annual cost.
How much debt do Meridian College graduates typically have?
The median debt load is relatively low at $13,000, which helps offset some of the poor earnings outcomes. This lower debt burden makes the financial risk more manageable than at higher-debt institutions.
Does Meridian College have good graduation rates?
Only 50.8% of students graduate from Meridian College, meaning nearly half of students leave without a degree. This high dropout rate significantly increases the financial risk of enrollment.