Florida Degrees Out-Earn High School Diplomas
Florida students comparing in-state schools can see how graduate earnings from UF and Santa Fe College measure against high school diploma holders.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Financial Aid
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HEA Group released earnings data comparing college graduates with high school diploma holders in Florida. The analysis found that all analyzed degrees at the University of Florida and Santa Fe College exceed the Florida high school median income of about $32,000 a year.
Why it matters
For Florida families weighing the cost of school, the data offers a benchmark: the median high school diploma holder earns about $32,000 a year, while graduates from the two schools studied land well above that level. The findings arrive as students and parents continue to question whether a college degree pays off.
The University of Florida's median income is about $66,000 across 72 degrees analyzed, and Santa Fe College's is about $54,000 across 12 degrees analyzed, both above the Florida high school median of about $32,000 a year. Nationally, about 4,400 programs had majority graduates earning $50,000 or more than high school peers.
The players
HEA Group
An organization that compiled the earnings data comparing college graduates with high school diploma holders.
University of Florida
A large public research university in Florida whose graduates in the analysis had a median income of about $66,000.
Santa Fe College
A Florida public college whose graduates in the analysis had a median income of about $54,000.
The details
HEA Group's data set tracks the earnings of graduates alongside the earnings of people with only high school diplomas, then compares the two groups. The analysis examined post-graduation earnings for colleges and universities nationwide and reported results for the University of Florida and Santa Fe College within Florida. Because the comparison is drawn against the median high school diploma holder in the state, the figures show the earnings gap between a degree and a diploma rather than a guaranteed salary for any one graduate.
Timeline
The HEA Group analysis of post-graduation earnings was compiled earlier in 2026.
Education Landscape
The HEA Group data frames the value of a degree as an earnings premium over a high school diploma, a comparison that is central to ongoing debates about rising college costs and student debt. Measured against the roughly $32,000 median for Florida diploma holders, the reported college medians show how the payoff varies by institution.
If you are comparing Florida schools, these earnings medians can serve as one data point alongside tuition and net price. Consider asking each school's financial-aid office what its graduates in your intended program typically earn.
The takeaway
Degree earnings vary widely by school and program, so the gap over a high school diploma is worth examining for your own field. Before deciding, compare net price and graduate earnings data with each school's financial-aid office.
Further reading
For context on how cost and aid shape the value of a degree, explore Financial Aid coverage across Florida.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WUFT | News and public media for north central Florida.
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