Florida Southern College is a private nonprofit four-year college in Lakeland, FL, focused on bachelor’s-level study with an urban campus setting, with about 2,656 undergraduates, an acceptance rate of about 64.4%, listed tuition around $44,040 and typical net price of $28,551 after grants, first-year retention of 80.0%, about 70.5% of students graduating within six years, and median earnings of $47,749 six years after enrollment.

Grade for Florida Southern College

Letter grades from Best Universities methodology. Overall grade blends the categories below for schools in that ranking cohort.

Overall grade

C-

Best Universities compares this school with national benchmarks for similar institutions.

How are grades calculated?

Affordability
D-

$28,551Average net price

Outcomes
C+

70.5%Graduation rate

Career
C

$47,749Median earnings, 6 years after entry

Economic Access
D

28.1%Pell Grant recipient share

Key facts for Florida Southern College

Tuition (in-state)
$44,040
Tuition (out-of-state)
$44,040
Total cost of attendance
$60,768
Average net price
$28,551
Acceptance rate
64.4%
Total enrollment
2,656
Graduation rate
70.5%
Median earnings, 6 years after entry
$47,749

Key rankings for Florida Southern College

Where Florida Southern College ranks among four-year colleges nationwide on selected cost and outcome measures. Rank 1 is best on that measure (lowest cost or debt; highest earnings, retention, or graduation). These are single-measure standings, not Best Universities list placement.

#1,466 of 1,811

Net Price

#722 of 1,816

Earnings

#676 of 1,808

Retention

#387 of 1,850

Graduation

#1,083 of 1,767

Debt

What stands out at Florida Southern College

Florida Southern College in Lakeland, FL is a four-year college where bachelor’s-level study is the main focus.

  • Midsize city
  • 2,656 undergraduates
Average net price$28,551
Acceptance rate64.4%
Pell Grant recipient share28.1%
Graduation rate70.5%
Median earnings, 6 years after entry$47,749
First-year retention80.0%

Both average net price after aid and six-year earnings register above national medians for similar schools, consistent with a higher cost that is paired with stronger early-career pay in this data.

First-year retention and graduation both track at or above national benchmarks for similar schools, suggesting relatively steady progress for students who start here.

Admission is more selective than the national middle for similar schools and Pell Grant use runs lower—typical of campuses where access is shaped more by selectivity than by very high financial need in the enrolled class.

Best Universities methodology explains how grades and ranked-list placements are calculated.

Student measures: Cost, completion, earnings, retention, and debt.

Institution context: Enrollment, demographics, faculty, setting, and admissions.

At a glance

Cost, outcomes & access at Florida Southern College

Two related measures side by side for a quick scan.

Net Price and Earnings

Average net price (after aid)
$28,551
Median earnings 6 years after entry
$47,749

Retention and Graduation

First-year retention
80.0%
Graduation rate (within 6 years)
70.5%

Acceptance and Pell Grant Share

Acceptance rate
64.4%
Undergraduate Pell recipient share
28.1%
Total cost and tuition

Annual figures on one dollar scale, so bar lengths are comparable within this chart. Total cost of attendance covers tuition, fees, and living costs. Listed tuition is the price before aid; average net price is what students paid after grants and scholarships.

Total cost of attendance$60,768
Listed tuition (in-state)$44,040
Listed tuition (out-of-state)$44,040
Room and board (on campus)$14,360
Average net price (after aid)$28,551

In-state tuition is above the national median of $19,284 for similar four-year colleges, while out-of-state tuition is above the national median of $26,816.

How Florida Southern College compares

Figures are for four-year colleges. State, region, and national columns use the middle value (median) for similar schools; retention uses averages for region and nation. Region shown: Southeast (region 5).

This school vs state, regional, and national benchmarks

Net price

This school$28,551
State (FL)$20,864
Region$18,796
National$19,923

Earnings, 6 years

This school$47,749
State (FL)$41,582
Region$39,566
National$45,225

Retention

This school80.0%
State (FL)75.5%
Region71.9%
National74.9%

Graduation

This school70.5%
State (FL)55.7%
Region48.8%
National54.4%

Median debt

This school$25,000
State (FL)$23,590
Region$24,053
National$23,250

Swipe sideways to compare state, region, and national figures.

Measure This school State (FL) Region Nation
Net price$28,551Above national median$20,864$18,796$19,923
Earnings, 6 years$47,749Above national median$41,582$39,566$45,225
Retention80.0%Above national median75.5%71.9%74.9%
Graduation70.5%Above national median55.7%48.8%54.4%
Acceptance rate64.4%Below national median63.9%74.3%77.0%
Pell share28.1%Below national median33.9%37.9%33.9%
Median debt$25,000Above national median$23,590$24,053$23,250
3-year cohort default rate0.0%About the same0.0%0.0%0.0%

Recent 3-year cohort default rates are near zero because of the federal student loan payment pause and are not useful for school-to-school comparison.

Campus & institution details for Florida Southern College

Campus settingMidsize city
Official websitewww.flsouthern.edu/
Student–faculty ratio11:1
Full-time faculty100.0%
Avg monthly faculty salary$9,031
SAT midpointReading & Writing 635 · Math 613

Share of undergraduates in each group. Gender and race or ethnicity are reported separately, so each set totals about 100%.

Women64.8%
Men35.2%
Black or African American6.7%
Hispanic / Latino17.8%
White63.9%
Asian2.4%
Two or more races4.3%
International students3.4%

Confirm program details and current staffing on the college website.

Frequently asked questions about Florida Southern College

Common questions about Florida Southern College, answered with Best Universities cost and outcome figures. For how we rank schools, use the methodology link in the header; for deadlines and aid, rely on the college’s official site.

Where is Florida Southern College located?

Florida Southern College is located in Lakeland, FL. If the college has more than one campus, confirm addresses and program locations on the school's official site or with the admissions office.

What kind of school is Florida Southern College?

Florida Southern College is a private nonprofit four-year college. Best Universities compares it with similar four-year institutions for ranking and benchmark purposes.

How much does it cost to attend Florida Southern College (tuition and net price)?

Listed sticker tuition is $44,040 for in-state students and $44,040 for out-of-state students. Average net price (typical annual cost after grant and scholarship aid for full-time, first-time undergraduates) is about $28,551. Your actual net price depends on income, residency, and aid.

What is Florida Southern College's acceptance rate?

The overall undergraduate acceptance rate is about 64.4% for the year shown. Selectivity can vary by program or campus; check admissions for the path you care about.

How large is Florida Southern College's undergraduate student body?

Undergraduate enrollment is about 2,656. Enrollment changes over time and may span multiple campuses depending on how the school reports.

What are completion and earnings outcomes for Florida Southern College?

Median earnings six years after entry at Florida Southern College are roughly $47,749. Outcomes vary widely by major, occupation, and region. About 70.5% of students graduate on time or soon after. Individual trajectories differ from these population-level measures.

How does Best Universities rank Florida Southern College?

Among similar schools nationwide, Florida Southern College stands as follows on selected measures: Average net price (#1,466 of 1,811); Median earnings, 6 years after entry (#722 of 1,816); First-year retention (#676 of 1,808); Graduation rate (#387 of 1,850); Median loan debt (#1,083 of 1,767). Those are single-measure ranks, not a single overall list place. See the methodology page for how Best Universities builds ranked lists.

Where should I go for admissions and official information about Florida Southern College?

For application deadlines, requirements, campus visits, and program lists, use Florida Southern College’s official website. Best Universities publishes cost and outcome figures for comparison; it does not replace the institution’s admissions or financial aid office.

All figures for Florida Southern College Expand to view

A fuller table of the figures Best Universities uses for this school. Useful if you are double-checking a number.

All figures for Florida Southern College
FieldValue
InstitutionFlorida Southern College
Official websitewww.flsouthern.edu/
City, stateLakeland, FL
School typeFour-year college
Undergraduate enrollment2,656
Listed tuition (in-state)$44,040
Listed tuition (out-of-state)$44,040
Listed tuition (generic)$44,040
Total cost of attendance$60,768
Room and board (on campus)$14,360
Average net price$28,551
Median earnings, 6 years after entry$47,749
Median earnings, 8 years after entry$51,835
Median earnings, 10 years after entry$55,294
Median loan debt$25,000
3-year cohort default rate0.0%
First-year retention80.0%
Graduation rate (4-year programs)70.5%
Graduation rate (shorter programs)Not reported
Acceptance rate64.4%
SAT average1,252
ACT average28
Pell Grant share28.1%
Share with federal loans53.5%
Part-time enrollment share2.3%
Campus settingMidsize city
Student–faculty ratio11
Avg monthly faculty salary$9,031
Full-time faculty share100.0%
Online onlyNo
HBCUNo
SAT midpoint, Math613
SAT midpoint, Reading & Writing635
Share of undergraduates, women64.8%
Share of undergraduates, men35.2%
Share of undergraduates, Black6.7%
Share of undergraduates, Hispanic17.8%
Share of undergraduates, White63.9%
Share of undergraduates, Asian2.4%
Share of undergraduates, two or more races4.3%
Share of undergraduates, international3.4%
Net price, family income $0–30kNot reported
Net price, family income $30–48kNot reported
Net price, family income $48–75kNot reported
Net price, family income $75–110kNot reported
Net price, family income $110k+Not reported

Sources for Florida Southern College

Figures from the same school data Best Universities uses for rankings. Shortlist with them, then verify on the college’s official site.