There are lots of options to choose from today when trying to decide which school to attend. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our Best Associate Degree Colleges in Florida ranking is part of that endeavor.
Our analysis looked at 53 schools in Florida to determine which ones have the best associate degree programs. To come up with this ranking of the best schools, we look at factors that are all objective measurements. We explain more about what we look at and why we do so below.
Early-Career Salaries Are Higher
To determine the overall quality of a graduate school, one factor we look at is the average early-career salary of those receiving a associate degree from the school. A associate degree holder from a school in Florida makes an average starting salary of $35,132, but the students who attended schools in the top 17 of our list make an average of $38,418.
Starting Salary ( 32235 to 43263 )
Average Student Debt
In addition to average starting salaries, we also consider the average amount of student loans that students take on while pursuing their associate degree.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients from schools in Florida have accumulated an average of $22,101 in student debt.
The average amount taken out in student loans for graduates at a particular school may be crippling for those who earn less than average wages after graduation.
Other Ranking Factors in Our Methodology
We also analyze a number of other factors in addition to average post-graduation earnings and average student debt when coming up with our yearly Best Associate Degree Schools ranking.
Several other factors - such as how much the school spends on educational resources, the demand of the school, the availability of online learning options, and the student body caliber - go into our rankings.
If you'd rather work on your associate degree in a specific area of the country, you might be interested in our rankings by place. In addition, we've put together a number of other college rankings that may help you in your search.
Our 2024 rankings named Southeastern University the best school in Florida in terms of overall quality for students working on their associate degree. SEU is located in Lakeland, Florida and has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 197 associate degrees to qualified graduate students.
The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $13,145.
A rank of #2 on our Best Associate Degree in Florida list means Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Daytona Beach is a great place for students working on their degree. Embry-Riddle Daytona Beach is a private not-for-profit institution located in Daytona Beach, Florida. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 38 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from Embry-Riddle Daytona Beach make an average of $52,944 a year. Associate students leave the school with an average of $18,074 in student loans.
The excellent associate degree programs at Keiser University - Ft Lauderdale helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in Florida. Located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, the fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 3,334 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $32,693 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $26,140 after getting their degree. If the student is repaying the loan over 10 years, the average monthly payment is $160.
A rank of #4 on our Best Associate Degree in Florida list means Rasmussen University - Florida is a great place for students working on their degree. Rasmussen University - Florida is located in Ocala, Florida and has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1,858 associate degrees to qualified graduate students.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $39,207 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $25,834 after getting their degree. Average monthly loan payments are around $175 for a 10-year repayment plan.
The excellent associate degree programs at University of South Florida - Main Campus helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in Florida. USF Tampa is a public institution located in Tampa, Florida. The school has a large population, and it awarded 224 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
With a ranking of #6, University of Central Florida did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Florida list. UCF is located in Orlando, Florida and has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 416 associate degrees to qualified graduate students.
Florida Institute of Technology came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in Florida ranking. Located in Melbourne, Florida, the medium-sized private not-for-profit school handed out 23 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Associate students leave the school with an average of $28,312 in student loans.
Florida State University ranked #8 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in Florida list. Florida State is a public institution located in Tallahassee, Florida. The school has a large population, and it awarded 187 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Valencia College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Florida ranking, coming in at #10. Valencia College is a large public school situated in Orlando, Florida. It awarded 9,246 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from Valencia College is $34,231 during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $14,732 in student loans. This translates to an average monthly payment of $83 if the graduate is repaying the loan over a 10-year period.
Florida State College at Jacksonville came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in Florida ranking. Located in Jacksonville, Florida, the large public school handed out 4,672 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a associate degree from FSCJ go into careers with an average salary of $41,637 during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $15,350 in student loans.
Broward College came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in Florida ranking. Located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, the large public school handed out 6,700 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from BC make an average of $39,068 a year. Associate students leave the school with an average of $9,934 in student loans.
With a ranking of #13, Hillsborough Community College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Florida list. This fairly large public school is located in Tampa, Florida, and it awarded 4,137 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $41,084 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $17,550 after getting their degree. This translates to an average monthly payment of $114 if the graduate is repaying the loan over a 10-year period.
Palm Beach State College came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in Florida ranking. Palm Beach State College is a large public school situated in Lake Worth, Florida. It awarded 4,845 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a associate degree from Palm Beach State College go into careers with an average salary of $36,635 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $9,821 after getting their degree.
Florida International University did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Florida ranking, coming in at #15. FIU is located in Miami, Florida and has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 152 associate degrees to qualified graduate students.
With a ranking of #16, Florida SouthWestern State College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Florida list. Fort Myers, Florida is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 2,380 students in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a associate degree from FSW go into careers with an average salary of $48,612 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $12,490 after getting their degree.
With a ranking of #17, Tallahassee Community College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Florida list. Tallahassee Community College is a public institution located in Tallahassee, Florida. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 2,456 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $34,160 during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $17,306 in student loans. This translates to an average monthly payment of $83 if the graduate is repaying the loan over a 10-year period.
Florida Atlantic University did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Florida ranking, coming in at #18. Located in Boca Raton, Florida, the large public school handed out 321 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $11,300 after getting their degree.
Miami Dade College came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in Florida ranking. MDC is a public institution located in Miami, Florida. The school has a large population, and it awarded 11,464 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a associate degree from MDC make an average of $34,663 per year during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $12,558.
Santa Fe College ranked #20 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in Florida list. Santa Fe College is located in Gainesville, Florida and has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 2,725 associate degrees to qualified graduate students.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from Santa Fe College is $37,749 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $16,588. Average monthly loan payments are around $108 for a 10-year repayment plan.
With a ranking of #21, Indian River State College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Florida list. Indian River State College is a fairly large public school located in Fort Pierce, Florida that handed out 2,353 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a associate degree from Indian River State College make an average of $35,274 per year during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $10,084 in student loans.
Seminole State College of Florida did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Florida ranking, coming in at #22. Located in Sanford, Florida, the fairly large public school handed out 2,926 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from Seminole State is $34,842 during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $16,639 in student loans.
St Petersburg College landed the #23 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Florida ranking. SPC is located in St. Petersburg, Florida and has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 4,371 associate degrees to qualified graduate students.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from SPC is $38,909 during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $21,926 in student loans.
Eastern Florida State College came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in Florida ranking. EFSC is located in Melbourne, Florida and has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 2,325 associate degrees to qualified graduate students.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from EFSC make an average of $39,514 a year. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $17,035 after getting their degree.
Florida National University - Main Campus came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in Florida ranking. Florida National University - Main Campus is a small private for-profit school located in Hialeah, Florida that handed out 337 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from Florida National University - Main Campus make an average of $31,881 a year. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $26,997 after getting their degree.
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.