Valencia College
- Graduation Rate
- 46% D+
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $40,594 C
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $12,037 B-
- 30% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 39,486
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 22.3× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $22.3 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $22.3 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,024,011.
What The Data Says
-
A C+ overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
-
Graduation of 46% — 20% below the national average.
-
Social mobility rate of 2.14% — an engine of upward economic mobility.
-
Every $1 invested returns $22.3 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Economic Footprint
- Inventor Rate
- 0.1%
- Top 89%
- Patents
- 41
- Linked to graduates
- Patent Citations
- 133
- Downstream influence
Why Valencia College Matters
Valencia College is a public college in Orlando, FL and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a strong record of moving students up the income ladder. The result: durable upward mobility for the students it enrolls.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public College
- Carnegie Class
- Associate's College
- Enrollment
- 39,486
- Setting
- Urban
- Designations
- HSI
- Primary Strengths
- Humanities, Business & Marketing, Computer Science & IT, Health Professions
Why students choose Valencia College
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
This school does not report a competitive admit rate — most qualified applicants are admitted.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $12,037 a year after grants and scholarships — 30% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $40,594 ten years after enrolling — 0% above the typical college, against $9,300 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 2.1% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 24% nationally for mobility. High social capital (0.90 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Nearly 40,000 students choose Valencia College each year, making it a significant player in Florida's higher education landscape. With a focus on affordability, the average net price for students is just over $12,000, allowing many to pursue their degrees without overwhelming debt.
Data from Opportunity Insights indicates that students at Valencia College can expect to earn around $40,594 after ten years. This earning potential reflects a solid return on investment, particularly given the median debt of just $9,300. While the graduation rate sits at 46%, the college's emphasis on access and support for diverse student backgrounds—39% of whom receive Pell Grants—positions it as a stepping stone for many.
Valencia College thrives on its commitment to practical education in popular fields like Business, Computer Science, and Health Professions. Students who succeed here often take advantage of the college's strong connections with local industries. By focusing on career readiness and affordable education, Valencia ensures that a wide range of students can find their place and make strides toward a successful future.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Valencia College is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Valencia College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Valencia College, located in Orlando, Florida, enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 46%.
- Full-Time Faculty
- 29%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $7,578
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 23:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.71
- First-Gen Students
- 42%
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Valencia College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Valencia College is $9,576, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $12,037. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $11,453 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $9,300 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $2,664
- Out-of-State
- $9,576
- Avg Net Price
- $12,037
- Median Debt
- $9,300
- Pell Grant Rate
- 39%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 12%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $11,453
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $11,575
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $13,901
- Family Income $110K+
- $14,781
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Valencia College — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Valencia College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Valencia College report median earnings of $40,594, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $32,638
- 8 Years
- $36,484
- 10 Years
- $40,594
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.23x
- Earning > $25K
- 50%
Earnings Trajectory
How Valencia Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Valencia College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Valencia College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $12,037/year ($48,148 total). Graduates earn $40,594 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,072,159 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,024,011 (22.3× your investment). The median debt is $9,300, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 46% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $48,148
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,072,159
- Net Return
- $1,024,011
- ROI Multiple
- 22.3×
- Cost Per Year
- $12,037
- Median Debt
- $9,300
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 46%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Valencia College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Valencia College is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 2.14%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 15.7% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 13.6% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $62,000, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 2.14%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 13.6%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 15.7%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $84,236
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Innovation & Knowledge Creation
Patents, inventors, and research influence · Opportunity Insights & Times Higher Education
Valencia College produces inventors at a measurable rate, with 41 patents tied to its graduates.
- Inventor Rate
- 0.13%
- Top 89% nationally
- Patents Produced
- 41
- Linked to graduates
- Patent Citations
- 133
- Downstream influence
- Inventors From Low-Income
- 0.10%
- Bottom-20% families
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $1,371,786
- Investment Income
- $-198,991
Top Programs
The fields Valencia College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Humanities 38%
- Business & Marketing 33% $36,992 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 10% $43,787 early-career
- Health Professions 6% $66,431 early-career
- Criminal Justice 3% $37,806 early-career
- Culinary & Personal Services 3% $32,231 early-career
- Visual & Performing Arts 1% $29,017 early-career
- Communications 0%
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Valencia College's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Marketing Manager$156,580 · 8% growthAdaptable 64
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CAdvertising Manager$138,730 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Valencia College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Valencia College, located in Orlando, Florida, enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 46%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Valencia College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Valencia College is $9,576, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $12,037. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $11,453 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $9,300 in federal student loans.
Is Valencia College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Valencia College report median earnings of $40,594, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
Does Valencia College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Valencia College is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 2.14%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 15.7% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 13.6% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $62,000, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Valencia College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs around the national average at Valencia College. Its economic connectedness score is 0.90, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.06). Around 4% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Valencia College.
- Miami Dade CollegeMiami, FL · Close peer45% grad $40,654 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Lone Star College SystemThe Woodlands, TX · Close peer20% grad $42,466 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size · similar net price
- Broward CollegeFort Lauderdale, FL · Close peer38% grad $41,939 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · same state
- Palm Beach State CollegeLake Worth, FL · Close peer41% grad $41,923 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · same state
- San Jacinto Community CollegePasadena, TX · Close peer32% grad $43,062 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar net price
- Purdue University GlobalWest Lafayette, IN · Close peer49% grad $36,596 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Valencia College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs around the national average at Valencia College. Its economic connectedness score is 0.90, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.06). Around 4% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note