Tampa Bay, Central Florida Colleges Whose Grads Make The Most Cash

Freshly minted high school seniors throughout the Tampa Bay and Central Florida areas who don’t want to travel too far when they’re ready for college will find some pretty good options nearby. According to the U.S. Department of Education, some of the region’s colleges also have the highest average earnings for students after graduation within the state.

Based on the department’s College Scorecard, graduates of Daytona Beach’s Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University lead the state in highest average earnings after graduation. The average salary is $61,500 for Embry-Riddle grads, according to the federal government.

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The DOE’s Scorecard is a tool that provides would-be college attendees many of the resources they need in deciding where to apply and, ultimately, where to attend.

Below is a list of schools in Tampa Bay and Central Florida areas, ranked top to bottom, whose graduates make the most money after leaving. The numbers are based on the average earnings of students 10 years after they enrolled.

Federal officials say the College Scorecard is intended to be a resource for choosing colleges, helping students to broaden their college search and compare their top-choice schools. "By using the College Scorecard to

compare costs and outcomes with their future degrees, students are better equipped to make these critical life decisions," according to the site.

The website also provides each school's annual average cost and its graduation rates. The site allows you to sort the colleges to determine who leads and trails in each of these categories. If you click on a school, you'll also get additional information on the school's population and SAT and ACT scores.

Here are the top schools in the Tampa Bay and Central Florida areas and their earning potential:

1. Adventist University of Health Sciences, Orlando – $50,100
2. Strayer University-Florida, Tampa – $49,200
3. The University of Tampa, Tampa – $43,900
4. University of Central Florida, Orlando – $42,900
5. Rollins College, Winter Park – $42,700
6. Herzing University, Winter Park – $42,300
7. Saint Leo University, Saint Leo – $42,100
8. Stetson University, DeLand – $41,600
9. Florida Gulf Coast University, Fort Myers – $41,400
10. University of South Florida, St. Pete, Sarasota and Tampa campuses – $41,000
11. Eckerd College, St. Petersburg – $40,700
12. Warner University, Lake Wales – $40,300
13. Florida Southern College, Lakeland – $38,500
14. Hodges University, Naples – $38,500
15. Florida College, Temple Terrace – $38,200
16. Galen College of Nursing, St. Petersburg – $38,000
17. Argosy University, Tampa and Sarasota campuses – $37,000
18. Full Sail University, Winter Park – $35,200
19. Ringling College of Art and Design, Sarasota – $34,600
20. Florida Southwestern State College, Fort Myers – $32,500
21. Hillsborough Community College, Tampa – $32,400
22. Southeastern University, Lakeland – $32,000
23. St. Petersburg College, Clearwater – $31,400
24. Valencia College, Orlando – $31,100
25. Polk State College, Winter Haven – $31,100

Data was not available for all colleges.

Click here to find the full list of Florida colleges and more information from College Scorecard.

Includes reporting by Patch editor Tom Davis

Patch file photo