Daytona State College vs Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach: which has better ROI?
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $165,088 in 4.6 years versus not at all at Daytona State College, on median earnings of $84,131 vs $37,096 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Daytona State College | Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $7,177 | $41,272 |
| Total net cost | $14,354 | $165,088 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $37,096 | $84,131 |
| Median debt | $8,250 | $23,666 |
| Payback | — | 4.6 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$239,634 | $550,332 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Daytona State College or Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach?
Daytona State College, at $7,177 a year after aid versus $41,272 — a gap of $34,095 a year, or $150,734 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Daytona State College or Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach graduates earn more?
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach graduates report a median $84,131 ten years after entry, $47,035 more than the $37,096 at Daytona State College. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
Which leaves students with less debt, Daytona State College or Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach?
Daytona State College: its completers carry a median $8,250 in federal loans versus $23,666 at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach, a difference of $15,416. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
67% of students finish at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach, against 43% at Daytona State College. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.