Miami Dade College vs Valencia College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Miami Dade College comes closer — median earnings $40,654 against a $21,852 total, vs $40,594 at Valencia College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Miami Dade College | Valencia College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $5,463 | $12,037 |
| Total net cost | $21,852 | $48,148 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $40,654 | $40,594 |
| Median debt | $9,252 | $9,300 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$175,972 | -$203,468 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Miami Dade College or Valencia College?
Miami Dade College, at $5,463 a year after aid versus $12,037 — a gap of $6,574 a year, or $26,296 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Miami Dade College or Valencia College graduates earn more?
Miami Dade College graduates report a median $40,654 ten years after entry, $60 more than the $40,594 at Valencia 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, Miami Dade College or Valencia College?
Miami Dade College: its completers carry a median $9,252 in federal loans versus $9,300 at Valencia College, a difference of $48. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
48% of students finish at Valencia College, against 46% at Miami Dade 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.