FSW vs. MDC

Comparable Facts

Compare Florida SouthWestern State College in Fort Myers, FL with Miami Dade College in Miami, FL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Miami Dade College is larger than FSW based on total student enrollment (58,941 students vs. 14,301 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Florida SouthWestern State College is located in Fort Myers, FL (Large Suburban setting); Miami Dade College is in Miami, FL (Large City setting).
• Florida SouthWestern State College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Miami Dade College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Florida SouthWestern State College 27:1; Miami Dade College 22:1.

FSW vs. MDC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, FSW or MDC? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Miami Dade College than FSW ($5,766 vs. $8,356).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Florida SouthWestern State College are 59% lower than at Miami Dade College ($11,185 vs. $27,262).
• Florida SouthWestern State College is 19.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than MDC (about $563 more per year; $3,401.00 vs. $2,838.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 34.3% higher at FSW than at Miami Dade College (about $3,318 more per year; $12,979.00 vs. $9,661.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Miami Dade College than at Florida SouthWestern State College (86% vs. 80%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Miami Dade College students is 21.5% larger than aid received by Florida SouthWestern State College students ($7,216 vs. $5,938).

FSW vs. MDC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, FSW or MDC? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between MDC and FSW.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: FSW - Open admission; MDC - Open admission.

FSW vs. MDC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for FSW and MDC? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Graduates from Florida SouthWestern State College earn a median of about $3,300 more per year than MDC graduates about ten years after starting college ($37,400 vs. $34,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Miami Dade College graduates have a $297 lower median loan debt than FSW graduates ($8,703 vs. $9,000).
• Among borrowers, MDC graduates have an estimated $4 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than FSW graduates ($89 vs. $93).
• More FSW graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former MDC students, three years after graduation. (43% vs. 41%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.