Florida Southern vs. JCU

Deciding between Florida Southern College and John Carroll University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Florida Southern College
John Carroll University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Florida Southern Lakeland, FL
  • JCU University Heights, OH
  • Setting
  • Florida Southern Small City
  • JCU Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Florida Southern 3,211
  • JCU 2,864
  • Type
  • Florida Southern Private 4 Year
  • JCU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Florida Southern #325
  • JCU #222
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Florida Southern United Methodist
  • JCU Roman Catholic
  • Status
  • Florida Southern Non-profit
  • JCU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Florida Southern
  • JCU
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Florida Southern $44,040
  • JCU $50,500
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Florida Southern $44,040
  • JCU $50,500
  • Room & Board
  • Florida Southern $14,360
  • JCU $14,520
  • Average Net Price
  • Florida Southern $29,384
  • JCU $30,030
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Florida Southern $31,394
  • JCU $35,785
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Florida Southern 100%
  • JCU 100%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Florida Southern 10,800
  • JCU 4,623
  • Admitted
  • Florida Southern 6,957
  • JCU 3,740
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Florida Southern 64.4%
  • JCU 80.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Florida Southern 11%
  • JCU 15.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Florida Southern 1240
  • JCU 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • Florida Southern 27
  • JCU 28
  • Average High School GPA
  • Florida Southern 3.73
  • JCU 3.66
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Florida Southern A-
  • JCU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Florida Southern Difficult
  • JCU Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Florida Southern Low
  • JCU
  • ACT Range
  • Florida Southern 25/30
  • JCU 25/32
  • SAT Range
  • Florida Southern 1150/1330
  • JCU 1180/1330
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Florida Southern Test optional
  • JCU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Florida Southern May 1, 2027
  • JCU
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Florida Southern 11:1
  • JCU 13:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Florida Southern
    • Business (22%)
    • Health Professions (12%)
    • Education (12%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Communication (8%)
  • JCU
    • Business (34%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Education (9%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Florida Southern 55%
  • JCU 71%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Florida Southern $42,700
  • JCU $57,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Florida Southern 65%
  • JCU 74%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Florida Southern $24,000
  • JCU $26,939
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Florida Southern $248
  • JCU $278
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Florida Southern 35%
  • JCU 51%
  • % Women
  • Florida Southern 65%
  • JCU 49%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Florida Southern Low
  • JCU Very Low
  • HBCU
  • Florida Southern No
  • JCU No
  • % White
  • Florida Southern 74%
  • JCU 86%
  • % Asian
  • Florida Southern 2%
  • JCU 2%
  • % Black
  • Florida Southern 6%
  • JCU 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Florida Southern 11%
  • JCU 3%
  • % Native American
  • Florida Southern 1%
  • JCU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Florida Southern 0%
  • JCU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Florida Southern 2%
  • JCU 2%
  • % International
  • Florida Southern 4%
  • JCU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Florida Southern 1%
  • JCU 1%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Florida Southern 60%
  • JCU 69%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Florida Southern 38%
  • JCU 31%
  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Florida Southern Yes
  • JCU Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Florida Southern No
  • JCU No
  • Meal Plan
  • Florida Southern Yes
  • JCU Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Florida Southern Yes
  • JCU No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Florida Southern No
  • JCU No

Comparable Facts

Compare Florida Southern College in Lakeland, FL with John Carroll University in University Heights, OH on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Florida Southern College is larger than JCU based on total student enrollment (3,211 students vs. 2,864 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Florida Southern College is located in Lakeland, FL (Small City setting); John Carroll University is in University Heights, OH (Large Suburban setting).
  • Florida Southern College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. John Carroll University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Florida Southern College 11:1; John Carroll University 13:1.

Florida Southern vs. JCU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Florida Southern or JCU? 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 Florida Southern College than JCU ($29,384 vs. $30,030).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Florida Southern College are 1.1% lower than at John Carroll University ($14,360 vs. $14,520).
  • John Carroll University is 14.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Florida Southern (about $6,460 more per year; $50,500.00 vs. $44,040.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 14.7% higher at JCU than at Florida Southern College (about $6,460 more per year; $50,500.00 vs. $44,040.00).
  • The same share of students receive grant aid at Florida Southern College as at John Carroll University (100% vs. 100%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by John Carroll University students is 14% larger than aid received by Florida Southern College students ($35,785 vs. $31,394).

Florida Southern vs. JCU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Florida Southern or JCU? 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 JCU and Florida Southern.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at John Carroll University (1260) is 20 points higher than at Florida Southern (1240).
  • Incoming JCU students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (28 vs. 27 at Florida Southern).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Florida Southern College 1150/1330; John Carroll University 1180/1330.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Florida Southern College 25/30; John Carroll University 25/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Florida Southern - Test optional; JCU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Florida Southern May 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Florida Southern students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.73) than students at JCU (3.66).
  • JCU has a higher acceptance rate (80.9%) than Florida Southern (64.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 11% at Florida Southern vs. 15.9% at JCU.

Florida Southern vs. JCU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Florida Southern and JCU? 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).

  • John Carroll University's six-year graduation rate (71%) is higher than Florida Southern College's (55%).
  • Graduates from John Carroll University earn a median of about $14,900 more per year than Florida Southern graduates about ten years after starting college ($57,600 vs. $42,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Florida Southern College graduates have a $2,939 lower median loan debt than JCU graduates ($24,000 vs. $26,939).
  • Among borrowers, Florida Southern graduates have an estimated $30 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than JCU graduates ($248 vs. $278).
  • More JCU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Florida Southern students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 65%)

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.