Mar–Jul 2026 retrievals College Scorecard official source

Affordable Alternatives to College of Central Florida

Open-data reference.

We found 7 schools structurally similar to College of Central Florida that cost less. 7 offer comparable or better earnings outcomes.

Your School

College of Central Florida

Ocala, Florida · Public

$12,088
Net Price
$38,203
Median Earnings (10yr)
N/A
Acceptance Rate
44.2%
150%-Time Completion

What the IPEDS & College Scorecard Data Shows for Alternatives to College of Central Florida

College of Central Florida posts an average net price of $12,088 after grants and scholarships, the IPEDS-derived figure used to anchor this alternatives search. We screened institutions in the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System for colleges that report a lower net price and share structural similarity with College of Central Florida across six dimensions – ownership sector, Carnegie classification, undergraduate enrollment, admission rate, former-student earnings, and completion rate. 7 institutions cleared a 40-percent similarity threshold.

The maximum possible savings across this list is $7,273, achieved by University of Florida-Online at $4,815. Of greater interest to ROI-focused applicants: 7 of the 7 alternatives also report median 10-year earnings at or above College of Central Florida’s $38,203, meaning lower cost is not paired with lower earnings. The mean median-earnings figure across alternatives is $63,993.

The similarity scoring gives enrollment size, Carnegie classification, and ownership sector the highest weights as transparent structural matching choices. Admission and completion rates are secondary features, while net price determines which lower-cost matches appear. Net price is the average cost of attendance minus grant and scholarship aid for full-time, first-time undergraduate Title IV recipients; it describes that source cohort, not the aid a typical admitted student or any individual family will receive. It is more informative than sticker tuition for that cohort but is not a personalized quote.

Similar Schools That Cost Less

7
Alternatives Found
$7,273
Max Savings
7
Better Value Options
51%
Best Match
Top 5 alternatives by 10-yr earnings Horizontal bar chart of the top 5 items by value (USD). Top 5 alternatives by 10-yr earnings 1. SUNY Old Westbury $59k 2. California State University- $62k 3. Ohio State University-Marion $60k 4. University of Florida-Online $72k 5. University of Washington-Tac $78k Compared to College of Central Florida: $38k.

Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard Institution-level earnings + cost-of-attendance file · Institution data retrieved July 2026 Institution earnings use federally aided entry cohorts and are not graduate-only; net price is the cohort average for full-time, first-time undergraduate Title IV recipients.

School Net Price Savings Earnings (10yr) Graduation Similarity
SUNY Old Westbury
Old Westbury, NY · Public Better Value
$11,282 -$806 $58,526 45.5% 51%
California State University-Channel Islands
Camarillo, CA · Public Better Value
$9,849 -$2,239 $62,152 52.4% 49%
Ohio State University-Marion Campus
Marion, OH · Public Better Value
$11,488 -$600 $60,409 26.2% 47%
University of Florida-Online
Gainesville, FL · Public Better Value
$4,815 -$7,273 $71,588 81.2% 44%
University of Washington-Tacoma Campus
Tacoma, WA · Public Better Value
$10,163 -$1,925 $78,466 62.8% 41%
University of Michigan-Dearborn
Dearborn, MI · Public Better Value
$9,492 -$2,596 $59,649 57.3% 41%
California State University-Dominguez Hills
Carson, CA · Public Better Value
$8,615 -$3,473 $57,162 44.6% 41%

How We Match Schools

Our similarity engine compares schools across six dimensions: institution type (Carnegie classification), ownership (public/private), enrollment size, admission selectivity, former-student earnings, and completion rates. Each dimension is weighted by its impact on student outcomes.

Only schools with a lower average net price than College of Central Florida are shown. Schools marked "Better Value" have comparable or higher median earnings at a lower cost.

Data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are median values 10 years after enrollment, drawn from U.S. Treasury tax records. Net price is the average cost after grants and scholarships for first-time, full-time students, as reported through IPEDS.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are cheaper alternatives to College of Central Florida?
We found 7 schools similar to College of Central Florida that cost less. The closest match is SUNY Old Westbury with 51% similarity and a net price of $11,282.
What is the ROI of attending College of Central Florida?
College of Central Florida has an average net price of $12,088. Former students earn a median of $38,203 ten years after enrollment. The earnings-to-cost ratio is 3.2x.
Are there schools with better outcomes than College of Central Florida for less money?
Yes - 7 of 7 alternatives offer comparable or higher median earnings at a lower net price. SUNY Old Westbury costs $11,282 (saving $806) with median earnings of $58,526.
What is the cheapest alternative to College of Central Florida?
The most affordable similar school is University of Florida-Online at $4,815, saving $7,273 compared to College of Central Florida. It has a 44% similarity score.
How do alternative schools' earnings compare?
The 7 alternatives have an average median earnings of $63,993 compared to College of Central Florida's $38,203. On average, alternatives match or exceed this school's earnings. Individual results vary, check the comparison table above.

Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.