Mar–Jul 2026 retrievals College Scorecard official source

Affordable Alternatives to Daytona State College

Open-data reference.

We found 15 schools structurally similar to Daytona State College that cost less. 15 offer comparable or better earnings outcomes.

Your School

Daytona State College

Daytona Beach, Florida · Public

$7,177
Net Price
$37,096
Median Earnings (10yr)
N/A
Acceptance Rate
42.2%
150%-Time Completion

What the IPEDS & College Scorecard Data Shows for Alternatives to Daytona State College

Daytona State College posts an average net price of $7,177 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 Daytona State College across six dimensions – ownership sector, Carnegie classification, undergraduate enrollment, admission rate, former-student earnings, and completion rate. 15 institutions cleared a 40-percent similarity threshold.

The maximum possible savings across this list is $9,473, achieved by Moorpark College at -$2,296. Of greater interest to ROI-focused applicants: 15 of the 15 alternatives also report median 10-year earnings at or above Daytona State College’s $37,096, meaning lower cost is not paired with lower earnings. The mean median-earnings figure across alternatives is $54,980.

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

15
Alternatives Found
$9,473
Max Savings
15
Better Value Options
54%
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. Lake Washington Institute of $51k 2. Moorpark College $49k 3. Skyline College $56k 4. Norco College $51k 5. CUNY Lehman College $58k Compared to Daytona State College: $37k.

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.

A negative College Scorecard net price means the institution reported average grant and scholarship aid above its cost-of-attendance estimate for the covered first-time, full-time aid recipients. It is a cohort average, not a promise that every student is paid to attend.

School Net Price Savings Earnings (10yr) Graduation Similarity
Lake Washington Institute of Technology
Kirkland, WA · Public Better Value
$6,817 -$360 $50,669 38.3% 54%
Moorpark College
Moorpark, CA · Public Better Value
-$2,296 -$9,473 $49,044 43.5% 51%
Skyline College
San Bruno, CA · Public Better Value
$1,738 -$5,439 $55,702 42.8% 49%
Norco College
Norco, CA · Public Better Value
$5,169 -$2,008 $51,206 36.8% 48%
CUNY Lehman College
Bronx, NY · Public Better Value
$3,148 -$4,029 $58,013 50.3% 47%
College of Staten Island CUNY
Staten Island, NY · Public Better Value
$5,579 -$1,598 $53,501 33.4% 47%
Irvine Valley College
Irvine, CA · Public Better Value
$2,090 -$5,087 $49,156 57.3% 47%
CUNY Brooklyn College
Brooklyn, NY · Public Better Value
$3,103 -$4,074 $60,752 55.2% 46%
California State University-Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA · Public Better Value
$5,652 -$1,525 $59,009 49.6% 45%
Moreno Valley College
Moreno Valley, CA · Public Better Value
$6,483 -$694 $52,133 33.1% 45%
CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice
New York, NY · Public Better Value
$3,203 -$3,974 $56,195 55.7% 42%
California State University-Stanislaus
Turlock, CA · Public Better Value
$6,067 -$1,110 $63,188 55.6% 41%
University of Michigan-Flint
Flint, MI · Public Better Value
$7,007 -$170 $53,230 42.5% 41%
New Mexico Military Institute
Roswell, NM · Public Better Value
$4,571 -$2,606 $57,410 41.1% 40%
Utah Valley University
Orem, UT · Public Better Value
$6,376 -$801 $55,486 43.1% 40%

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 Daytona State College 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 Daytona State College?
We found 15 schools similar to Daytona State College that cost less. The closest match is Lake Washington Institute of Technology with 54% similarity and a net price of $6,817.
What is the ROI of attending Daytona State College?
Daytona State College has an average net price of $7,177. Former students earn a median of $37,096 ten years after enrollment. The earnings-to-cost ratio is 5.2x.
Are there schools with better outcomes than Daytona State College for less money?
Yes - 15 of 15 alternatives offer comparable or higher median earnings at a lower net price. Lake Washington Institute of Technology costs $6,817 (saving $360) with median earnings of $50,669.
What is the cheapest alternative to Daytona State College?
The most affordable similar school is Moorpark College at -$2,296, saving $9,473 compared to Daytona State College. It has a 51% similarity score.
How do alternative schools' earnings compare?
The 15 alternatives have an average median earnings of $54,980 compared to Daytona State College's $37,096. 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.