Full Sail University is a private for-profit institution offering graduate degrees based in Winter Park, Florida. It enrolls 25,777 students (a very large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorAccrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges
Academic CalendarOther Academic Year
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Open / Online). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Fair
51/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Open / Online
Outcomes53
Value5
Affordability22
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
Admissions data is not yet reported for Full Sail University.
Acceptance Rate
—
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Full Sail University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $38,875 per year. That's above the typical net price for private for-profit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$38,875
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
34%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
63%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$26,906
Room & Board (off-campus)
$21,072
Books & Supplies
$530
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$6,970
Total Cost of Attendance
$47,530
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$38,738
$30,001 – $48,000
$38,162
$48,001 – $75,000
$38,181
$75,001 – $110,000
$40,236
Over $110,000
$41,762
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$3,00010%percentile
$5,50025%percentile
$27,000Medianpercentile
$29,42975%percentile
$43,00090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $13,689
↓ $13,311
No Pell $14,750
↓ $12,250
Dependent students $14,750
↓ $12,250
Independent students $13,133
↓ $13,867
Female students $14,250
↓ $12,750
Male students $13,043
↓ $13,957
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $7,381, less than completers ($27,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
43% of full-time students who enrolled at Full Sail University graduate within six years, and 59% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
43%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
59%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Full Sail University earn a median of $38,219 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$38,219
Earning > $25K
61%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$39,100
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$46,800
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$44,700
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$46,200
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$46,700
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $7,700, about 16% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
22.9 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Moderate. Only 63% of graduates are paying down principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Full Sail University is home to 25,777 students, a sprawling student community. Some distinctive traits: 39% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
25,777
Part-Time
0%
First-Generation
39%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 35.0%9,014
Black 32.0%8,241
Hispanic 19.6%5,042
Other 7.8%2,011
Asian 1.8%451
International 0.0%3
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Full Sail University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large SuburbWinter Park, Florida
Housing
Commuter campusNo on-campus housing
Adult Learners
54%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Other Academic Yearscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Full Sail University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
52 distinct programs across
10 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Full Sail University is 31:1, high (larger classes are common).
Student : Faculty
31:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Avg Faculty Salary
$50,773
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
783 instructional faculty across 3 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
479
61%
$58,431
Associate Professors
159
20%
$40,692
No Rank
145
19%
$36,527
Pros & Cons of Full Sail University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Full Sail University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Wide variety of programs and student life
CONS
High net price compared to most US colleges
Larger class sizes than typical
Large institutional setting can feel impersonal
Below-average completion rate
First-year retention is below typical
Best for:
Based on the data, Full Sail University is a fit for
students who want a large campus with breadth and variety.
Frequently Asked Questions about Full Sail University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Full Sail University.
How much does Full Sail University cost?
The average net price after aid at Full Sail University is $38,875 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Full Sail University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $38,219 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $38,875 per year. That's roughly 1.0x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Full Sail University known for?
Full Sail University is best known for its programs in Film & Video Production, Human Computer Interaction, Audiovisual Communications Technologies/Technicians. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Full Sail University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Full Sail University are $38,219, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Full Sail University accredited?
Yes. Full Sail University is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges.
How many students attend Full Sail University?
Full Sail University enrolls 25,777 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Full Sail University?
Full Sail University graduates 43% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Full Sail University a public or private college?
Full Sail University is a Private For-Profit institution.
Where is Full Sail University located?
Full Sail University is located in Winter Park, Florida.
What programs does Full Sail University offer?
Full Sail University offers 52 distinct programs. The most popular include Film & Video Production, Human Computer Interaction, Audiovisual Communications Technologies/Technicians.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Full Sail University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Full Sail University is 31:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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Free, data-backed guides to help you decide, built on the same federal data as this profile.
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American Colleges by the Numbers
One federal dataset, 3,839 colleges. The median school costs $16,371 a year, admits 78% of applicants, and enrolls 1,259 students. The shape of US higher ed.
Higher education data
Net price
College enrollment
Acceptance rate
College ownership
Do Selective Schools Actually Graduate More Students?
Across 1,645 four-year colleges, graduation rates climb steadily with selectivity, from 54% at open-admission schools to 93% at the most exclusive. The gap is real.
Graduation rate
Acceptance rate
Selectivity
Completion
College outcomes
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For-profit colleges post the highest median net price of any sector and the lowest graduate earnings. They cost more than private nonprofits and pay less than publics.
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Net price
Earnings
College ROI
College ownership
Rankings That Feature Full Sail University
Full Sail University appears in these rankings, built from the same federal data and the UCD Score.
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89 UCD Score
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$9,364 Lowest Net
$84,131 Top Earn
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