Meridian College is a private for-profit institution offering associate degrees based in Sarasota, Florida. It enrolls 163 students (a very small, intimate 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 CalendarContinuous
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 (2-Year). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
56/100
UCD Score · 2-Year
Outcomes58
Value6
Affordability40
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
As a two-year college, Meridian College generally admits all qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
Open
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Meridian College 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 $29,812 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private for-profit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$29,812
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
54%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
52%
Borrowing to attend
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
$27,793
$30,001 – $48,000
$32,922
$48,001 – $75,000
$33,683
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.
$2,88610%percentile
$5,50025%percentile
$13,000Medianpercentile
$13,00075%percentile
$23,50090%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 $13,000
—
No Pell $13,000
—
Dependent students $7,667
↓ $5,333
Independent students $13,000
—
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $4,750, less than completers ($13,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
62% of full-time students who enrolled at Meridian College graduate within six years, and 68% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
62%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
68%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Meridian College earn a median of $33,735 ten years after first enrolling. That's below the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$33,735
Earning > $25K
57%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
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 ↑
18.5 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Concerning. Only 41% of graduates are actively reducing principal even seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Meridian College is home to 163 students, an intimate, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 54% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
163
Part-Time
0%
First-Generation
54%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 50.9%83
Black 23.9%39
Hispanic 21.5%35
Other 2.5%4
Asian 0.6%1
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Meridian College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Small CitySarasota, Florida
Housing
Commuter campusNo on-campus housing
Adult Learners
47%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NAIAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Continuousscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Meridian College offers
a focused set of programs:
7 distinct programs across
2 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 Meridian College is 16:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
16:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Avg Faculty Salary
$34,313
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Pros & Cons of Meridian College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Meridian College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Open admissions
Reasonable class sizes
Tight-knit, close community feel
Wide reach of need-based federal aid
First-gen-friendly student body
CONS
Above-average net price
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
First-year retention is below typical
Below-average post-graduation earnings
For-profit institution, verify accreditation and outcomes carefully
Best for:
Based on the data, Meridian College is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Meridian College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Meridian College.
Is Meridian College hard to get into?
Meridian College has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted.
What is the acceptance rate at Meridian College?
Meridian College has an acceptance rate of 0%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Meridian College cost?
The average net price after aid at Meridian College is $29,812 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Meridian College worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $33,735 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $29,812 per year. That's roughly 1.1x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Meridian College known for?
Meridian College is best known for its programs in Cosmetology, Allied Health Diagnostic, Dental Support Services and Allied Professions. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Meridian College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Meridian College are $33,735, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Meridian College accredited?
Yes. Meridian College is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges.
How many students attend Meridian College?
Meridian College enrolls 163 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Meridian College?
Meridian College graduates 62% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Meridian College a public or private college?
Meridian College is a Private For-Profit institution.
Where is Meridian College located?
Meridian College is located in Sarasota, Florida.
What programs does Meridian College offer?
Meridian College offers 7 distinct programs. The most popular include Cosmetology, Allied Health Diagnostic, Dental Support Services and Allied Professions.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Meridian College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Meridian College is 16:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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