JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Where you go to college can dictate not just where you land a job but also how much money you make.
According to the U.S. Department of Education, median earnings a decade after graduating from the University of North Florida are $43,200. Students currently attending UNF were shocked to learn that statistic.
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"That really surprises me, because I know UNF is a great school," student Allie Henderson said. "I came here because of the nursing program here, so it really shocks me that it's only $43,000. I know that with my major, my goal is to make double that, so I hope that I get there."
UNF student Michael Johnson hopes to make more than the median.
"That's the goal. That's why I came to college, majoring in engineering, so hopefully, I can do better than that," Johnson said.
Nationally, the average college grad makes about $50,000 annually.
| University of North Florida in Jacksonville | $43,200 |
| Florida State University in Tallahassee | $46,400 |
| Jacksonville University in Jacksonville | $50,500 |
| University of Florida in Gainesville | $56,000 |
| Chamberlin University in Jacksonville | $58,400 |
| Embry Riddle in Daytona - highest in state | $66,200 |
Johnson said he thinks college graduates should be making more than that.
"Especially because college is very expensive, and it takes a while to pay that. A lot of people have to do loans, and it takes years and years to pay back," Johnson said.
UNF student Millicent Abbey said a career with her degree won't pay a lot, and she's OK with that.
"(I'm) more excited to work with kids than I am about the paycheck that I'm going to get out of it," Abbey said.
The annual starting salary for a teacher in Duval County is $39,000.