Florida Career College is a for-profit institution headquartered in Miami, FL with 9 campuses. It is accredited by ACCSC (Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges). The median federal student debt at graduation is $22,800, according to the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Median year-1 post-completion earnings are $27,400. Median year-4 earnings are $33,600. The debt-to-income ratio is 0.83. Estimated monthly payment on a 10-year standard repayment plan at 6.5% interest is $257. The 3-year student loan default rate is 18.4% (national average: ~4.5%). Approximately 175 complaints have been filed in the CFPB database. PlumbSquare's rating: FAIL — avoid. Florida Career College has an 18.4% three-year default rate — roughly 1 in 5 graduates defaults on their federal loans within three years of completing a program. Year-one median earnings of $27,400 in high-cost South Florida, against $22,800 in debt, leaves graduates financially underwater. The Florida AG investigated their placement rate claims. Miami-Dade College offers equivalent programs for $4,000–$6,500.
The Verdict.
Florida Career College has an 18.4% three-year default rate — roughly 1 in 5 graduates defaults on their federal loans within three years of completing a program. Year-one median earnings of $27,400 in high-cost South Florida, against $22,800 in debt, leaves graduates financially underwater. The Florida AG investigated their placement rate claims. Miami-Dade College offers equivalent programs for $4,000–$6,500.
ACCSC (Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges). ACCSC national accreditation. Florida state agencies have separately reviewed FCC's placement data claims. Credits are not transferable to Florida's public college system.
The Numbers.
| FCC | Amount | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Program cost (range) | $23,200 – $31,600 | Tuition + fees + books/tools (est.) |
| Median federal debt | $22,800 | College Scorecard — median at graduation |
| Median earnings — Year 1 | $27,400 | College Scorecard post-completion earnings |
| Median earnings — Year 4 | $33,600 | Scorecard 4-yr post-completion median |
| Estimated monthly payment | $257/mo | 10-yr standard repayment at 6.5% |
| Debt ÷ year-1 earnings | 0.83× | Below 0.5× is manageable. Above 0.8× is a warning sign. |
| 3-year default rate | 18.4% | National avg: ~4.5%. Source: FSA NSLDS CDR database. |
- Total cost
- $6,000
- Debt at completion
- $0–$4K (Pell eligible)
- Accreditation
- Regional
- 3-yr default rate
- <4%
- Total cost
- $0
- Debt at completion
- $0
- Income while learning
- $44,000/yr
- Employer recognition
- Full — nationwide
Sources: College Scorecard (U.S. Dept. of Education), FSA NSLDS Cohort Default Rate database, BLS OEWS May 2024. Community college cost estimate based on national NCES average for vocational certificates at public 2-year institutions. Union apprentice income based on IBEW/UA mid-market Year 1 rates.
Employer Recognition.
No union recognition of FCC coursework. Miami-Dade union halls (IBEW Local 349, UA Local 725) require standard apprenticeship entry regardless of FCC attendance.
What the brochure won't say.
- 01An 18.4% cohort default rate is three times the national average. This is the strongest evidence available that graduates are not earning enough to repay their loans.
- 02South Florida is one of the most saturated markets for HVAC and electrical workers — competition for entry-level positions is high, suppressing starting wages.
- 03The Florida AG investigated FCC's job placement claims. When a state AG looks at your advertising, the advertising was probably lying.
- 04Miami-Dade College, Broward College, and Palm Beach State College all offer accredited HVAC, electrical, and welding programs for $4,000–$6,500 — compared to FCC's $23,000–$31,000.
- 05FCC's student reviews across multiple platforms consistently mention bait-and-switch on financial aid — students report being told federal grants would cover costs, only to discover significant loan balances at graduation.
- 06The $257/month loan payment on a $27,400 salary in Miami represents 11.3% of gross income — before taxes, before rent in one of America's most expensive metros.
Alternatives.
IBEW (electrical), UA (plumbing/pipefitting/HVAC), SMART (sheet metal), and other union JATCs run DOL-registered apprenticeship programs. You earn $18–$28/hr from day one. You graduate with zero debt and a journeyman card recognized by every employer in the country. They are competitive to get into — apply to multiple locals.
Find your trade →Public community colleges offer the same trade programs for $4,000–$8,000 total — often $0 out-of-pocket with Pell grants and state workforce funding. Regional accreditation means your credits are real. The main downside: waitlists of 6–18 months at popular programs. That wait is worth it.
Search your state's community college system at nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator
Honest caveat on union apprenticeships:They are harder to get into than a for-profit school. Union locals have application windows, waiting lists of their own, and competitive selection processes. Some have political connections. If you don't get in the first time, apply again. The process is worth understanding before you default to a for-profit program because it said “enroll now.”
The Legal Record.
| Metric | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| FTC action | None on record | The Florida Attorney General investigated FCC's job placement rate claims in 2019. FCC did not face formal action but updated its advertising language under pressure. |
| CFPB complaints | ~175 | Approximate count from CFPB public database. Includes parent company. |
| 3-yr default rate | 18.4% | FSA NSLDS official CDR. National average: ~4.5%. |
Legal data sourced from FTC.gov enforcement database, CFPB Consumer Complaint Database, and state attorney general public records. This is not a complete legal history. Do your own research at ftc.gov and consumerfinance.gov.