Miami Dade College: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes

Jacksonville, Florida · Public · Moderately selective · CDS 2024-2025

Acceptance rate
62%
21,778 applicants
Avg SAT
1180
Mid 50: 1070–1260
In-state tuition
$6,389
per year, before aid
Net price (avg)
$10,353
after aid, what families pay

Miami Dade College is a public institution located in Jacksonville, Florida with a moderately selective admissions profile. For the most recent reporting cycle, Miami Dade College admits about half to three-quarters of applicants, with an overall admission rate of 62%. Admitted students typically post an average SAT of 1115 and an ACT composite around 23. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $10,353 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price. For parents weighing whether Miami Dade College is realistic for their teenager, the most useful planning step is comparing your child's current GPA and most recent SAT or ACT against these admitted-student ranges — not the headline acceptance rate alone.

What GPA does my child need for Miami Dade College?

Miami Dade College admits students with a wide GPA range, but most successful applicants present an unweighted GPA of 3.3 or higher with a college-prep curriculum. Parents tracking their child's GPA toward this tier of school can use Solyo's free calculator to see weighted, unweighted, and college-recalculated numbers side by side.

Actual GPA distribution of admitted students
4.00
58.0%
3.75–3.99
18.0%
3.50–3.74
16.0%
3.25–3.49
6.0%
3.00–3.24
1.0%
From the 2024-2025 Common Data Set submitted by Miami Dade College.

What does Miami Dade College weight in admissions?

Miami Dade College reports the following factor importance in its Common Data Set (2024-2025). These are the criteria the admissions committee weighs when reviewing applications.

Very Important2 factors
  • Rigor of secondary school record
  • Academic GPA
Important1 factor
  • Standardized test scores
Considered3 factors
  • Extracurricular activities
  • Talent/ability
  • Level of applicant's interest
Not Considered12 factors
  • Class rank
  • Application essay
  • Recommendations
  • Interview
  • Character/personal qualities
  • First generation status
  • Alumni/ae relation
  • Geographical residence
  • State residency
  • Religious affiliation/commitment
  • Volunteer work
  • Work experience

SAT and ACT scores Miami Dade College typically admits

The middle-50 SAT Math range is 480–590, with an EBRW midpoint near 565. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 20–26. Many applicants here submit scores; even slightly below the average can be competitive when combined with a strong GPA and curriculum.

SAT Composite
25th percentile1070
50th percentile1180
75th percentile1260
% submitting SAT66%
ACT Composite
25th percentile19
50th percentile22
75th percentile25
% submitting ACT34%
Current testing policy
  • Tests required: Standardized test scores are part of the standard application package.
  • • Policy detail: Required

Where admitted students ranked in their high school class

Class rank distribution gives parents a clear sense of how academically dominant a typical admitted student was within their own high school cohort — often a more meaningful signal than absolute GPA.

Top 10% of class22%
Top 25% of class55%
Top 50% of class89%
% submitting class rank71%

How much does Miami Dade College actually cost?

Published tuition is $6,389 for in-state students and $20,793 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $10,910 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $10,353 per year — the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 31% of students receive Pell Grants, a useful indicator of how much need-based aid the school distributes.

In-state tuition$6,390
Out-of-state tuition$20,790
Room and board$11,810
Average net price (after aid)$10,353
Application fee$30 (waivers available)

Application deadlines and early decision data for Miami Dade College

Regular admission
Regular deadlineMay 1, 2025
Notification dateNovember 20
Reply deadlineMay 1
Rolling admissionsYes

Will my child graduate from Miami Dade College?

Retention and graduation rates are the most overlooked numbers in college planning, but they predict actual outcomes far better than acceptance rate. They tell you whether admitted students stay and finish on time.

Freshman retention
85%
returned for sophomore year
4-year graduation
null%
finished on time
6-year graduation
64%
finished within 6 years

Other colleges in Florida parents ask about

How parents track GPA toward selective schools like Miami Dade College

Solyo helps parents track grades pulled directly from school emails, calculate GPA the same way colleges like Miami Dade College recalculate it, and ask an AI college counselor specific questions about their teen's odds. The platform is built for parents — not students — and turns what's usually a fragmented planning process into a single dashboard.

Common questions parents ask about Miami Dade College

What GPA do I need for Miami Dade College?

Miami Dade College admits students with a wide GPA range, but most successful applicants present an unweighted GPA of 3.3 or higher with a college-prep curriculum.

What SAT or ACT score does Miami Dade College typically admit?

The middle-50 SAT Math range is 480–590, with an EBRW midpoint near 565. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 20–26.

How much does Miami Dade College actually cost after financial aid?

The average net price at Miami Dade College after grants and scholarships is $10,353 per year. That figure is more useful for budgeting than the published sticker price, because it reflects what families actually pay after aid is applied.

Is Miami Dade College realistic for my child?

Compare your teen's current unweighted GPA and most recent SAT or ACT against the ranges above. If both numbers fall inside the school's middle-50, Miami Dade College is a target school. If both fall below the 25th-percentile mark, treat it as a reach and balance the application list accordingly.

Data sourced from the 2024-2025 Common Data Set submitted by Miami Dade College, and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Solyo extracts admissions data from official Common Data Set publications and refreshes it annually.