GCSC vs. AMU

Deciding between Gulf Coast State College and Ave Maria University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Gulf Coast State College
Ave Maria University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • GCSC Panama City, FL
  • AMU Ave Maria, FL
  • Setting
  • GCSC Small City
  • AMU Distant Rural
  • Total enrollment
  • GCSC 5,426
  • AMU 1,423
  • Type
  • GCSC Public 4 Year
  • AMU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • GCSC
  • AMU #625
  • Religious Affiliation
  • GCSC -
  • AMU Roman Catholic
  • Status
  • GCSC Non-profit
  • AMU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • GCSC
  • AMU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • GCSC $2,370
  • AMU $30,198
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • GCSC $8,635
  • AMU $30,198
  • Room & Board
  • GCSC $13,482
  • AMU $14,432
  • Average Net Price
  • GCSC $7,729
  • AMU $25,294
  • Average Grant Aid
  • GCSC $6,295
  • AMU $20,936
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • GCSC 91%
  • AMU 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • GCSC -
  • AMU 2,689
  • Admitted
  • GCSC -
  • AMU 1,113
  • Acceptance Rate
  • GCSC Open
  • AMU 41.4%
  • Enrolled
  • GCSC Open
  • AMU 32.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • GCSC
  • AMU 1130
  • Typical ACT score
  • GCSC
  • AMU 24
  • Average High School GPA
  • GCSC -
  • AMU 3.6
  • Typical High School Grades
  • GCSC -
  • AMU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • GCSC Unavailable
  • AMU Average
  • Applicant Competition
  • GCSC
  • AMU Low
  • ACT Range
  • GCSC
  • AMU 21/28
  • SAT Range
  • GCSC
  • AMU 1018/1240
  • Submit Test Scores
  • GCSC Open admission
  • AMU Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • GCSC
  • AMU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • GCSC 22:1
  • AMU 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • GCSC
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (51%)
    • Health Professions (23%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (16%)
    • Education (3%)
    • Work and Family Studies (1%)
  • AMU
    • Theology and Religious Vvocations (22%)
    • Social Sciences (20%)
    • English and Literature (12%)
    • Philosophy and Religious Studies (11%)
    • Biology (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • GCSC -
  • AMU 41%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • GCSC $32,000
  • AMU N/A
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • GCSC 39%
  • AMU 53%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • GCSC $9,000
  • AMU $22,428
  • Median Loan Payment
  • GCSC $93
  • AMU $231

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • GCSC 35%
  • AMU 48%
  • % Women
  • GCSC 65%
  • AMU 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • GCSC Medium
  • AMU Medium
  • HBCU
  • GCSC No
  • AMU No
  • % White
  • GCSC 72%
  • AMU 61%
  • % Asian
  • GCSC 3%
  • AMU 3%
  • % Black
  • GCSC 11%
  • AMU 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • GCSC 6%
  • AMU 15%
  • % Native American
  • GCSC 1%
  • AMU 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • GCSC 0%
  • AMU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • GCSC 4%
  • AMU 0%
  • % International
  • GCSC 0%
  • AMU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • GCSC 3%
  • AMU 13%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • GCSC 95%
  • AMU 28%
  • % Out-of-State
  • GCSC 5%
  • AMU 70%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • GCSC No
  • AMU Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • GCSC No
  • AMU No
  • Meal Plan
  • GCSC No
  • AMU Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • GCSC Yes
  • AMU Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • GCSC No
  • AMU No

Comparable Facts

Compare Gulf Coast State College in Panama City, FL with Ave Maria University in Ave Maria, FL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Gulf Coast State College is larger than AMU based on total student enrollment (5,426 students vs. 1,423 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Gulf Coast State College is located in Panama City, FL (Small City setting); Ave Maria University is in Ave Maria, FL (Distant Rural setting).
  • Gulf Coast State College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Ave Maria University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Gulf Coast State College 22:1; Ave Maria University 17:1.

GCSC vs. AMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, GCSC or AMU? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Gulf Coast State College than AMU ($7,729 vs. $25,294).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Gulf Coast State College are 6.6% lower than at Ave Maria University ($13,482 vs. $14,432).
  • Ave Maria University is 1,174.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than GCSC (about $27,828 more per year; $30,198.00 vs. $2,370.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 249.7% higher at AMU than at Gulf Coast State College (about $21,563 more per year; $30,198.00 vs. $8,635.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Ave Maria University than at Gulf Coast State College (100% vs. 91%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Ave Maria University students is 232.6% larger than aid received by Gulf Coast State College students ($20,936 vs. $6,295).

GCSC vs. AMU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, GCSC or AMU? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between AMU and GCSC.

  • Gulf Coast State College reports an open admissions policy.
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsAve Maria University 1018/1240.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsAve Maria University 21/28.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: GCSC - Open admission; AMU - Test-free.

GCSC vs. AMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for GCSC and AMU? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Gulf Coast State College graduates have a $13,428 lower median loan debt than AMU graduates ($9,000 vs. $22,428).
  • Among borrowers, GCSC graduates have an estimated $138 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than AMU graduates ($93 vs. $231).
  • More AMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former GCSC students, three years after graduation. (53% vs. 39%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.