GCSC vs. GS

Comparable Facts

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

Georgia Southern University is larger than GCSC based on total student enrollment (27,423 students vs. 5,426 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Gulf Coast State College is located in Panama City, FL (Small City setting); Georgia Southern University is in Statesboro, GA (Remote Town setting).
• Gulf Coast State College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Georgia Southern University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Gulf Coast State College 22:1; Georgia Southern University 25:1.

GCSC vs. GS Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, GCSC or GS? 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 GS ($7,729 vs. $15,971).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Georgia Southern University are 14.8% lower than at Gulf Coast State College ($11,492 vs. $13,482).
• Georgia Southern University is 154.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than GCSC (about $3,652 more per year; $6,022.00 vs. $2,370.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 105.4% higher at GS than at Gulf Coast State College (about $9,099 more per year; $17,734.00 vs. $8,635.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Gulf Coast State College than at Georgia Southern University (91% vs. 90%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Georgia Southern University students is 42.9% larger than aid received by Gulf Coast State College students ($8,994 vs. $6,295).

GCSC vs. GS Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, GCSC or GS? 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 GS and GCSC.

• Gulf Coast State College reports an open admissions policy.
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsGeorgia Southern University 986/1133.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsGeorgia Southern University 18/23.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: GCSC - Open admission; GS - Required.
• Typical fall application deadline: GS May 1, 2027.

GCSC vs. GS Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for GCSC and GS? 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).

• Graduates from Georgia Southern University earn a median of about $12,800 more per year than GCSC graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,800 vs. $32,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Gulf Coast State College graduates have a $14,000 lower median loan debt than GS graduates ($9,000 vs. $23,000).
• Among borrowers, GCSC graduates have an estimated $144 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than GS graduates ($93 vs. $237).
• More GS graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former GCSC students, three years after graduation. (52% 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.