GCSC vs. Santa Fe College

Comparable Facts

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

Santa Fe College is larger than GCSC based on total student enrollment (12,758 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); Santa Fe College is in Gainesville, FL (Midsize Suburban setting).
• Gulf Coast State College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Santa Fe College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Gulf Coast State College 22:1; Santa Fe College 18:1.

GCSC vs. Santa Fe College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, GCSC or Santa Fe College? 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 Santa Fe College ($7,729 vs. $11,903).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Santa Fe College are 23.1% lower than at Gulf Coast State College ($10,367 vs. $13,482).
• Santa Fe College is 8.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than GCSC (about $193 more per year; $2,563.00 vs. $2,370.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 6.4% higher at Santa Fe College than at Gulf Coast State College (about $554 more per year; $9,189.00 vs. $8,635.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Gulf Coast State College than at Santa Fe College (91% vs. 64%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Gulf Coast State College students is 141.9% larger than aid received by Santa Fe College students ($6,295 vs. $2,602).

GCSC vs. Santa Fe College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, GCSC or Santa Fe College? 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 Santa Fe College and GCSC.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: GCSC - Open admission; Santa Fe College - Open admission.

GCSC vs. Santa Fe College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for GCSC and Santa Fe College? 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 Santa Fe College earn a median of about $5,500 more per year than GCSC graduates about ten years after starting college ($37,500 vs. $32,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Gulf Coast State College graduates have a $2,025 lower median loan debt than Santa Fe College graduates ($9,000 vs. $11,025).
• Among borrowers, GCSC graduates have an estimated $20 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Santa Fe College graduates ($93 vs. $113).
• More GCSC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Santa Fe College students, three years after graduation. (39% vs. 34%)

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.