Beacon College vs. FGCU

Comparable Facts

Compare Beacon College in Leesburg, FL with Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers, FL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Florida Gulf Coast University is larger than Beacon College based on total student enrollment (16,612 students vs. 531 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Beacon College is located in Leesburg, FL (Small Suburban setting); Florida Gulf Coast University is in Fort Myers, FL (Rural Fringe setting).
• Beacon College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Florida Gulf Coast University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Beacon College 12:1; Florida Gulf Coast University 20:1.

Beacon College vs. FGCU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Beacon College or FGCU? 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 Florida Gulf Coast University than Beacon College ($12,863 vs. $46,997).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Florida Gulf Coast University are 29.1% lower than at Beacon College ($11,107 vs. $15,658).
• Beacon College is 744.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than FGCU (about $45,562 more per year; $51,680.00 vs. $6,118.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 105.4% higher at Beacon College than at Florida Gulf Coast University (about $26,518 more per year; $51,680.00 vs. $25,162.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Beacon College than at Florida Gulf Coast University (93% vs. 62%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Beacon College students is 181.7% larger than aid received by Florida Gulf Coast University students ($23,988 vs. $8,515).

Beacon College vs. FGCU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Beacon College or FGCU? 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 FGCU and Beacon College.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsFlorida Gulf Coast University 1040/1200.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsFlorida Gulf Coast University 20/25.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Beacon College - Test-free; FGCU - Required.
• Typical fall application deadline: FGCU Nov 1, 2026.
• Accepted freshman FGCU students have a 0.8 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at Beacon College (3.2).
• FGCU has a higher acceptance rate (63.4%) than Beacon College (43.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 38.6% at Beacon College vs. 20.9% at FGCU.

Beacon College vs. FGCU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Beacon College and FGCU? 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).

• Beacon College's six-year graduation rate (82%) is higher than Florida Gulf Coast University's (45%).
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Florida Gulf Coast University graduates have a $5,500 lower median loan debt than Beacon College graduates ($19,500 vs. $25,000).
• Among borrowers, FGCU graduates have an estimated $57 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Beacon College graduates ($201 vs. $258).
• More FGCU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Beacon College students, three years after graduation. (59% vs. 55%)

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.