Chipola vs. FGCU

Comparable Facts

Compare Chipola College in Marianna, 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 Chipola based on total student enrollment (16,612 students vs. 1,934 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Chipola College is located in Marianna, FL (Distant Town setting); Florida Gulf Coast University is in Fort Myers, FL (Rural Fringe setting).
• Chipola College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Florida Gulf Coast University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Chipola College 17:1; Florida Gulf Coast University 20:1.

Chipola vs. FGCU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Chipola 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 Chipola College than FGCU ($2,467 vs. $12,863).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Chipola College are 58.9% lower than at Florida Gulf Coast University ($4,560 vs. $11,107).
• Florida Gulf Coast University is 96.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Chipola (about $2,998 more per year; $6,118.00 vs. $3,120.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 181.1% higher at FGCU than at Chipola College (about $16,212 more per year; $25,162.00 vs. $8,950.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Chipola College than at Florida Gulf Coast University (76% vs. 62%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Florida Gulf Coast University students is 24% larger than aid received by Chipola College students ($8,515 vs. $6,866).

Chipola vs. FGCU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Chipola 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 Chipola.

• Chipola College reports an open admissions policy.
• 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: Chipola - Open admission; FGCU - Required.
• Typical fall application deadline: FGCU Nov 1, 2026.
• Accepted freshman FGCU students have a 1.5 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at Chipola (2.5).

Chipola vs. FGCU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Chipola 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).

• Graduates from Florida Gulf Coast University earn a median of about $12,200 more per year than Chipola graduates about ten years after starting college ($45,200 vs. $33,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More FGCU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Chipola students, three years after graduation. (59% vs. 47%)

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.