FSW vs. DSC

Comparable Facts

Compare Florida SouthWestern State College in Fort Myers, FL with Dalton State College in Dalton, GA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Florida SouthWestern State College is larger than DSC based on total student enrollment (14,301 students vs. 5,135 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Florida SouthWestern State College is located in Fort Myers, FL (Large Suburban setting); Dalton State College is in Dalton, GA (Small City setting).
• Florida SouthWestern State College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Dalton State College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Florida SouthWestern State College 27:1; Dalton State College 21:1.

FSW vs. DSC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, FSW or DSC? 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 Dalton State College than FSW ($5,625 vs. $8,356).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Dalton State College are 6.8% lower than at Florida SouthWestern State College ($10,419 vs. $11,185).
• Florida SouthWestern State College is 1.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than DSC (about $65 more per year; $3,401.00 vs. $3,336.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 21.8% higher at FSW than at Dalton State College (about $2,323 more per year; $12,979.00 vs. $10,656.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Dalton State College than at Florida SouthWestern State College (92% vs. 80%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Dalton State College students is 12.1% larger than aid received by Florida SouthWestern State College students ($6,654 vs. $5,938).

FSW vs. DSC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, FSW or DSC? 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 DSC and FSW.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: FSW - Open admission; DSC - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: DSC Jul 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman DSC students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.1) than students at FSW (3.06).

FSW vs. DSC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for FSW and DSC? 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 SouthWestern State College earn a median of about $4,900 more per year than DSC graduates about ten years after starting college ($37,400 vs. $32,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Florida SouthWestern State College graduates have a $5,887 lower median loan debt than DSC graduates ($9,000 vs. $14,887).
• Among borrowers, FSW graduates have an estimated $60 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than DSC graduates ($93 vs. $153).
• More FSW graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former DSC students, three years after graduation. (43% vs. 42%)

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.