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FAU UCF USF Main Campus Florida State University of South Florida St. Petersburg UT UNF Nova Florida FIU The University of West Florida Eckerd College| Florida Southern College | Florida Gulf Coast University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Florida Southern | FGCU | ||
| Location | Lakeland, FL | Fort Myers, FL | ||
| Setting | Small City | Rural Fringe | ||
| Enrollment | 3,281 | 15,969 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #425 | #802 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | United Methodist | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | flsouthern.edu | fgcu.edu | ||
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Costs |
Florida Southern | FGCU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $39,700 | $4,191 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $39,700 | $22,328 | ||
| Room & Board | $12,400 | $9,772 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $27,324 | $10,834 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $27,730 | $7,268 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 72% |
Admission |
Florida Southern | FGCU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 11,120 | 15,657 | ||
| Admitted | 6,295 | 11,647 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 56.6% | 74.4% | ||
| Enrolled % | 12% | 24.1% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.73 | 4.0 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | A/A+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Challenging | Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | Low | ||
| ACT Range | 22/29 | 20/25 | ||
| SAT Range | 1080/1290 | 1040/1200 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Required to be considered for admission | ||
| Application Deadline | May 1, 2025 | Nov 1, 2024 |
Academics |
Florida Southern | FGCU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 14:1 | 20:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Florida Southern | FGCU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 55% | 45% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $42,700 | $45,200 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 65% | 59% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,000 | $19,500 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $248 | $201 |
Diversity |
Florida Southern | FGCU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 37% | 42% | ||
| % Women | 63% | 58% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 74% | 66% | ||
| % Black | 6% | 7% | ||
| % Hispanic | 11% | 19% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 3% | ||
| % International | 4% | 2% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 1% |
Students |
Florida Southern | FGCU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 51% | 75% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 45% | 22% | ||
Campus |
Florida Southern | FGCU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Florida Gulf Coast University is larger than than Florida Southern based on total student enrollment (15,969 students vs. 3,281 students)
Florida Southern vs. FGCU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Florida Southern or FGCU?
- Florida Southern College is 847.3% more expensive to attend than FGCU for in-state tuition ($39,700.00 vs. $4,191.00)
- Out of state tuition is 77.8% higher at Florida Southern than Florida Gulf Coast University ($39,700.00 vs. $22,328.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Florida Gulf Coast University than Florida Southern ($10,834 vs. $27,324)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Florida Gulf Coast University are 26.9% lower than costs at Florida Southern College ($9,772 vs. $12,400)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Florida Southern College than Florida Gulf Coast University (100% vs. 72%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Florida Southern College students is 281.5% larger than aid received Florida Gulf Coast University ($27,730 vs. $7,268)
Florida Southern vs. FGCU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Florida Southern or FGCU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between FGCU or Florida Southern .
- The average SAT score at Florida Southern College (1172) is 91 points higher than at FGCU (1081)
- Incoming Florida Southern students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at FGCU (24)
- Accepted freshman FGCU students have a 0.27 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at Florida Southern (3.73)
- FGCU has a higher acceptance rate (74.4%) than Florida Southern (56.6%)
Florida Southern vs. FGCU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Florida Southern or FGCU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between FGCU and Florida Southern.
- The graduation rate at Florida Southern is higher than Florida Gulf Coast University (55% vs. 45%)
- Graduates from Florida Gulf Coast University earn on average $2,500 more per year than Florida Southern graduates after ten years. ($45,200 vs. $42,700)
- Florida Gulf Coast University students graduate with a $4,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Florida Southern graduates. ($19,500 vs. $24,000)
- FGCU graduates are paying $47 less per month on federal student loans than Florida Southern graduates. ($201 vs. $248)
- More Florida Southern graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former FGCU students, three years after graduation. (65% vs. 59%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/