Gordon vs. Beacon College

Comparable Facts

Compare Gordon State College in Barnesville, GA with Beacon College in Leesburg, FL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Gordon State College is larger than Beacon College based on total student enrollment (3,179 students vs. 531 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Gordon State College is located in Barnesville, GA (Distant Town setting); Beacon College is in Leesburg, FL (Small Suburban setting).
• Gordon State College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Beacon College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Gordon State College 20:1; Beacon College 12:1.

Gordon vs. Beacon College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Gordon or Beacon 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 Gordon State College than Beacon College ($7,807 vs. $46,997).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Gordon State College are 33.3% lower than at Beacon College ($10,444 vs. $15,658).
• Beacon College is 1,324.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Gordon (about $48,052 more per year; $51,680.00 vs. $3,628.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 372% higher at Beacon College than at Gordon State College (about $40,732 more per year; $51,680.00 vs. $10,948.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Beacon College than at Gordon State College (93% vs. 89%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Beacon College students is 271.2% larger than aid received by Gordon State College students ($23,988 vs. $6,462).

Gordon vs. Beacon College Admissions comparison

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

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Gordon State College 890/1130.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Gordon State College 15/24.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Gordon - Test optional; Beacon College - Test-free.
• Gordon has a higher acceptance rate (85.9%) than Beacon College (43.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 36.1% at Gordon vs. 38.6% at Beacon College.

Gordon vs. Beacon College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Gordon and Beacon 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).

• Among federal student loan borrowers, Gordon State College graduates have a $7,500 lower median loan debt than Beacon College graduates ($17,500 vs. $25,000).
• Among borrowers, Gordon graduates have an estimated $78 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Beacon College graduates ($180 vs. $258).
• More Beacon College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Gordon students, three years after graduation. (55% vs. 26%)

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.