Gordon vs. USC Beaufort

Comparable Facts

Compare Gordon State College in Barnesville, GA with University of South Carolina Beaufort in Bluffton, SC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Gordon State College is larger than USC Beaufort based on total student enrollment (3,179 students vs. 2,208 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Gordon State College is located in Barnesville, GA (Distant Town setting); University of South Carolina Beaufort is in Bluffton, SC (Distant Rural setting).
• Gordon State College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of South Carolina Beaufort is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Gordon State College 20:1; University of South Carolina Beaufort 15:1.

Gordon vs. USC Beaufort Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Gordon or USC Beaufort? 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 USC Beaufort ($7,807 vs. $15,363).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Gordon State College are 17.9% lower than at University of South Carolina Beaufort ($10,444 vs. $12,725).
• University of South Carolina Beaufort is 195.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Gordon (about $7,102 more per year; $10,730.00 vs. $3,628.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 98.9% higher at USC Beaufort than at Gordon State College (about $10,828 more per year; $21,776.00 vs. $10,948.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Gordon State College than at University of South Carolina Beaufort (89% vs. 88%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of South Carolina Beaufort students is 34.5% larger than aid received by Gordon State College students ($8,692 vs. $6,462).

Gordon vs. USC Beaufort Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Gordon or USC Beaufort? 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 USC Beaufort and Gordon.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of South Carolina Beaufort (1030) is 20 points higher than at Gordon (1010).
• Incoming Gordon students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 19) as students at USC Beaufort (19).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Gordon State College 890/1130; University of South Carolina Beaufort 940/1110.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Gordon State College 15/24; University of South Carolina Beaufort 17/22.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Gordon - Test optional; USC Beaufort - Test-free.
• Gordon has a higher acceptance rate (85.9%) than USC Beaufort (72.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 36.1% at Gordon vs. 26.1% at USC Beaufort.

Gordon vs. USC Beaufort Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Gordon and USC Beaufort? 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 University of South Carolina Beaufort earn a median of about $2,600 more per year than Gordon graduates about ten years after starting college ($36,700 vs. $34,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Gordon State College graduates have a $6,974 lower median loan debt than USC Beaufort graduates ($17,500 vs. $24,474).
• Among borrowers, Gordon graduates have an estimated $73 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than USC Beaufort graduates ($180 vs. $253).
• More USC Beaufort graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Gordon students, three years after graduation. (50% 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.