Guilford College vs. Coastal Carolina

Comparable Facts

Compare Guilford College in Greensboro, NC with Coastal Carolina University in Conway, SC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Coastal Carolina University is larger than Guilford College based on total student enrollment (11,348 students vs. 1,180 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Guilford College is located in Greensboro, NC (Large City setting); Coastal Carolina University is in Conway, SC (Small City setting).
• Guilford College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Coastal Carolina University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Guilford College 12:1; Coastal Carolina University 17:1.

Guilford College vs. Coastal Carolina Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Guilford College or Coastal Carolina? 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 Coastal Carolina University than Guilford College ($14,379 vs. $22,270).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Coastal Carolina University are 9.4% lower than at Guilford College ($12,146 vs. $13,400).
• Guilford College is 255.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Coastal Carolina (about $29,722 more per year; $41,362.00 vs. $11,640.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 39.6% higher at Guilford College than at Coastal Carolina University (about $11,734 more per year; $41,362.00 vs. $29,628.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Guilford College than at Coastal Carolina University (100% vs. 94%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Guilford College students is 231.3% larger than aid received by Coastal Carolina University students ($33,419 vs. $10,087).

Guilford College vs. Coastal Carolina Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Guilford College or Coastal Carolina? 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 Coastal Carolina and Guilford College.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Guilford College (1190) is 50 points higher than at Coastal Carolina (1140).
• Incoming Coastal Carolina students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (23 vs. 21 at Guilford College).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Guilford College 1120/1260; Coastal Carolina University 1050/1220.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Guilford College 18/24; Coastal Carolina University 21/26.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Guilford College - Test optional; Coastal Carolina - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman Coastal Carolina students have a 0.58 point higher average high school GPA (3.72) than students at Guilford College (3.14).
• Guilford College has a higher acceptance rate (80%) than Coastal Carolina (75.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 10.1% at Guilford College vs. 16.9% at Coastal Carolina.

Guilford College vs. Coastal Carolina Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Guilford College and Coastal Carolina? 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).

• Guilford College's six-year graduation rate (60%) is higher than Coastal Carolina University's (46%).
• Graduates from Coastal Carolina University earn a median of about $1,900 more per year than Guilford College graduates about ten years after starting college ($42,200 vs. $40,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Coastal Carolina University graduates have a $1,705 lower median loan debt than Guilford College graduates ($24,930 vs. $26,635).
• Among borrowers, Coastal Carolina graduates have an estimated $18 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Guilford College graduates ($257 vs. $275).
• More Coastal Carolina graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Guilford College students, three years after graduation. (54% vs. 51%)

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.