GCSC vs. Beacon College

Deciding between Gulf Coast State College and Beacon College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Gulf Coast State College

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • GCSC Panama City, FL
  • Beacon College Leesburg, FL
  • Setting
  • GCSC Small City
  • Beacon College Small Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • GCSC 5,426
  • Beacon College 531
  • Type
  • GCSC Public 4 Year
  • Beacon College Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • GCSC
  • Beacon College
  • Religious Affiliation
  • GCSC -
  • Beacon College -
  • Status
  • GCSC Non-profit
  • Beacon College Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • GCSC
  • Beacon College

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • GCSC $2,370
  • Beacon College $51,680
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • GCSC $8,635
  • Beacon College $51,680
  • Room & Board
  • GCSC $13,482
  • Beacon College $15,658
  • Average Net Price
  • GCSC $7,729
  • Beacon College $46,997
  • Average Grant Aid
  • GCSC $6,295
  • Beacon College $23,988
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • GCSC 91%
  • Beacon College 93%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • GCSC -
  • Beacon College 674
  • Admitted
  • GCSC -
  • Beacon College 293
  • Acceptance Rate
  • GCSC Open
  • Beacon College 43.5%
  • Enrolled
  • GCSC Open
  • Beacon College 38.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • GCSC
  • Beacon College
  • Typical ACT score
  • GCSC
  • Beacon College
  • Average High School GPA
  • GCSC -
  • Beacon College 3.2
  • Typical High School Grades
  • GCSC -
  • Beacon College B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • GCSC Unavailable
  • Beacon College Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • GCSC
  • Beacon College Low
  • ACT Range
  • GCSC
  • Beacon College
  • SAT Range
  • GCSC
  • Beacon College
  • Submit Test Scores
  • GCSC Open admission
  • Beacon College Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • GCSC
  • Beacon College

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • GCSC 22:1
  • Beacon College 12:1
  • Popular Majors
  • GCSC
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (51%)
    • Health Professions (23%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (16%)
    • Education (3%)
    • Work and Family Studies (1%)
  • Beacon College
    • Human Services (41%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (33%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (26%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • GCSC -
  • Beacon College 82%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • GCSC $32,000
  • Beacon College N/A
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • GCSC 39%
  • Beacon College 55%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • GCSC $9,000
  • Beacon College $25,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • GCSC $93
  • Beacon College $258

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • GCSC 35%
  • Beacon College 65%
  • % Women
  • GCSC 65%
  • Beacon College 35%
  • Racial Diversity
  • GCSC Medium
  • Beacon College Medium
  • HBCU
  • GCSC No
  • Beacon College No
  • % White
  • GCSC 72%
  • Beacon College 70%
  • % Asian
  • GCSC 3%
  • Beacon College 3%
  • % Black
  • GCSC 11%
  • Beacon College 15%
  • % Hispanic
  • GCSC 6%
  • Beacon College 4%
  • % Native American
  • GCSC 1%
  • Beacon College 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • GCSC 0%
  • Beacon College 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • GCSC 4%
  • Beacon College 4%
  • % International
  • GCSC 0%
  • Beacon College 3%
  • % Unknown Race
  • GCSC 3%
  • Beacon College 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • GCSC 95%
  • Beacon College 34%
  • % Out-of-State
  • GCSC 5%
  • Beacon College 65%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • GCSC No
  • Beacon College Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • GCSC No
  • Beacon College No
  • Meal Plan
  • GCSC No
  • Beacon College Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • GCSC Yes
  • Beacon College No
  • Daycare Facility
  • GCSC No
  • Beacon College No

Comparable Facts

Compare Gulf Coast State College in Panama City, FL with Beacon College in Leesburg, FL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Gulf Coast State College is larger than Beacon College based on total student enrollment (5,426 students vs. 531 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Gulf Coast State College is located in Panama City, FL (Small City setting); Beacon College is in Leesburg, FL (Small Suburban setting).
  • Gulf Coast State College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Beacon College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Gulf Coast State College 22:1; Beacon College 12:1.

GCSC vs. Beacon College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, GCSC 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 Gulf Coast State College than Beacon College ($7,729 vs. $46,997).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Gulf Coast State College are 13.9% lower than at Beacon College ($13,482 vs. $15,658).
  • Beacon College is 2,080.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than GCSC (about $49,310 more per year; $51,680.00 vs. $2,370.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 498.5% higher at Beacon College than at Gulf Coast State College (about $43,045 more per year; $51,680.00 vs. $8,635.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Beacon College than at Gulf Coast State College (93% vs. 91%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Beacon College students is 281.1% larger than aid received by Gulf Coast State College students ($23,988 vs. $6,295).

GCSC vs. Beacon College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, GCSC 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 GCSC.

  • Gulf Coast State College reports an open admissions policy.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: GCSC - Open admission; Beacon College - Test-free.

GCSC vs. Beacon College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for GCSC 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, Gulf Coast State College graduates have a $16,000 lower median loan debt than Beacon College graduates ($9,000 vs. $25,000).
  • Among borrowers, GCSC graduates have an estimated $165 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Beacon College graduates ($93 vs. $258).
  • More Beacon College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former GCSC students, three years after graduation. (55% vs. 39%)

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.