GCSC vs. CAU

Should I go to Gulf Coast State College or Clark Atlanta University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if GCSC or CAU is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
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Gulf Coast State College vs. Clark Atlanta University comparison
Gulf Coast State College Clark Atlanta University College 3 College 4
Gulf Coast State College Clark Atlanta University
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Overview

 GCSC CAU
Location Panama City, FL Atlanta, GA
Setting Small City Large City
Enrollment 4,694 4,000
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #971
Religious Affiliation - United Methodist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website gulfcoast.edu cau.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 GCSC CAU
Tuition (In State) $1,750 $21,948
Tuition (Out of State) $7,065 $21,948
Room & Board $9,378 $10,982
Avg Net Price $5,725 $30,015
Avg Grant Aid $6,024 $9,431
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 83%

Admission

 GCSC CAU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied - 16,153
Admitted - 9,088
Acceptance Rate Open 56.3%
Enrolled % Open 12.7%
Avg High School GPA - 3.28
Typical High School Grades - B
Admissions Standards Unavailable Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 16/20
SAT Range 880/1120
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Apr 1, 2025

Academics

 GCSC CAU
Student to Faculty Ratio 19:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (51%)
  • Health Professions (23%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (16%)
  • Education (3%)
  • Work and Family Studies (1%)
  • Communication (26%)
  • Business (21%)
  • Psychology (11%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
  • English and Literature (5%)

Outcomes

 GCSC CAU
Graduation Rate - 41%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $32,000 $38,400
Making Student Loan Payments 39% 30%
Median Student Loan Debt $9,000 $31,000
Median Loan Payment $93 $320

Diversity

 GCSC CAU
% Men 36% 24%
% Women 64% 76%
Racial Diversity Low Very Low
HBCU No Yes
% White 72% 0%
% Black 11% 84%
% Hispanic 6% 0%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 0%
% International 0% 2%
% Unknown Race 3% 13%

Students

 GCSC CAU
% In-State 93% 27%
% Out-of-State 7% 72%

Campus

 GCSC CAU
Campus Housing No Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No Yes
Meal Plan No Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes Yes
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Gulf Coast State College is larger than than CAU based on total student enrollment (4,694 students vs. 4,000 students)

GCSC vs. CAU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, GCSC or CAU?

  • Clark Atlanta University is 1,154.2% more expensive to attend than GCSC for in-state tuition ($21,948.00 vs. $1,750.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 210.7% higher at CAU than Gulf Coast State College ($21,948.00 vs. $7,065.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Gulf Coast State College than CAU ($5,725 vs. $30,015)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Gulf Coast State College are 17.1% lower than costs at Clark Atlanta University ($9,378 vs. $10,982)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Gulf Coast State College than Clark Atlanta University (99% vs. 83%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Clark Atlanta University students is 56.6% larger than aid received Gulf Coast State College ($9,431 vs. $6,024)

Which college is harder to get into, GCSC or CAU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between CAU or GCSC .

GCSC vs. CAU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, GCSC or CAU? 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 CAU and GCSC.

  • Graduates from Clark Atlanta University earn on average $6,400 more per year than GCSC graduates after ten years. ($38,400 vs. $32,000)
  • Gulf Coast State College students graduate with a $22,000 lower median federal student loan debt than CAU graduates. ($9,000 vs. $31,000)
  • GCSC graduates are paying $227 less per month on federal student loans than CAU graduates. ($93 vs. $320)
  • More GCSC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CAU students, three years after graduation. (39% vs. 30%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/