GCSC vs. Columbus State

Should I go to Gulf Coast State College or Columbus State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if GCSC or Columbus State 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. Columbus State University comparison
Gulf Coast State College Columbus State University College 3 College 4
Gulf Coast State College Columbus State University
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Overview

 GCSC Columbus State
Location Panama City, FL Columbus, GA
Setting Small City Midsize City
Enrollment 4,694 7,479
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #995
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website gulfcoast.edu columbusstate.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 GCSC Columbus State
Tuition (In State) $1,750 $4,371
Tuition (Out of State) $7,065 $15,425
Room & Board $9,378 $12,080
Avg Net Price $5,725 $12,902
Avg Grant Aid $6,024 $9,147
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 98%

Admission

 GCSC Columbus State
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied - 3,870
Admitted - 3,398
Acceptance Rate Open 87.8%
Enrolled % Open 30.4%
Avg High School GPA - 3.07
Typical High School Grades - B
Admissions Standards Unavailable Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 16/23
SAT Range 900/1130
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jun 30, 2025

Academics

 GCSC Columbus State
Student to Faculty Ratio 19:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (51%)
  • Health Professions (23%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (16%)
  • Education (3%)
  • Work and Family Studies (1%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (24%)
  • Business (19%)
  • Education (14%)
  • Health Professions (14%)
  • English and Literature (4%)

Outcomes

 GCSC Columbus State
Graduation Rate - 31%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $32,000 $37,400
Making Student Loan Payments 39% 37%
Median Student Loan Debt $9,000 $26,000
Median Loan Payment $93 $268

Diversity

 GCSC Columbus State
% Men 36% 40%
% Women 64% 60%
Racial Diversity Low High
HBCU No No
% White 72% 51%
% Black 11% 37%
% Hispanic 6% 6%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 2%
% International 0% 1%
% Unknown Race 3% 0%

Students

 GCSC Columbus State
% In-State 93% 92%
% Out-of-State 7% 5%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Columbus State University is larger than than GCSC based on total student enrollment (7,479 students vs. 4,694 students)

GCSC vs. Columbus State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, GCSC or Columbus State?

  • Columbus State University is 149.8% more expensive to attend than GCSC for in-state tuition ($4,371.00 vs. $1,750.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 118.3% higher at Columbus State than Gulf Coast State College ($15,425.00 vs. $7,065.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Gulf Coast State College than Columbus State ($5,725 vs. $12,902)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Gulf Coast State College are 28.8% lower than costs at Columbus State University ($9,378 vs. $12,080)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Gulf Coast State College than Columbus State University (99% vs. 98%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Columbus State University students is 51.8% larger than aid received Gulf Coast State College ($9,147 vs. $6,024)

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

GCSC vs. Columbus State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, GCSC or Columbus State? 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 Columbus State and GCSC.

  • Graduates from Columbus State University earn on average $5,400 more per year than GCSC graduates after ten years. ($37,400 vs. $32,000)
  • Gulf Coast State College students graduate with a $17,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Columbus State graduates. ($9,000 vs. $26,000)
  • GCSC graduates are paying $175 less per month on federal student loans than Columbus State graduates. ($93 vs. $268)
  • More GCSC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Columbus State students, three years after graduation. (39% vs. 37%)

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