GCSC vs. DSC

Comparable Facts

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

Gulf Coast State College is larger than DSC based on total student enrollment (5,426 students vs. 5,135 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Gulf Coast State College is located in Panama City, FL (Small City setting); Dalton State College is in Dalton, GA (Small City setting).
• Gulf Coast State College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Dalton State College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Gulf Coast State College 22:1; Dalton State College 21:1.

GCSC vs. DSC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, GCSC or DSC? 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 Dalton State College than GCSC ($5,625 vs. $7,729).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Dalton State College are 22.7% lower than at Gulf Coast State College ($10,419 vs. $13,482).
• Dalton State College is 40.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than GCSC (about $966 more per year; $3,336.00 vs. $2,370.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 23.4% higher at DSC than at Gulf Coast State College (about $2,021 more per year; $10,656.00 vs. $8,635.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Dalton State College than at Gulf Coast State College (92% vs. 91%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Dalton State College students is 5.7% larger than aid received by Gulf Coast State College students ($6,654 vs. $6,295).

GCSC vs. DSC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, GCSC or DSC? 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 DSC and GCSC.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: GCSC - Open admission; DSC - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: DSC Jul 1, 2027.

GCSC vs. DSC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for GCSC and DSC? 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 Dalton State College earn a median of about $500 more per year than GCSC graduates about ten years after starting college ($32,500 vs. $32,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Gulf Coast State College graduates have a $5,887 lower median loan debt than DSC graduates ($9,000 vs. $14,887).
• Among borrowers, GCSC graduates have an estimated $60 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than DSC graduates ($93 vs. $153).
• More DSC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former GCSC students, three years after graduation. (42% 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.