GCSC vs. FIT

Comparable Facts

Compare Gulf Coast State College in Panama City, FL with Fashion Institute of Technology in New York, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Fashion Institute of Technology is larger than GCSC based on total student enrollment (8,206 students vs. 5,426 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Gulf Coast State College is located in Panama City, FL (Small City setting); Fashion Institute of Technology is in New York, NY (Large City setting).
• Gulf Coast State College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Fashion Institute of Technology is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Gulf Coast State College 22:1; Fashion Institute of Technology 16:1.

GCSC vs. FIT Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, GCSC or FIT? 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 FIT ($7,729 vs. $16,340).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Gulf Coast State College are 47% lower than at Fashion Institute of Technology ($13,482 vs. $25,458).
• Fashion Institute of Technology is 165.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than GCSC (about $3,924 more per year; $6,294.00 vs. $2,370.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 95.4% higher at FIT than at Gulf Coast State College (about $8,239 more per year; $16,874.00 vs. $8,635.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Gulf Coast State College than at Fashion Institute of Technology (91% vs. 43%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Fashion Institute of Technology students is 31.9% larger than aid received by Gulf Coast State College students ($8,304 vs. $6,295).

GCSC vs. FIT Admissions comparison

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

• Gulf Coast State College reports an open admissions policy.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: GCSC - Open admission; FIT - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: FIT Jan 1, 2027.

GCSC vs. FIT Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for GCSC and FIT? 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 Fashion Institute of Technology earn a median of about $19,600 more per year than GCSC graduates about ten years after starting college ($51,600 vs. $32,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Gulf Coast State College graduates have a $10,500 lower median loan debt than FIT graduates ($9,000 vs. $19,500).
• Among borrowers, GCSC graduates have an estimated $108 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than FIT graduates ($93 vs. $201).
• More FIT graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former GCSC students, three years after graduation. (70% 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.