GCSC vs. Indian River State College

Comparable Facts

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

Indian River State College is larger than GCSC based on total student enrollment (15,429 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); Indian River State College is in Fort Pierce, FL (Large Suburban setting).
• Gulf Coast State College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Indian River State College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Gulf Coast State College 22:1; Indian River State College 27:1.

GCSC vs. Indian River State College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, GCSC or Indian River State 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 Indian River State College than GCSC ($4,427 vs. $7,729).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Indian River State College are 33.1% lower than at Gulf Coast State College ($9,015 vs. $13,482).
• Indian River State College is 16.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than GCSC (about $394 more per year; $2,764.00 vs. $2,370.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 18.1% higher at Indian River State College than at Gulf Coast State College (about $1,566 more per year; $10,201.00 vs. $8,635.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Gulf Coast State College than at Indian River State College (91% vs. 62%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Indian River State College students is 10.7% larger than aid received by Gulf Coast State College students ($6,970 vs. $6,295).

GCSC vs. Indian River State College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, GCSC or Indian River State 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 Indian River State College 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; Indian River State College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Indian River State College Aug 2, 2027.

GCSC vs. Indian River State College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for GCSC and Indian River State 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).

• Graduates from Gulf Coast State College earn a median of about $400 more per year than Indian River State College graduates about ten years after starting college ($32,000 vs. $31,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Indian River State College graduates have a $2,291 lower median loan debt than GCSC graduates ($6,709 vs. $9,000).
• Among borrowers, Indian River State College graduates have an estimated $24 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than GCSC graduates ($69 vs. $93).
• More GCSC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Indian River State College students, three years after graduation. (39% vs. 38%)

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.