GCSC vs. MDC

Comparable Facts

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

Miami Dade College is larger than GCSC based on total student enrollment (58,941 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); Miami Dade College is in Miami, FL (Large City setting).
• Gulf Coast State College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Miami Dade College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Gulf Coast State College 22:1; Miami Dade College 22:1.

GCSC vs. MDC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, GCSC or MDC? 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 Miami Dade College than GCSC ($5,766 vs. $7,729).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Gulf Coast State College are 50.5% lower than at Miami Dade College ($13,482 vs. $27,262).
• Miami Dade College is 19.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than GCSC (about $468 more per year; $2,838.00 vs. $2,370.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 11.9% higher at MDC than at Gulf Coast State College (about $1,026 more per year; $9,661.00 vs. $8,635.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Gulf Coast State College than at Miami Dade College (91% vs. 86%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Miami Dade College students is 14.6% larger than aid received by Gulf Coast State College students ($7,216 vs. $6,295).

GCSC vs. MDC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, GCSC or MDC? 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 MDC 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; MDC - Open admission.

GCSC vs. MDC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for GCSC and MDC? 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 Miami Dade College earn a median of about $2,100 more per year than GCSC graduates about ten years after starting college ($34,100 vs. $32,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Miami Dade College graduates have a $297 lower median loan debt than GCSC graduates ($8,703 vs. $9,000).
• Among borrowers, MDC graduates have an estimated $4 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than GCSC graduates ($89 vs. $93).
• More MDC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former GCSC students, three years after graduation. (41% 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.