GCSC vs. Palm Beach Atlantic

Should I go to Gulf Coast State College or Palm Beach Atlantic University West Palm Beach? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if GCSC or Palm Beach Atlantic 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.

Add a college to compare up to four schools

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

UT Lynn University FGCU FAU Nova Southeastern University UCF Chipola Flagler Eckerd College ISU Wesleyan College
Gulf Coast State College vs. Palm Beach Atlantic University West Palm Beach comparison
Gulf Coast State College Palm Beach Atlantic University West Palm Beach College 3 College 4
Gulf Coast State College Palm Beach Atlantic University West Palm Beach
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

GCSC Palm Beach Atlantic
Location Panama City, FL West Palm Beach, FL
Setting Small City Small City
Enrollment 4,959 3,875
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #514
Religious Affiliation - Interdenominational - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website gulfcoast.edu pba.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

GCSC Palm Beach Atlantic
Tuition (In State) $1,750 $36,990
Tuition (Out of State) $7,065 $36,990
Room & Board $13,482 $12,610
Avg Net Price $6,525 $31,103
Avg Grant Aid $6,163 $24,541
% Receiving Grant Aid 90% 100%

Admission

GCSC Palm Beach Atlantic
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied - 7,657
Admitted - 6,763
Acceptance Rate Open 88.3%
Enrolled % Open 10.1%
Avg High School GPA - 3.36
Typical High School Grades - B+
Admissions Standards Unavailable Moderate
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 19/26
SAT Range 970/1210
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline

Academics

GCSC Palm Beach Atlantic
Student to Faculty Ratio 20:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (51%)
  • Health Professions (23%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (16%)
  • Education (3%)
  • Work and Family Studies (1%)
  • Business (44%)
  • Theology and Religious Vvocations (10%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Health Professions (7%)

Outcomes

GCSC Palm Beach Atlantic
Graduation Rate - 58%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $32,000 $46,300
Making Student Loan Payments 39% 56%
Median Student Loan Debt $9,000 $22,704
Median Loan Payment $93 $234

Diversity

GCSC Palm Beach Atlantic
% Men 10% 7%
% Women 17% 13%
Racial Diversity Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 72% 62%
% Black 11% 12%
% Hispanic 6% 17%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 3%
% International 0% 4%
% Unknown Race 3% 0%

Students

GCSC Palm Beach Atlantic
% In-State 94% 46%
% Out-of-State 6% 50%

Campus

GCSC Palm Beach Atlantic
Campus Housing No Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan No Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes Yes
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Gulf Coast State College is larger than than Palm Beach Atlantic based on total student enrollment (4,959 students vs. 3,875 students)

GCSC vs. Palm Beach Atlantic Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, GCSC or Palm Beach Atlantic?

  • Palm Beach Atlantic University West Palm Beach is 2,013.7% more expensive to attend than GCSC for in-state tuition ($36,990.00 vs. $1,750.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 423.6% higher at Palm Beach Atlantic than Gulf Coast State College ($36,990.00 vs. $7,065.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Gulf Coast State College than Palm Beach Atlantic ($6,525 vs. $31,103)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Palm Beach Atlantic University West Palm Beach are 6.9% lower than costs at Gulf Coast State College ($12,610 vs. $13,482)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Palm Beach Atlantic University West Palm Beach than Gulf Coast State College (100% vs. 90%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Palm Beach Atlantic University West Palm Beach students is 298.2% larger than aid received Gulf Coast State College ($24,541 vs. $6,163)

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

GCSC vs. Palm Beach Atlantic Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, GCSC or Palm Beach Atlantic? 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 Palm Beach Atlantic and GCSC.

  • Graduates from Palm Beach Atlantic University West Palm Beach earn on average $14,300 more per year than GCSC graduates after ten years. ($46,300 vs. $32,000)
  • Gulf Coast State College students graduate with a $13,704 lower median federal student loan debt than Palm Beach Atlantic graduates. ($9,000 vs. $22,704)
  • GCSC graduates are paying $141 less per month on federal student loans than Palm Beach Atlantic graduates. ($93 vs. $234)
  • More Palm Beach Atlantic graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former GCSC students, three years after graduation. (56% vs. 39%)

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