GCSC vs. Palm Beach State College

Comparable Facts

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

Palm Beach State College is larger than GCSC based on total student enrollment (25,916 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); Palm Beach State College is in Lake Worth, FL (Large Suburban setting).
• Gulf Coast State College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Palm Beach State College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Gulf Coast State College 22:1; Palm Beach State College 31:1.

GCSC vs. Palm Beach State College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, GCSC or Palm Beach 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 Gulf Coast State College than Palm Beach State College ($7,729 vs. $9,577).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Palm Beach State College are 4.9% lower than at Gulf Coast State College ($12,825 vs. $13,482).
• Palm Beach State College is 28.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than GCSC (about $680 more per year; $3,050.00 vs. $2,370.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 26.3% higher at Palm Beach State College than at Gulf Coast State College (about $2,275 more per year; $10,910.00 vs. $8,635.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Gulf Coast State College than at Palm Beach State College (91% vs. 68%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Palm Beach State College students is 12.9% larger than aid received by Gulf Coast State College students ($7,107 vs. $6,295).

GCSC vs. Palm Beach State College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, GCSC or Palm Beach 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 Palm Beach 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; Palm Beach State College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Palm Beach State College Aug 20, 2027.

GCSC vs. Palm Beach State College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for GCSC and Palm Beach 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 Palm Beach State College earn a median of about $4,000 more per year than GCSC graduates about ten years after starting college ($36,000 vs. $32,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Palm Beach State College graduates have a $3,250 lower median loan debt than GCSC graduates ($5,750 vs. $9,000).
• Among borrowers, Palm Beach State College graduates have an estimated $34 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than GCSC graduates ($59 vs. $93).
• More GCSC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Palm Beach 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.