GCSC vs. Penn College

Comparable Facts

Compare Gulf Coast State College in Panama City, FL with Pennsylvania College of Technology in Williamsport, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Gulf Coast State College is larger than Penn College based on total student enrollment (5,426 students vs. 4,575 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Gulf Coast State College is located in Panama City, FL (Small City setting); Pennsylvania College of Technology is in Williamsport, PA (Small City setting).
• Gulf Coast State College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Pennsylvania College of Technology is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Gulf Coast State College 22:1; Pennsylvania College of Technology 14:1.

GCSC vs. Penn College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, GCSC or Penn 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 Penn College ($7,729 vs. $23,675).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Pennsylvania College of Technology are 4.9% lower than at Gulf Coast State College ($12,818 vs. $13,482).
• Pennsylvania College of Technology is 669.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than GCSC (about $15,870 more per year; $18,240.00 vs. $2,370.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 200.9% higher at Penn College than at Gulf Coast State College (about $17,345 more per year; $25,980.00 vs. $8,635.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Gulf Coast State College than at Pennsylvania College of Technology (91% vs. 68%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Pennsylvania College of Technology students is 42.4% larger than aid received by Gulf Coast State College students ($8,964 vs. $6,295).

GCSC vs. Penn College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, GCSC or Penn 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 Penn 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; Penn College - Open admission.

GCSC vs. Penn College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for GCSC and Penn 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 Pennsylvania College of Technology earn a median of about $12,400 more per year than GCSC graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,400 vs. $32,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Gulf Coast State College graduates have a $12,500 lower median loan debt than Penn College graduates ($9,000 vs. $21,500).
• Among borrowers, GCSC graduates have an estimated $129 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn College graduates ($93 vs. $222).
• More Penn College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former GCSC students, three years after graduation. (65% 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.