GCSC vs. Pensacola State

Comparable Facts

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

Pensacola State College is larger than GCSC based on total student enrollment (9,491 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); Pensacola State College is in Pensacola, FL (Small City setting).
• Gulf Coast State College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Pensacola State College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Gulf Coast State College 22:1; Pensacola State College 25:1.

GCSC vs. Pensacola State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, GCSC or Pensacola State? 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 Pensacola State College than GCSC ($5,376 vs. $7,729).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Gulf Coast State College are 23.2% lower than at Pensacola State College ($13,482 vs. $17,556).
• Gulf Coast State College is 0.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Pensacola State (about $9 more per year; $2,370.00 vs. $2,361.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 9.6% higher at Pensacola State than at Gulf Coast State College (about $825 more per year; $9,460.00 vs. $8,635.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Gulf Coast State College than at Pensacola State College (91% vs. 80%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Pensacola State College students is 3.2% larger than aid received by Gulf Coast State College students ($6,499 vs. $6,295).

GCSC vs. Pensacola State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, GCSC or Pensacola State? 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 Pensacola State 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; Pensacola State - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Pensacola State Aug 30, 2027.

GCSC vs. Pensacola State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for GCSC and Pensacola State? 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 $1,700 more per year than Pensacola State graduates about ten years after starting college ($32,000 vs. $30,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Pensacola State College graduates have a $5,500 lower median loan debt than GCSC graduates ($3,500 vs. $9,000).
• Among borrowers, Pensacola State graduates have an estimated $57 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than GCSC graduates ($36 vs. $93).
• More Pensacola State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former GCSC students, three years after graduation. (46% 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.