GCSC vs. Ringling College of Art and Design

Comparable Facts

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

Gulf Coast State College is larger than Ringling College of Art and Design based on total student enrollment (5,426 students vs. 1,666 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Gulf Coast State College is located in Panama City, FL (Small City setting); Ringling College of Art and Design is in Sarasota, FL (Small City setting).
• Gulf Coast State College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Ringling College of Art and Design is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Gulf Coast State College 22:1; Ringling College of Art and Design 11:1.

GCSC vs. Ringling College of Art and Design Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, GCSC or Ringling College of Art and Design? 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 Ringling College of Art and Design ($7,729 vs. $62,012).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Gulf Coast State College are 29.4% lower than at Ringling College of Art and Design ($13,482 vs. $19,100).
• Ringling College of Art and Design is 2,343% more expensive for in-state tuition than GCSC (about $55,530 more per year; $57,900.00 vs. $2,370.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 570.5% higher at Ringling College of Art and Design than at Gulf Coast State College (about $49,265 more per year; $57,900.00 vs. $8,635.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Ringling College of Art and Design than at Gulf Coast State College (100% vs. 91%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Ringling College of Art and Design students is 193% larger than aid received by Gulf Coast State College students ($18,442 vs. $6,295).

GCSC vs. Ringling College of Art and Design Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, GCSC or Ringling College of Art and Design? 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 Ringling College of Art and Design and GCSC.

• Gulf Coast State College reports an open admissions policy.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: GCSC - Open admission; Ringling College of Art and Design - Test-free.

GCSC vs. Ringling College of Art and Design Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for GCSC and Ringling College of Art and Design? 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 Ringling College of Art and Design earn a median of about $9,800 more per year than GCSC graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,800 vs. $32,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Gulf Coast State College graduates have a $18,000 lower median loan debt than Ringling College of Art and Design graduates ($9,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, GCSC graduates have an estimated $186 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Ringling College of Art and Design graduates ($93 vs. $279).
• More Ringling College of Art and Design graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former GCSC students, three years after graduation. (67% 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.