GCSC vs. Seminole State

Comparable Facts

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

Seminole State College of Florida is larger than GCSC based on total student enrollment (15,390 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); Seminole State College of Florida is in Sanford, FL (Small City setting).
• Gulf Coast State College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Seminole State College of Florida is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Gulf Coast State College 22:1; Seminole State College of Florida 29:1.

GCSC vs. Seminole State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, GCSC or Seminole 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 Gulf Coast State College than Seminole State ($7,729 vs. $8,448).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Gulf Coast State College are 46.9% lower than at Seminole State College of Florida ($13,482 vs. $25,391).
• Seminole State College of Florida is 31.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than GCSC (about $752 more per year; $3,122.00 vs. $2,370.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 32.6% higher at Seminole State than at Gulf Coast State College (about $2,812 more per year; $11,447.00 vs. $8,635.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Gulf Coast State College than at Seminole State College of Florida (91% vs. 64%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Gulf Coast State College students is 8.5% larger than aid received by Seminole State College of Florida students ($6,295 vs. $5,803).

GCSC vs. Seminole State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, GCSC or Seminole 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 Seminole 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; Seminole State - Open admission.

GCSC vs. Seminole State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for GCSC and Seminole 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 Seminole State College of Florida earn a median of about $2,200 more per year than GCSC graduates about ten years after starting college ($34,200 vs. $32,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Gulf Coast State College graduates have a $1,027 lower median loan debt than Seminole State graduates ($9,000 vs. $10,027).
• Among borrowers, GCSC graduates have an estimated $10 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Seminole State graduates ($93 vs. $103).
• More GCSC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Seminole State students, three years after graduation. (39% vs. 31%)

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.