GCSC vs. The University of West Florida

Should I go to Gulf Coast State College or The University of West Florida? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if GCSC or The University of West Florida is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
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Gulf Coast State College vs. The University of West Florida comparison
Gulf Coast State College The University of West Florida College 3 College 4
Gulf Coast State College The University of West Florida
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Overview

 GCSC The University of West Florida
Location Panama City, FL Pensacola, FL
Setting Small City Small City
Enrollment 4,694 13,521
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #727
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website gulfcoast.edu uwf.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 GCSC The University of West Florida
Tuition (In State) $1,750 $4,319
Tuition (Out of State) $7,065 $16,587
Room & Board $9,378 $11,268
Avg Net Price $5,725 $8,609
Avg Grant Aid $6,024 $11,515
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 84%

Admission

 GCSC The University of West Florida
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied - 9,113
Admitted - 4,377
Acceptance Rate Open 48%
Enrolled % Open 27%
Avg High School GPA - 3.6
Typical High School Grades - B+
Admissions Standards Unavailable Average
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 21/27
SAT Range 1050/1230
Submit Test Scores Required to be considered for admission
Application Deadline Jun 1, 2025

Academics

 GCSC The University of West Florida
Student to Faculty Ratio 19:1 22:1
Popular Majors
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (51%)
  • Health Professions (23%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (16%)
  • Education (3%)
  • Work and Family Studies (1%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Education (13%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
  • Social Sciences (7%)

Outcomes

 GCSC The University of West Florida
Graduation Rate - 48%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $32,000 $41,200
Making Student Loan Payments 39% 55%
Median Student Loan Debt $9,000 $18,750
Median Loan Payment $93 $193

Diversity

 GCSC The University of West Florida
% Men 36% 38%
% Women 64% 62%
Racial Diversity Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 72% 65%
% Black 11% 13%
% Hispanic 6% 9%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 5%
% International 0% 2%
% Unknown Race 3% 2%

Students

 GCSC The University of West Florida
% In-State 93% 66%
% Out-of-State 7% 11%

Campus

 GCSC The University of West Florida
Campus Housing No Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan No Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes Yes
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • The University of West Florida is larger than than GCSC based on total student enrollment (13,521 students vs. 4,694 students)

GCSC vs. The University of West Florida Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, GCSC or The University of West Florida?

  • The University of West Florida is 146.8% more expensive to attend than GCSC for in-state tuition ($4,319.00 vs. $1,750.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 134.8% higher at The University of West Florida than Gulf Coast State College ($16,587.00 vs. $7,065.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Gulf Coast State College than The University of West Florida ($5,725 vs. $8,609)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Gulf Coast State College are 20.2% lower than costs at The University of West Florida ($9,378 vs. $11,268)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Gulf Coast State College than The University of West Florida (99% vs. 84%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by The University of West Florida students is 91.2% larger than aid received Gulf Coast State College ($11,515 vs. $6,024)

Which college is harder to get into, GCSC or The University of West Florida? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between The University of West Florida or GCSC .

GCSC vs. The University of West Florida Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, GCSC or The University of West Florida? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between The University of West Florida and GCSC.

  • Graduates from The University of West Florida earn on average $9,200 more per year than GCSC graduates after ten years. ($41,200 vs. $32,000)
  • Gulf Coast State College students graduate with a $9,750 lower median federal student loan debt than The University of West Florida graduates. ($9,000 vs. $18,750)
  • GCSC graduates are paying $100 less per month on federal student loans than The University of West Florida graduates. ($93 vs. $193)
  • More The University of West Florida graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former GCSC students, three years after graduation. (55% vs. 39%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/