GCSC vs. USC Beaufort

Comparable Facts

Compare Gulf Coast State College in Panama City, FL with University of South Carolina Beaufort in Bluffton, SC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Gulf Coast State College is larger than USC Beaufort based on total student enrollment (5,426 students vs. 2,208 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Gulf Coast State College is located in Panama City, FL (Small City setting); University of South Carolina Beaufort is in Bluffton, SC (Distant Rural setting).
• Gulf Coast State College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of South Carolina Beaufort is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Gulf Coast State College 22:1; University of South Carolina Beaufort 15:1.

GCSC vs. USC Beaufort Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, GCSC or USC Beaufort? 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 USC Beaufort ($7,729 vs. $15,363).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of South Carolina Beaufort are 5.6% lower than at Gulf Coast State College ($12,725 vs. $13,482).
• University of South Carolina Beaufort is 352.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than GCSC (about $8,360 more per year; $10,730.00 vs. $2,370.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 152.2% higher at USC Beaufort than at Gulf Coast State College (about $13,141 more per year; $21,776.00 vs. $8,635.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Gulf Coast State College than at University of South Carolina Beaufort (91% vs. 88%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of South Carolina Beaufort students is 38.1% larger than aid received by Gulf Coast State College students ($8,692 vs. $6,295).

GCSC vs. USC Beaufort Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, GCSC or USC Beaufort? 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 USC Beaufort and GCSC.

• Gulf Coast State College reports an open admissions policy.
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsUniversity of South Carolina Beaufort 940/1110.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsUniversity of South Carolina Beaufort 17/22.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: GCSC - Open admission; USC Beaufort - Test-free.

GCSC vs. USC Beaufort Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for GCSC and USC Beaufort? 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 University of South Carolina Beaufort earn a median of about $4,700 more per year than GCSC graduates about ten years after starting college ($36,700 vs. $32,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Gulf Coast State College graduates have a $15,474 lower median loan debt than USC Beaufort graduates ($9,000 vs. $24,474).
• Among borrowers, GCSC graduates have an estimated $160 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than USC Beaufort graduates ($93 vs. $253).
• More USC Beaufort graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former GCSC students, three years after graduation. (50% 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.