GCSC vs. VSU

Should I go to Gulf Coast State College or Valdosta State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if GCSC or VSU 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. Valdosta State University comparison
Gulf Coast State College Valdosta State University College 3 College 4
Gulf Coast State College Valdosta State University
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Overview

GCSC VSU
Location Panama City, FL Valdosta, GA
Setting Small City Small City
Enrollment 4,694 10,209
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #982
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website gulfcoast.edu valdosta.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

GCSC VSU
Tuition (In State) $1,750 $4,371
Tuition (Out of State) $7,065 $15,426
Room & Board $9,378 $8,922
Avg Net Price $5,725 $12,836
Avg Grant Aid $6,024 $9,875
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 99%

Admission

GCSC VSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied - 4,975
Admitted - 4,451
Acceptance Rate Open 89.5%
Enrolled % Open 25.3%
Avg High School GPA - 3.23
Typical High School Grades - B
Admissions Standards Unavailable Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 17/21
SAT Range 950/1130
Submit Test Scores Required to be considered for admission
Application Deadline Jun 15, 2025

Academics

GCSC VSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 19:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (51%)
  • Health Professions (23%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (16%)
  • Education (3%)
  • Work and Family Studies (1%)
  • Business (21%)
  • Education (17%)
  • Health Professions (10%)
  • English and Literature (8%)
  • Social Sciences (7%)

Outcomes

GCSC VSU
Graduation Rate - 43%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $32,000 $40,300
Making Student Loan Payments 39% 41%
Median Student Loan Debt $9,000 $25,000
Median Loan Payment $93 $258

Diversity

GCSC VSU
% Men 36% 31%
% Women 64% 69%
Racial Diversity Low High
HBCU No No
% White 72% 51%
% Black 11% 36%
% Hispanic 6% 5%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 3%
% International 0% 3%
% Unknown Race 3% 0%

Students

GCSC VSU
% In-State 93% 69%
% Out-of-State 7% 30%

Campus

GCSC VSU
Campus Housing No Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan No Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes Yes
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Valdosta State University is larger than than GCSC based on total student enrollment (10,209 students vs. 4,694 students)

GCSC vs. VSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, GCSC or VSU?

  • Valdosta State University is 149.8% more expensive to attend than GCSC for in-state tuition ($4,371.00 vs. $1,750.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 118.3% higher at VSU than Gulf Coast State College ($15,426.00 vs. $7,065.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Gulf Coast State College than VSU ($5,725 vs. $12,836)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Valdosta State University are 5.1% lower than costs at Gulf Coast State College ($8,922 vs. $9,378)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Gulf Coast State College as Valdosta State University (99% vs. 99%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Valdosta State University students is 63.9% larger than aid received Gulf Coast State College ($9,875 vs. $6,024)

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

GCSC vs. VSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, GCSC or VSU? 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 VSU and GCSC.

  • Graduates from Valdosta State University earn on average $8,300 more per year than GCSC graduates after ten years. ($40,300 vs. $32,000)
  • Gulf Coast State College students graduate with a $16,000 lower median federal student loan debt than VSU graduates. ($9,000 vs. $25,000)
  • GCSC graduates are paying $165 less per month on federal student loans than VSU graduates. ($93 vs. $258)
  • More VSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former GCSC students, three years after graduation. (41% vs. 39%)

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