GCSC vs. VSU

Should I go to Gulf Coast State College or Virginia 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. Virginia State University comparison
Gulf Coast State College Virginia State University College 3 College 4
Gulf Coast State College Virginia State University
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Overview

GCSC VSU
Location Panama City, FL Petersburg, VA
Setting Small City Large Suburban
Enrollment 4,694 4,648
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #980
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website gulfcoast.edu vsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

GCSC VSU
Tuition (In State) $1,750 $5,540
Tuition (Out of State) $7,065 $16,542
Room & Board $9,378 $11,544
Avg Net Price $5,725 $15,773
Avg Grant Aid $6,024 $11,498
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 92%

Admission

GCSC VSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied - 8,230
Admitted - 7,384
Acceptance Rate Open 89.7%
Enrolled % Open 18.7%
Avg High School GPA - 2.85
Typical High School Grades - B-
Admissions Standards Unavailable Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 14/17
SAT Range 830/1030
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline May 1, 2025

Academics

GCSC VSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 19:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (51%)
  • Health Professions (23%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (16%)
  • Education (3%)
  • Work and Family Studies (1%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Education (14%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (10%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • General Studies (7%)

Outcomes

GCSC VSU
Graduation Rate - 40%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $32,000 $36,700
Making Student Loan Payments 39% 28%
Median Student Loan Debt $9,000 $29,500
Median Loan Payment $93 $305

Diversity

GCSC VSU
% Men 36% 40%
% Women 64% 60%
Racial Diversity Low Very Low
HBCU No Yes
% White 72% 3%
% Black 11% 87%
% Hispanic 6% 2%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 0%
% International 0% 0%
% Unknown Race 3% 7%

Students

GCSC VSU
% In-State 93% 72%
% Out-of-State 7% 27%

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

  • Gulf Coast State College is larger than than VSU based on total student enrollment (4,694 students vs. 4,648 students)

GCSC vs. VSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, GCSC or VSU?

  • Virginia State University is 216.6% more expensive to attend than GCSC for in-state tuition ($5,540.00 vs. $1,750.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 134.1% higher at VSU than Gulf Coast State College ($16,542.00 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. $15,773)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Gulf Coast State College are 23.1% lower than costs at Virginia State University ($9,378 vs. $11,544)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Gulf Coast State College than Virginia State University (99% vs. 92%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Virginia State University students is 90.9% larger than aid received Gulf Coast State College ($11,498 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 Virginia State University earn on average $4,700 more per year than GCSC graduates after ten years. ($36,700 vs. $32,000)
  • Gulf Coast State College students graduate with a $20,500 lower median federal student loan debt than VSU graduates. ($9,000 vs. $29,500)
  • GCSC graduates are paying $212 less per month on federal student loans than VSU graduates. ($93 vs. $305)
  • More GCSC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former VSU students, three years after graduation. (39% vs. 28%)

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