GCSC vs. WSSU

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

 GCSC WSSU
Location Panama City, FL Winston-Salem, NC
Setting Small City Midsize City
Enrollment 4,959 4,776
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #953
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website gulfcoast.edu wssu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 GCSC WSSU
Tuition (In State) $1,750 $3,401
Tuition (Out of State) $7,065 $14,057
Room & Board $13,482 $11,484
Avg Net Price $6,525 $12,948
Avg Grant Aid $6,163 $9,254
% Receiving Grant Aid 90% 88%

Admission

 GCSC WSSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied - 9,273
Admitted - 6,357
Acceptance Rate Open 68.6%
Enrolled % Open 13.9%
Avg High School GPA - 3.01
Typical High School Grades - B
Admissions Standards Unavailable Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 14/18
SAT Range 820/1050
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Feb 15, 2026

Academics

 GCSC WSSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 20:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (51%)
  • Health Professions (23%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (16%)
  • Education (3%)
  • Work and Family Studies (1%)
  • Health Professions (50%)
  • Business (9%)
  • Education (6%)
  • Social Sciences (5%)
  • Psychology (5%)

Outcomes

 GCSC WSSU
Graduation Rate - 41%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $32,000 $35,700
Making Student Loan Payments 39% 33%
Median Student Loan Debt $9,000 $25,663
Median Loan Payment $93 $265

Diversity

 GCSC WSSU
% Men 10% 2%
% Women 17% 9%
Racial Diversity Low Low
HBCU No Yes
% White 72% 16%
% Black 11% 72%
% Hispanic 6% 3%
% Native American 1% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 4%
% International 0% 2%
% Unknown Race 3% 2%

Students

 GCSC WSSU
% In-State 94% 77%
% Out-of-State 6% 22%

Campus

 GCSC WSSU
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 WSSU based on total student enrollment (4,959 students vs. 4,776 students)

GCSC vs. WSSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, GCSC or WSSU?

  • Winston Salem State University is 94.3% more expensive to attend than GCSC for in-state tuition ($3,401.00 vs. $1,750.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 99% higher at WSSU than Gulf Coast State College ($14,057.00 vs. $7,065.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Gulf Coast State College than WSSU ($6,525 vs. $12,948)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Winston Salem State University are 17.4% lower than costs at Gulf Coast State College ($11,484 vs. $13,482)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Gulf Coast State College than Winston Salem State University (90% vs. 88%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Winston Salem State University students is 50.2% larger than aid received Gulf Coast State College ($9,254 vs. $6,163)

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

GCSC vs. WSSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • Graduates from Winston Salem State University earn on average $3,700 more per year than GCSC graduates after ten years. ($35,700 vs. $32,000)
  • Gulf Coast State College students graduate with a $16,663 lower median federal student loan debt than WSSU graduates. ($9,000 vs. $25,663)
  • GCSC graduates are paying $172 less per month on federal student loans than WSSU graduates. ($93 vs. $265)
  • More GCSC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WSSU students, three years after graduation. (39% vs. 33%)

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