Nova vs. FGCU

Deciding between Nova Southeastern University and Florida Gulf Coast University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Nova Southeastern University
Florida Gulf Coast University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Nova Fort Lauderdale, FL
  • FGCU Fort Myers, FL
  • Setting
  • Nova Large Suburban
  • FGCU Rural Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • Nova 20,910
  • FGCU 16,612
  • Type
  • Nova Private 4 Year
  • FGCU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Nova #433
  • FGCU #757
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Nova -
  • FGCU -
  • Status
  • Nova Non-profit
  • FGCU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Nova
  • FGCU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Nova $38,700
  • FGCU $6,118
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Nova $38,700
  • FGCU $25,162
  • Room & Board
  • Nova $16,840
  • FGCU $11,107
  • Average Net Price
  • Nova $31,858
  • FGCU $12,863
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Nova $24,965
  • FGCU $8,515
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Nova 100%
  • FGCU 62%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Nova 17,765
  • FGCU 20,422
  • Admitted
  • Nova 13,006
  • FGCU 12,956
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Nova 73.2%
  • FGCU 63.4%
  • Enrolled
  • Nova 15.6%
  • FGCU 20.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Nova 1170
  • FGCU 1120
  • Typical ACT score
  • Nova 23
  • FGCU 22
  • Average High School GPA
  • Nova 3.99
  • FGCU 4.0
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Nova A
  • FGCU A/A+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Nova Challenging
  • FGCU Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • Nova Low
  • FGCU Low
  • ACT Range
  • Nova 19/28
  • FGCU 20/25
  • SAT Range
  • Nova 1030/1300
  • FGCU 1040/1200
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Nova Required
  • FGCU Required
  • Application Deadline
  • Nova
  • FGCU Nov 1, 2026

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Nova 16:1
  • FGCU 20:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Nova
    • Business (28%)
    • Health Professions (24%)
    • Biology (14%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Education (8%)
  • FGCU
    • Business (25%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (14%)
    • Education (9%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Nova 43%
  • FGCU 45%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Nova $53,300
  • FGCU $45,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Nova 44%
  • FGCU 59%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Nova $25,100
  • FGCU $19,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Nova $259
  • FGCU $201

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Nova 28%
  • FGCU 42%
  • % Women
  • Nova 72%
  • FGCU 58%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Nova Very High
  • FGCU Medium
  • HBCU
  • Nova No
  • FGCU No
  • % White
  • Nova 31%
  • FGCU 66%
  • % Asian
  • Nova 9%
  • FGCU 2%
  • % Black
  • Nova 18%
  • FGCU 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • Nova 32%
  • FGCU 19%
  • % Native American
  • Nova 0%
  • FGCU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Nova 0%
  • FGCU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Nova 2%
  • FGCU 3%
  • % International
  • Nova 5%
  • FGCU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Nova 3%
  • FGCU 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Nova 55%
  • FGCU 78%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Nova 38%
  • FGCU 18%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Nova Yes
  • FGCU Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Nova No
  • FGCU No
  • Meal Plan
  • Nova Yes
  • FGCU Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Nova No
  • FGCU Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • Nova No
  • FGCU Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, FL with Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers, FL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Nova Southeastern University is larger than FGCU based on total student enrollment (20,910 students vs. 16,612 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Nova Southeastern University is located in Fort Lauderdale, FL (Large Suburban setting); Florida Gulf Coast University is in Fort Myers, FL (Rural Fringe setting).
  • Nova Southeastern University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Florida Gulf Coast University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Nova Southeastern University 16:1; Florida Gulf Coast University 20:1.

Nova vs. FGCU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Nova or FGCU? 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 Florida Gulf Coast University than Nova ($12,863 vs. $31,858).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Florida Gulf Coast University are 34% lower than at Nova Southeastern University ($11,107 vs. $16,840).
  • Nova Southeastern University is 532.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than FGCU (about $32,582 more per year; $38,700.00 vs. $6,118.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 53.8% higher at Nova than at Florida Gulf Coast University (about $13,538 more per year; $38,700.00 vs. $25,162.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Nova Southeastern University than at Florida Gulf Coast University (100% vs. 62%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Nova Southeastern University students is 193.2% larger than aid received by Florida Gulf Coast University students ($24,965 vs. $8,515).

Nova vs. FGCU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Nova or FGCU? 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 FGCU and Nova.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Nova Southeastern University (1170) is 50 points higher than at FGCU (1120).
  • Incoming Nova students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (23 vs. 22 at FGCU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Nova Southeastern University 1030/1300; Florida Gulf Coast University 1040/1200.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Nova Southeastern University 19/28; Florida Gulf Coast University 20/25.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Nova - Required; FGCU - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: FGCU Nov 1, 2026.
  • Accepted freshman FGCU students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at Nova (3.99).
  • Nova has a higher acceptance rate (73.2%) than FGCU (63.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.6% at Nova vs. 20.9% at FGCU.

Nova vs. FGCU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Nova and FGCU? 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).

  • Florida Gulf Coast University's six-year graduation rate (45%) is higher than Nova Southeastern University's (43%).
  • Graduates from Nova Southeastern University earn a median of about $8,100 more per year than FGCU graduates about ten years after starting college ($53,300 vs. $45,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Florida Gulf Coast University graduates have a $5,600 lower median loan debt than Nova graduates ($19,500 vs. $25,100).
  • Among borrowers, FGCU graduates have an estimated $58 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Nova graduates ($201 vs. $259).
  • More FGCU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Nova students, three years after graduation. (59% vs. 44%)

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.