Palm Beach State College vs. FGCU

Comparable Facts

Compare Palm Beach State College in Lake Worth, FL with Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers, FL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Palm Beach State College is larger than FGCU based on total student enrollment (25,916 students vs. 16,612 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Palm Beach State College is located in Lake Worth, FL (Large Suburban setting); Florida Gulf Coast University is in Fort Myers, FL (Rural Fringe setting).
• Palm Beach State College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Florida Gulf Coast University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Palm Beach State College 31:1; Florida Gulf Coast University 20:1.

Palm Beach State College vs. FGCU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Palm Beach State College 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 Palm Beach State College than FGCU ($9,577 vs. $12,863).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Florida Gulf Coast University are 13.4% lower than at Palm Beach State College ($11,107 vs. $12,825).
• Florida Gulf Coast University is 100.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Palm Beach State College (about $3,068 more per year; $6,118.00 vs. $3,050.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 130.6% higher at FGCU than at Palm Beach State College (about $14,252 more per year; $25,162.00 vs. $10,910.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Palm Beach State College than at Florida Gulf Coast University (68% vs. 62%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Florida Gulf Coast University students is 19.8% larger than aid received by Palm Beach State College students ($8,515 vs. $7,107).

Palm Beach State College vs. FGCU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Palm Beach State College 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 Palm Beach State College.

• Palm Beach State College reports an open admissions policy.
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsFlorida Gulf Coast University 1040/1200.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsFlorida Gulf Coast University 20/25.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Palm Beach State College - Open admission; FGCU - Required.
• Typical fall application deadline: Palm Beach State College Aug 20, 2027; FGCU Nov 1, 2026.

Palm Beach State College vs. FGCU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Palm Beach State College 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).

• Graduates from Florida Gulf Coast University earn a median of about $9,200 more per year than Palm Beach State College graduates about ten years after starting college ($45,200 vs. $36,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Palm Beach State College graduates have a $13,750 lower median loan debt than FGCU graduates ($5,750 vs. $19,500).
• Among borrowers, Palm Beach State College graduates have an estimated $142 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than FGCU graduates ($59 vs. $201).
• More FGCU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Palm Beach State College students, three years after graduation. (59% vs. 38%)

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.