SCF vs. DSC

Comparable Facts

Compare State College of Florida Manatee Sarasota in Bradenton, FL with Dalton State College in Dalton, GA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

State College of Florida Manatee Sarasota is larger than DSC based on total student enrollment (8,750 students vs. 5,135 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• State College of Florida Manatee Sarasota is located in Bradenton, FL (Large Suburban setting); Dalton State College is in Dalton, GA (Small City setting).
• State College of Florida Manatee Sarasota is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Dalton State College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: State College of Florida Manatee Sarasota 23:1; Dalton State College 21:1.

SCF vs. DSC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SCF or DSC? 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 Dalton State College than SCF ($5,625 vs. $22,034).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Dalton State College are 61% lower than at State College of Florida Manatee Sarasota ($10,419 vs. $26,718).
• Dalton State College is 8.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than SCF (about $262 more per year; $3,336.00 vs. $3,074.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 8.8% higher at SCF than at Dalton State College (about $939 more per year; $11,595.00 vs. $10,656.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Dalton State College than at State College of Florida Manatee Sarasota (92% vs. 61%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by State College of Florida Manatee Sarasota students is 0.2% larger than aid received by Dalton State College students ($6,668 vs. $6,654).

SCF vs. DSC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, SCF or DSC? 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 DSC and SCF.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: SCF - Open admission; DSC - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: DSC Jul 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman SCF students have the same average high school GPA (3.1) as students at DSC (3.1).

SCF vs. DSC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SCF and DSC? 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 State College of Florida Manatee Sarasota earn a median of about $1,200 more per year than DSC graduates about ten years after starting college ($33,700 vs. $32,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, State College of Florida Manatee Sarasota graduates have a $6,277 lower median loan debt than DSC graduates ($8,610 vs. $14,887).
• Among borrowers, SCF graduates have an estimated $64 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than DSC graduates ($89 vs. $153).
• More DSC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SCF students, three years after graduation. (42% vs. 35%)

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.