The University of West Florida vs. FGCU

Should I go to The University of West Florida or Florida Gulf Coast University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if The University of West Florida or FGCU 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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The University of West Florida vs. Florida Gulf Coast University comparison
The University of West Florida Florida Gulf Coast University College 3 College 4
The University of West Florida Florida Gulf Coast University
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Overview

The University of West Florida FGCU
Location Pensacola, FL Fort Myers, FL
Setting Small City Rural Fringe
Enrollment 13,521 15,969
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #727 #802
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website uwf.edu fgcu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

The University of West Florida FGCU
Tuition (In State) $4,319 $4,191
Tuition (Out of State) $16,587 $22,328
Room & Board $11,268 $9,772
Avg Net Price $8,609 $10,834
Avg Grant Aid $11,515 $7,268
% Receiving Grant Aid 84% 72%

Admission

The University of West Florida FGCU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 9,113 15,657
Admitted 4,377 11,647
Acceptance Rate 48% 74.4%
Enrolled % 27% 24.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.6 4.0
Typical High School Grades B+ A/A+
Admissions Standards Average Easy
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 21/27 20/25
SAT Range 1050/1230 1040/1200
Submit Test Scores Required to be considered for admission Required to be considered for admission
Application Deadline Jun 1, 2025 Nov 1, 2024

Academics

The University of West Florida FGCU
Student to Faculty Ratio 22:1 20:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (16%)
  • Education (13%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
  • Social Sciences (7%)
  • Business (25%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (14%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (8%)

Outcomes

The University of West Florida FGCU
Graduation Rate 48% 45%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $41,200 $45,200
Making Student Loan Payments 55% 59%
Median Student Loan Debt $18,750 $19,500
Median Loan Payment $193 $201

Diversity

The University of West Florida FGCU
% Men 38% 42%
% Women 62% 58%
Racial Diversity Medium Medium
HBCU No No
% White 65% 66%
% Black 13% 7%
% Hispanic 9% 19%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 3%
% International 2% 2%
% Unknown Race 2% 1%

Students

The University of West Florida FGCU
% In-State 66% 75%
% Out-of-State 11% 22%

Campus

The University of West Florida FGCU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes Yes
Daycare Facility Yes Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Florida Gulf Coast University is larger than than The University of West Florida based on total student enrollment (15,969 students vs. 13,521 students)

The University of West Florida vs. FGCU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, The University of West Florida or FGCU?

  • The University of West Florida is 3.1% more expensive to attend than FGCU for in-state tuition ($4,319.00 vs. $4,191.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 34.6% higher at FGCU than The University of West Florida ($22,328.00 vs. $16,587.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at The University of West Florida than FGCU ($8,609 vs. $10,834)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Florida Gulf Coast University are 15.3% lower than costs at The University of West Florida ($9,772 vs. $11,268)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at The University of West Florida than Florida Gulf Coast University (84% vs. 72%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by The University of West Florida students is 58.4% larger than aid received Florida Gulf Coast University ($11,515 vs. $7,268)

The University of West Florida vs. FGCU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, The University of West Florida or FGCU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between FGCU or The University of West Florida .

  • The average SAT score at Florida Gulf Coast University (1081) is 28 points higher than at The University of West Florida (1053)
  • Incoming FGCU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at The University of West Florida (23)
  • Accepted freshman FGCU students have a 0.4 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at The University of West Florida (3.6)
  • FGCU has a higher acceptance rate (74.4%) than The University of West Florida (48%)

The University of West Florida vs. FGCU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, The University of West Florida or FGCU? 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 FGCU and The University of West Florida.

  • The graduation rate at The University of West Florida is higher than Florida Gulf Coast University (48% vs. 45%)
  • Graduates from Florida Gulf Coast University earn on average $4,000 more per year than The University of West Florida graduates after ten years. ($45,200 vs. $41,200)
  • The University of West Florida students graduate with a $750 lower median federal student loan debt than FGCU graduates. ($18,750 vs. $19,500)
  • The University of West Florida graduates are paying $8 less per month on federal student loans than FGCU graduates. ($193 vs. $201)
  • More FGCU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former The University of West Florida students, three years after graduation. (59% vs. 55%)

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