University of South Alabama vs. FGCU

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

University of South Alabama FGCU
Location Mobile, AL Fort Myers, FL
Setting Midsize City Rural Fringe
Enrollment 13,438 15,969
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #684 #802
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website southalabama.edu fgcu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

University of South Alabama FGCU
Tuition (In State) $8,616 $4,191
Tuition (Out of State) $17,232 $22,328
Room & Board $8,510 $9,772
Avg Net Price $15,664 $10,834
Avg Grant Aid $7,686 $7,268
% Receiving Grant Aid 94% 72%

Admission

University of South Alabama FGCU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 12,550 15,657
Admitted 8,203 11,647
Acceptance Rate 65.4% 74.4%
Enrolled % 19.7% 24.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.69 4.0
Typical High School Grades B+ A/A+
Admissions Standards Moderate Easy
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 20/26 20/25
SAT Range 1003/1200 1040/1200
Submit Test Scores Required to be considered for admission Required to be considered for admission
Application Deadline Jul 15, 2025 Nov 1, 2024

Academics

University of South Alabama FGCU
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 20:1
Popular Majors
  • Health Professions (27%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Education (11%)
  • Engineering (6%)
  • Biology (6%)
  • Business (25%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (14%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (8%)

Outcomes

University of South Alabama FGCU
Graduation Rate 39% 45%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $45,200 $45,200
Making Student Loan Payments 45% 59%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,500 $19,500
Median Loan Payment $253 $201

Diversity

University of South Alabama FGCU
% Men 32% 42%
% Women 68% 58%
Racial Diversity High Medium
HBCU No No
% White 59% 66%
% Black 24% 7%
% Hispanic 3% 19%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 5% 2%
% Unknown Race 2% 1%

Students

University of South Alabama FGCU
% In-State 73% 75%
% Out-of-State 25% 22%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Florida Gulf Coast University is larger than than University of South Alabama based on total student enrollment (15,969 students vs. 13,438 students)

University of South Alabama vs. FGCU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, University of South Alabama or FGCU?

  • University of South Alabama is 105.6% more expensive to attend than FGCU for in-state tuition ($8,616.00 vs. $4,191.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 29.6% higher at FGCU than University of South Alabama ($22,328.00 vs. $17,232.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Florida Gulf Coast University than University of South Alabama ($10,834 vs. $15,664)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of South Alabama are 14.8% lower than costs at Florida Gulf Coast University ($8,510 vs. $9,772)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of South Alabama than Florida Gulf Coast University (94% vs. 72%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of South Alabama students is 5.8% larger than aid received Florida Gulf Coast University ($7,686 vs. $7,268)

University of South Alabama vs. FGCU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Florida Gulf Coast University (1081) is 36 points higher than at University of South Alabama (1045)
  • Incoming FGCU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at University of South Alabama (23)
  • Accepted freshman FGCU students have a 0.31 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at University of South Alabama (3.69)
  • FGCU has a higher acceptance rate (74.4%) than University of South Alabama (65.4%)

University of South Alabama vs. FGCU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, University of South Alabama 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 University of South Alabama.

  • The graduation rate at FGCU is higher than University of South Alabama (45% vs. 39%)
  • Graduates of University of South Alabama and FGCU have equivalent average earnings after ten years ($45,200 vs. $45,200)
  • Florida Gulf Coast University students graduate with a $5,000 lower median federal student loan debt than University of South Alabama graduates. ($19,500 vs. $24,500)
  • FGCU graduates are paying $52 less per month on federal student loans than University of South Alabama graduates. ($201 vs. $253)
  • More FGCU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former University of South Alabama students, three years after graduation. (59% vs. 45%)

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