Gadsden State Community College is a public institution offering associate degrees based in Gadsden, Alabama. It enrolls 3,548 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (2-Year). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Strong
73/100
UCD Score · 2-Year
Outcomes33
Value92
Affordability79
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
As a two-year college, Gadsden State Community College generally admits all qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
Open
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Gadsden State Community College isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $3,515 per year. That's well below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$3,515
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
46%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
0%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$4,272
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$7,368
Room & Board (on-campus)
$5,400
Room & Board (off-campus)
$4,500
Books & Supplies
$1,600
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$2,324
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$2,916
Total Cost of Attendance
$10,189
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$3,438
$30,001 – $48,000
$2,617
$48,001 – $75,000
$5,330
$75,001 – $110,000
$6,081
Over $110,000
$8,944
What this means:
Aid reaches a meaningful share of the student body: 46% of students receive Pell grants. If your family qualifies for Pell, the real cost to you could be substantially lower than the average.
Graduation Rate & Retention
18% of full-time students who enrolled at Gadsden State Community College graduate within six years, and 61% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
18%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
61%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Gadsden State Community College earn a median of $32,937 ten years after first enrolling. That's below the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$32,937
Earning > $25K
55%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$27,000
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$36,800
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $9,800, about 27% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
What this means:
Strong return on investment. Every dollar of net annual cost is matched by ~$9.4 of median earnings 10 years out.
Who Studies Here
Gadsden State Community College is home to 3,548 students, a mid-sized community. Some distinctive traits: 51% are first-generation college students, 44% study part-time.
Total Enrolled
3,548
Part-Time
44%
First-Generation
51%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 66.4%2,354
Black 18.6%659
Hispanic 8.3%293
Other 5.1%180
Asian 0.9%31
International 0.8%27
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Gadsden State Community College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Small CityGadsden, Alabama
Housing
Limited on-campus housing110 beds
Adult Learners
26%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Historically Black College / University (HBCU)
What You Can Study
Gadsden State Community College offers
a varied set of programs:
29 distinct programs across
10 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Gadsden State Community College is 17:1, on the higher side.
Student : Faculty
17:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$5,467
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$3.8M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$65,247
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
129 instructional faculty across 1 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
No Rank
129
100%
$65,247
Pros & Cons of Gadsden State Community College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Gadsden State Community College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Very affordable net price after aid
Open admissions
Wide reach of need-based federal aid
First-gen-friendly student body
CONS
Class sizes are on the higher side
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
First-year retention is below typical
Below-average post-graduation earnings
Best for:
Based on the data, Gadsden State Community College is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; families focused on keeping net cost low; working adults or students needing part-time study options.
Frequently Asked Questions about Gadsden State Community College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Gadsden State Community College.
Is Gadsden State Community College hard to get into?
Gadsden State Community College has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted.
What is the acceptance rate at Gadsden State Community College?
Gadsden State Community College has an acceptance rate of 0%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Gadsden State Community College cost?
The average net price after aid at Gadsden State Community College is $3,515 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Gadsden State Community College worth it?
Strong return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $32,937 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $3,515 per year. That's roughly 9.4x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Gadsden State Community College known for?
Gadsden State Community College is best known for its programs in Liberal Arts, Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies/Technicians, Nursing. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Gadsden State Community College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Gadsden State Community College are $32,937, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Gadsden State Community College accredited?
Yes. Gadsden State Community College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend Gadsden State Community College?
Gadsden State Community College enrolls 3,548 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Gadsden State Community College?
Gadsden State Community College graduates 18% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Gadsden State Community College a public or private college?
Gadsden State Community College is a Public institution.
Where is Gadsden State Community College located?
Gadsden State Community College is located in Gadsden, Alabama.
What programs does Gadsden State Community College offer?
Gadsden State Community College offers 29 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts, Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies/Technicians, Nursing.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Gadsden State Community College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Gadsden State Community College is 17:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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