Public Bachelor's Strong 81/100

Gulf Coast State College

See admissions data, costs, student outcomes, and academic programs, all verified from official US government sources.

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Panama City, Florida

About Gulf Coast State College

Gulf Coast State College is a public institution offering bachelor's degrees based in Panama City, Florida. It enrolls 3,934 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.

Acceptance
Graduation
28.9%
Net Price
$4,709
Median Earnings (10yr)
$38,359
Enrollment
3,934
Student : Faculty
20:1

Accreditor Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Academic Calendar Semester

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 (4-Year Open / Online). 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
81/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Open / Online
Outcomes 65
Value 90
Affordability 60
Selectivity

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

Admissions data is not yet reported for Gulf Coast State College.

Acceptance Rate
SAT Range (25th–75th)
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
Not reported

Cost & Financial Aid

The real cost of attending Gulf Coast State 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 $4,709 per year. That's well below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.

Average Net Price
$4,709
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
28%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
7%
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)
$2,370
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$8,635
Room & Board (off-campus)
$13,482
Books & Supplies
$1,200
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$4,968
Total Cost of Attendance
$14,657

Application fee: $20 (one-time, due at submission)


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
    $2,915
  • $30,001 – $48,000
    $4,369
  • $48,001 – $75,000
    $6,483
  • $75,001 – $110,000
    $9,806
  • Over $110,000
    $12,071

Debt at Graduation

Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.

$1,398
10% percentile
$2,500
25% percentile
$7,147
Median percentile
$10,500
75% percentile
$19,810
90% percentile

Median Debt by Student Type

Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.

GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $5,999 ↓ $1,148
No Pell $5,400 ↓ $1,747
Dependent students $4,135 ↓ $3,012
Independent students $7,225
Female students $5,500 ↓ $1,647
Male students $5,500 ↓ $1,647
Pell recipients: 17.8% (1,270 students)No Pell: 16.0% (1,143 students)Dependent students: 12.2% (875 students)Independent students: 21.4% (1,530 students)Female students: 16.3% (1,164 students)Male students: 16.3% (1,164 students)Overall Median$7,147
Worth knowing: Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $4,898, less than completers ($7,147), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.

Graduation Rate & Retention

29% of full-time students who enrolled at Gulf Coast State College graduate within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

6-Year Graduation Rate
29%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
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 Gulf Coast State College earn a median of $38,359 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.

Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$38,359
Earning > $25K
63%
10 yrs after entry

Earnings Growth After Graduation

Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.

$33,000$34,000$36,000$38,000$39,0006 yrs8 yrs10 yrs

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
$30,500

Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.

Male graduates
$40,700

Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.


By Family Income at Entry

Family income (lowest third)
$30,400

Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (middle third)
$38,900

Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (highest third)
$43,800

Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.

The gender gap: Male graduates earn $10,200, about 25% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.

Loan Repayment Progression

Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.

Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt 17.9 pts across 6 years
52.1%1yr57.5%3yr63.7%5yr70.1%7yr
What this signals: Strong. 70% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.

Who Studies Here

Gulf Coast State College is home to 3,934 students, a mid-sized community. Some distinctive traits: 49% are first-generation college students, 48% study part-time.

Total Enrolled
3,934
Part-Time
48%
First-Generation
49%

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.

GroupShareStudents
White 64.5% 2,537
Black 13.1% 517
Hispanic 10.1% 399
Other 7.0% 276
Asian 2.8% 110
International 1.5% 58
White: 64.5% (2,537 students)Black: 13.1% (517 students)Hispanic: 10.1% (399 students)Other: 7.0% (276 students)Asian: 2.8% (110 students)International: 1.5% (58 students)Total3,934

Student Life & Campus Culture

Where students live, learn, and connect at Gulf Coast State College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.

Setting
Small City Panama City, Florida
Housing
Commuter campus No on-campus housing
Adult Learners
31% of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAA athletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semester scheduling structure

What You Can Study

Gulf Coast State College offers a varied set of programs: 27 distinct programs across 13 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.

1 Program
9 Programs
4 Programs
3 Programs
2 Programs
1 Program
1 Program

Faculty & Resources

The student-to-faculty ratio at Gulf Coast State College is 20:1, on the higher side.

Student : Faculty
20:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$5,447
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$35M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$52,651
9-month equivalent across all ranks

Faculty by Rank

129 instructional faculty across 5 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
Full Professors 25 19% $65,841
Associate Professors 23 18% $56,652
Assistant Professors 26 20% $49,871
Instructors 15 12% $51,003
No Rank 40 31% $44,531

Pros & Cons of Gulf Coast State College

A quick at-a-glance summary of how Gulf Coast State College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.

PROS
  • Very affordable net price after aid
  • Low typical debt at graduation
  • First-gen-friendly student body
CONS
  • Larger class sizes than typical
  • Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
  • Earnings outcomes are on the lower side
  • No graduate programs offered at this institution
Best for: Based on the data, Gulf Coast State College is a fit for families focused on keeping net cost low; working adults or students needing part-time study options.

Frequently Asked Questions about Gulf Coast State College

Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Gulf Coast State College.

How much does Gulf Coast State College cost?
The average net price after aid at Gulf Coast State College is $4,709 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Gulf Coast State College worth it?
Strong return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $38,359 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $4,709 per year. That's roughly 8.1x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Gulf Coast State College known for?
Gulf Coast State College is best known for its programs in Liberal Arts, Nursing, Allied Health Diagnostic. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Gulf Coast State College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Gulf Coast State College are $38,359, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Gulf Coast State College accredited?
Yes. Gulf Coast State College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend Gulf Coast State College?
Gulf Coast State College enrolls 3,934 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Gulf Coast State College?
Gulf Coast State College graduates 29% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Gulf Coast State College a public or private college?
Gulf Coast State College is a Public institution.
Where is Gulf Coast State College located?
Gulf Coast State College is located in Panama City, Florida.
What programs does Gulf Coast State College offer?
Gulf Coast State College offers 27 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts, Nursing, Allied Health Diagnostic.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Gulf Coast State College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Gulf Coast State College is 20:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.

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