Gulf Coast State College
- Graduation Rate
- 44% D+
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $38,359 C-
- Below average for college graduates
- Net Price
- $4,709 A
- 73% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 3,934
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 47.5× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $47.5 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $47.5 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $875,539.
What The Data Says
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A C+ overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
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Graduation of 44% — 23% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $47.5 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Gulf Coast State College Matters
Gulf Coast State College is a public community college in Panama City, FL and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by an above-average alumni network. The result: measurable returns for the students it serves.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public Community College
- Carnegie Class
- Associate's College
- Enrollment
- 3,934
- Setting
- Urban
- Primary Strengths
- Humanities, Health Professions, Criminal Justice, Business & Marketing
Why students choose Gulf Coast State College
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
This school does not report a competitive admit rate — most qualified applicants are admitted.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $4,709 a year after grants and scholarships — 73% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $38,359 ten years after enrolling — 6% below the typical college, against $7,147 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.8% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 34% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.04 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Nearly 4,000 students choose Gulf Coast State College each year for its low net price of $4,709, making it an affordable option for many. This price point allows students to focus on their education without overwhelming financial burdens.
Graduates from Gulf Coast State College earn a median salary of $38,359 a decade after enrollment. While the graduation rate stands at 44%, the college serves a significant number of students from diverse backgrounds, with 28% receiving Pell Grants. This indicates a commitment to helping lower-income students achieve their educational goals.
Gulf Coast State College is ideal for those seeking practical programs in fields like Health Professions, Criminal Justice, and Business. With a median debt of $7,147, students can graduate with manageable financial obligations. The college is well-suited for individuals looking for a supportive environment as they navigate their academic and career paths.
Rankings
- #11 Best Criminal Justice Colleges in Florida
- #12 Most Affordable Colleges in Florida
- #17 Best Nursing Colleges in Florida
- #21 Best Master's Programs in Florida
- #22 Best Online Colleges in Florida
- #22 Best Computer Science Colleges in Florida
- #22 Best Data Science Colleges in Florida
- #24 Best Colleges in Florida
Can I Get In?
How selective Gulf Coast State College is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Gulf Coast State College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Panama City, Florida, Gulf Coast State College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 44%.
- Full-Time Faculty
- 60%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $6,004
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 19:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.55
- First-Gen Students
- 49%
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Gulf Coast State College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Gulf Coast State College is $8,635, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $4,709. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $2,915 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $7,147 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $2,370
- Out-of-State
- $8,635
- Avg Net Price
- $4,709
- Median Debt
- $7,147
- Pell Grant Rate
- 28%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 7%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $2,915
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $4,369
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $6,483
- Family Income $110K+
- $12,071
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Gulf Coast State College — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Gulf Coast State College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Gulf Coast State College report median earnings of $38,359, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $33,651
- 8 Years
- $36,964
- 10 Years
- $38,359
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.19x
- Earning > $25K
- 51%
Earnings Trajectory
How Gulf Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Gulf Coast State College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Gulf Coast State College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $4,709/year ($18,836 total). Graduates earn $38,359 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $894,375 in total earnings — a net gain of $875,539 (47.5× your investment). The median debt is $7,147, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 44% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $18,836
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $894,375
- Net Return
- $875,539
- ROI Multiple
- 47.5×
- Cost Per Year
- $4,709
- Median Debt
- $7,147
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 44%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Gulf Coast State College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Gulf Coast State College is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.82%, well above the typical college. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 18.5% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 9.8% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $56,700, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 1.82%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 9.8%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 18.5%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $77,035
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $2,430,993
- Investment Income
- $48,916
Top Programs
The fields Gulf Coast State College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Humanities 41%
- Health Professions 36% $59,730 early-career
- Criminal Justice 10% $41,405 early-career
- Business & Marketing 4%
- Computer Science & IT 3%
- Culinary & Personal Services 2% $24,743 early-career
- Communications 1%
- Precision Production 0%
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Gulf Coast State College's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Marketing Manager$156,580 · 8% growthAdaptable 64
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CAdvertising Manager$138,730 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Gulf Coast State College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Panama City, Florida, Gulf Coast State College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 44%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Gulf Coast State College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Gulf Coast State College is $8,635, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $4,709. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $2,915 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $7,147 in federal student loans.
Is Gulf Coast State College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Gulf Coast State College report median earnings of $38,359, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
Does Gulf Coast State College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Gulf Coast State College is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.82%, well above the typical college. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 18.5% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 9.8% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $56,700, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Gulf Coast State College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs above average at Gulf Coast State College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.04, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Gulf Coast State College.
- Eastern New Mexico University-Main CampusPortales, NM · Close peer42% grad $38,550 earn 92% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Lake-Sumter State CollegeLeesburg, FL · Close peer46% grad $39,876 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Northwest Florida State CollegeNiceville, FL · Close peer41% grad $39,664 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Saint Johns River State CollegePalatka, FL · Close peer47% grad $41,728 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Dalton State CollegeDalton, GA · Close peer28% grad $40,251 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size · similar net price
- College of Southern IdahoTwin Falls, ID · Close peer34% grad $40,916 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Gulf Coast State College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs above average at Gulf Coast State College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.04, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note