Gulf Coast State College
Gulf Coast State College — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Gulf Coast State College at a Glance
Gulf Coast State College is a public college in Panama City, Florida, United States. It is part of the Florida College System. It offers the Associate of Arts degree, Associate of Science degree, certificates, and as of 2011, bachelor's degrees.
1957
69 years old
$30M
$30 million (2016)
7,000
Identity
Is Gulf Coast State College Worth It?
Gulf Coast State College is one of the strongest value propositions in higher education. At $4,709/year net price and $38,359 median earnings, graduates earn 8.1× their annual cost within a decade of enrolling.
The investment pays for itself in just 0.5 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
A 44% graduation rate is a serious red flag — fewer than 4 in 10 students finish. Those who don't graduate may still carry student debt without the higher-earning credential to show for it.
Median student debt of $7,147 is manageable at just 19% of first-year post-graduation earnings.
Bottom line: Gulf Coast State College delivers strong financial returns that justify the investment for most students.
How Gulf Coast State College compares to peer public colleges of similar tier in FL
Ranked #7 of 180 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | South Florida State College | 100 | $3,877 | $39,990 |
| #2 | Brazosport College | 100 | $4,732 | $45,910 |
| #3 | College of the Mainland | 100 | $1,342 | $39,639 |
| #4 | Florida Gateway College | 97 | $5,364 | $37,894 |
| #5 | West Virginia University at Parkersburg | 97 | $1,807 | $35,171 |
| #6 | Taft College | 96 | $2,823 | $38,861 |
| #7 | Gulf Coast State College | 90 | $4,709 | $38,359 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of Gulf Coast State College's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 6 in FL.
Best Programs at Gulf Coast State College
Program-level earnings data isn't available for Gulf Coast State College. When evaluating whether to attend, research outcomes for your specific major using the Department of Education's College Scorecard or ask the admissions office for placement rates.
As a general rule: STEM, nursing, accounting, and computer science programs tend to deliver the strongest ROI regardless of institution. Humanities and arts programs can still be worthwhile, but require more intentional career planning to achieve financial payoff.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $4,709/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Similar Colleges in FL
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- public
- Location
- Panama City, FL
- Student Body
- 3,934 students
- Graduation Rate
- 44%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $4,709
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $38,359
- Median Student Debt
- $7,147