Gulf Coast State College
At a Glance
Located on the Emerald Coast in Panama City, Florida, Gulf Coast State College (GCSC) is ready to provide you a first-class education with an emphasis on success. With some of the lowest tuition rates in Florida, GCSC offers you a variety of options focused on quality and practicality.
GCSC offers you flexibility with traditional classes, online courses, Continuing Education, and professional training courses with classes at convenient times and in multiple locations. In addition to the main campus in Panama City, the College holds classes at Tyndall Air Force Base, the North Bay Campus in Southport, and the Gulf/Franklin Campus in Port St. Joe.
For more info: gulfcoast.edu
Gulf Coast State College (GCSC) is a Public institution located in the Panhandle region of Florida. GCSC has Regional Accreditation .
The main campus in Panama City, FL has a Town feeling.
Gulf Coast State College offers programs that lead to the following types of degrees:
- Associate (2 yr.)
- Bachelor's (4 yr.)
- Certificate
- AA Liberal Arts
- Nursing
- Business Administration
- Organizational Management
- Cybersecurity
Student Body (as of 2024)
| Enrollment Type | Number of Students |
|---|---|
| Full Time | 1606 |
| Part Time | 3016 |
Part-time students outnumber full-time students (1.88:1) at Gulf Coast State College.
| Ethnicity | Percentage of Students |
|---|---|
| American Indian/Alaska Native | 0.78 |
| Asian | 4.26 |
| Black/African American | 10.34 |
| Hawaiian/Pacific Islander | 0.52 |
| Hispanic/Latino | 6.35 |
| White/Caucasian | 68.05 |
| Other/Unknown | 9.70 |
The most common ethnicity is White/Caucasian (68.1%) followed by Black/African American (10.3%.)
| Gender | Percentage of Students |
|---|---|
| Female | 64.00 |
| Male | 36.00 |
At 64%, female students outnumber male students by a very significant margin. Percentages are based on "as reported" values.
Gulf Coast State College (GCSC) provides many academic programs including bachelor's degrees, university transfer track associate degrees, associates in science degrees, and workforce certificates. It offers the lowest tuition in Florida and is half the cost of Florida universities.
GCSC is recognized as the top 20% of public schools in Florida for “affordability” and “least amount of debt for graduating students” by the Community College Review (2024), is ranked as one of the “top 150 two-year colleges” in the nation by the Aspen Institute, and ranks as “Best Colleges for Culinary Arts in America”, “Best Colleges for Information Technology in America”, and “Best Community Colleges in America” by Niche (2024).
GCSC is recognized as military friendly, includingthe first designation of the Florida Collegiate Purple Star Campus award by the Florida Legislature (2024) and the Military Friendly award with Gold Distinction by Viqtory, ranking top 10 for “Small Public Schools”.
| Total Students: | 4,622 |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate Students: | 4,622 |
| Graduate Students: | 0 |
| Average Student Age: | 25 |
Costs and Financial Aid (as of 2024)
High school Seniors in Bay, Gulf, and Franklin counties may be eligible for the Gulf Coast Guarantee Scholarship!
for Full-Time
per Credit Hour
per Credit Hour
Scholarships
GCSC offers a variety of financial assistance for students. Students may apply based on financial need or merit. Financial assistance may be awarded from one or any combination of federal and state grants; part time employment; institutional, state, and private scholarships; and student loans. For more information, please visit the Financial Aid website:
Contact the Gulf Coast State College Foundation for information on over 700 types of scholarship opportunities by visiting our website:
| Category | Cost |
|---|---|
| Full-Time Tuition | 2370.00 |
| Books and Supplies | 1200.00 |
| Housing Costs | 0.00 |
The total estimated full time costs of $3,570.00 consists of $2,370.00 for Tuition, $1,200.00 for Books and Supplies, and $0.00 for Housing.
Admissions (as of 2024)
Accepted
Application Fee
Tuition Deposit
for Merit Scholarship
Information on Transfer Student Admission can be found on the Academic Regulations and Information website:
The College offers credit and non-credit courses. Credit courses are designed to apply toward a degree, however, you may enroll in credit courses without seeking a degree.
Admission Steps for College Credit Courses
1) Complete Admission Application - pay $10 non-refundable application fee and submit application.
2) Order high school, GED, and previous college transcripts - All official transcripts must arrive from previous institutions.
3) Apply for Financial Aid, if necessary.
4) Submit test scores - if you have taken the College Placement Test, SAT and/or ACT within the past two years, have official scores sent to the GCSC Testing Center.
5) Student Orientation - all first time in college students are required to attend the New Student Orientation.
6) Meet with your Pathway Navigator - first time in college students are required to meet with their Pathway Navigator. The offices of the Pathway Navigators are located on the 2nd floor of the Student Union East building.
Gulf Coast State College accepts applications for enrollment year-round. Please see the Financial Aid webpage or the Foundation Scholarship webpage for information regarding any applicable deadlines.
Distance Learning (as of 2024)
Schedule an appointment with one of our Pathway Navigators by going to gulfcoast.edu/admissions/advising/index.html.
There is an Online Learning Fee of $15.00 per credit hour added to the tuition rate. Most courses are 3 credit hours and therefore will have a $45.00 fee in addition to tuition.
GCSC Online offers a combination of online and hybrid classes that give you the freedom to work around job and family obligations. When combined with traditional classes, online and hybrid classes can help you finish your degree or certificate faster so you can begin your career!
For more information about online learning, connect with one of our advisors through the Student Navigation Center: gulfcoast.edu/admissions/advising/index.html.
- Associate of Arts - General Associates
- Bachelor of Applied Science in Organizational Management - Entrepreneurship
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing
- Associates of Science in Entrepreneurship
- College Credit Certificate in Network Server Administration
Gulf Coast State College publishes Distance Learning courses on the FloridaShines Course Catalog. Students enrolled in other Florida public institutions can start registration as transient students directly from the catalog.
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Programs
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- Limited Enrollment
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Campus Life (as of 2024)
| Greek Academic Organizations | |
|---|---|
| Greek Fraternities | |
| Greek Sororities | |
| Social Fraternities | |
| Social Sororities | |
| Academic Honor Societies | |
| Professional Associations | |
| Marching Band | |
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| Symphony Orchestra | |
| Student Government Association | |
| Theater |
GCSC offers many exciting activities and events for students to enjoy being part of the college family. We strive to engage students in developing leadership skills, civic responsibility awareness, and community service commitment through participation in various organizations designed for individuals with similar interests.
Activities range from intramural activities such as soccer and volleyball; to performing arts events of theatre, music, and photography; to academically-focused competition such as Brain Bowl and Enactus; to student run radio (WKGC) and TV (Commodore Productions); to student conferences such as the annual Student Leadership Conference and the Civic Learning Engagement and Responsibility Conference.
GCSC also participates in intercollegiate athletics in baseball, men's basketball, softball, volleyball, women's basketball, and women’s cross country. GCSC Commodore teams have earned six NJCAA (National Junior College Athletics Association) national championships!
Sports
| Sport | Men's Team | Women's Team | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scholarships Available | |||
| Baseball | |||
| Basketball | |||
| Cross Country | |||
| Softball | |||
| Volleyball | |||
Gulf Coast State College has a highly successful intercollegiate athletic program. Gulf Coast's athletic teams have consistently been competitive and highly ranked regionally, statewide, and nationally. In 2019, the Lady Commodores basketball team won their sixth NJCAA National Championship, the second most titles of any Junior College. Recruiting some of the best athletes from around the state and nation, the College offers Division I intercollegiate competition in men’s and women's basketball, men's baseball and women's softball in addition to Division II women's volleyball and women’s cross country. Student athletes also stay active in the community by volunteering for worthy causes, mentoring local elementary school children, and fundraising.
- NJCAA
- Panhandle Conference