Florida Gulf Coast University
Fort Myers, FL
63.4%
Acceptance Rate
$6,118
Avg Cost (In-State)
$25,162
Avg Cost (Out-of-State)
56.7%
Graduation Rate
13,874
Total Enrollment
Popular programs
Application requirements
Regular Deadline
May 1
Common App
Yes
Test Policy
Test Optional
Essays Required
0
Letters of Rec
0
Application Fee
$30
Interview
Not required
Essays: No essay required for admission; optional personal statement may be submitted
Requirements are AI-generated from public data and may change. Always verify directly with the college.
Getting there
Graduate outcomes
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard
$45,029
Median Earnings at 6 Years
median graduate salary 6 years after starting
$54,560
Median Earnings at 10 Years
median graduate salary 10 years after starting
57%
4-Year Graduation Rate
students completing degree within 4 years
Earnings data: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Figures reflect federal aid recipients only — actual median earnings may be higher at schools where many students receive grants rather than loans.
Earnings by major
Median earnings 1 year after graduation, by bachelor's program. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard FieldOfStudy data.
| Program | Median earnings (1yr) | Earnings (4yr) | Graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, General. | $34,328 | $48,879 | 207 |
| Communication and Media Studies. | $39,342 | $56,455 | 206 |
| Hospitality Administration/Management. | $39,108 | $60,011 | 203 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | $38,660 | $66,349 | 178 |
| Psychology, General. | $30,367 | $52,722 | 150 |
| Marketing. | $46,910 | $67,034 | 129 |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General. | $33,871 | $54,006 | 111 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods. | $50,951 | $58,115 | 109 |
Tracked through federal tax records. Programs with fewer than 30 graduates with reported earnings are privacy-suppressed. 4-year figure tracks the same cohort 3 years later.
What current students say
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Tactics that apply here
Things you can do that most families don't know about.
Florida Bright Futures (Academic + Medallion)
~$24k valueFlorida's lottery-funded merit scholarship: covers 100% of tuition + fees (Academic) or 75% (Medallion) at any Florida public university.
Who it helps: Florida residents graduating from a Florida high school with strong test scores and the required community-service hours.
How to use: Apply via the Florida Financial Aid Application by August 31 after graduation. Verify SAT/ACT scores and community-service hours through your high school.
Source ↗Early Action priority deadlines unlock the biggest merit pools
~$15k valueAt many public universities, applying by the EA deadline (Nov 1) instead of regular (Feb 1) decides whether you're considered for the top merit awards.
Who it helps: Students with their applications ready by November of senior year, especially those targeting merit-rich publics.
How to use: List each target school's EA deadline (commonly Nov 1, sometimes Oct 15 or Dec 1). Submit complete applications + test scores by then. Confirm merit-scholarship deadlines separately — some require a different priority date or supplemental essay.
Source ↗File FAFSA the day it opens
~$5k valueMost schools award state and institutional aid first-come-first-served from a fixed pool. Filing FAFSA in October beats filing in February by thousands.
Who it helps: Every student applying for need-based aid, but especially families relying on state grants or institutional aid.
How to use: Set a calendar reminder for the FAFSA opening date (currently Oct 1 most years; Dec 1 in the 2024-25 transition year). Use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to auto-fill tax info. Submit even if you have to estimate; corrections are easy.
Source ↗CSS Profile is required by 200+ private schools — separate from FAFSA
Most selective private colleges use the CSS Profile in addition to FAFSA. It costs $25 + $16/school and reaches deeper into family finances than FAFSA does.
Who it helps: Any student applying to a private 4-year with significant institutional aid needs.
How to use: Check the CSS Profile school list for each of your target colleges. Open the app at cssprofile.collegeboard.org as soon as it opens (early Oct). Submit ahead of each school's earliest priority date — often before the FAFSA deadline.
Source ↗Scholarships
Scholarships you may qualify for.
UWF Argo Scholarship
$2,000-$8,000/year
universityTop UWF incoming freshmen via automatic merit grid.
Deadline: December 1
Learn more ↗Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center Scholarship
$500-$2,500
minorityHaitian American HS seniors in South Florida pursuing higher education; community service + academic merit.
Deadline: May 31
Learn more ↗Florida Bright Futures Scholarship
75% – 100% of tuition (depending on tier)
stateFlorida residents with strong academics (GPA + SAT/ACT) who attend eligible Florida institutions. Three tiers based on achievement.
Deadline: August 31 (after high school graduation)
Learn more ↗FGCU Eagle Scholars Award
$1,500-$6,000/year
universityTop FGCU incoming freshmen via tiered grid.
Deadline: December 1
Learn more ↗USF Provost's Scholars Award
$5,000-$15,000/year
universityTop USF freshmen via tiered automatic grid; Honors College linked.
Deadline: November 1
Learn more ↗UNF Brooks College of Health Scholarships
$1,000-$5,000/year
universityUNF health-program students with academic merit + service.
Deadline: Varies
Learn more ↗FL Mary McLeod Bethune Scholarship
$3,000-$8,000
stateFL residents attending Bethune-Cookman, Edward Waters, Florida Memorial, or FAMU (HBCUs).
Deadline: FFAA
Learn more ↗FIU University Scholars Award
$1,500-$10,000/year (tiered)
universityFIU freshmen via automatic merit grid by GPA + test scores.
Deadline: December 1
Learn more ↗Florida Resident Access Grant (FRAG)
Up to $3,500/year
stateFL residents at eligible FL private nonprofit institutions; not for public colleges.
Deadline: School certifies eligibility
Learn more ↗Round-by-round
Acceptance rates by application round.
The single overall 63.4% rate hides a 2–4x gap between ED and RD at most selective schools. Class of 2027 cycle.
Regular Decision
63.44%
acceptance
Bulk-imported from College Scorecard (admission_rate.overall). Deadline/notification dates are typical RD defaults; revise as needed.
Source ↗Class profile
Who actually goes here.
From the most recent Common Data Set and IPEDS.
30.0%
% Pell-eligible
Federal Pell grant recipients
33.0%
% first-generation
First in family to attend college
95.0%
% in-state
Residents of the college's home state
30.0%
% URM
Black, Hispanic/Latino, Native combined
31.0%
Yield rate
Share of admitted students who enroll
78.0%
1st-to-2nd year retention
Freshmen who return as sophomores
56.0%
6-year grad rate
Graduate within 150% normal time
Demonstrated interest
Not considered
Visits, info sessions and opening emails don't move the needle here.
Peer colleges
Similar colleges to consider.
Similar selectivity
Southern Methodist University
Dallas, TX
63.4% acceptance
Both admit around 63% of applicants, with 7k undergrads and a u campus — a close selectivity match.
Farmingdale State College
Farmingdale, NY
63.3% acceptance
Both admit around 63% of applicants, with 10k undergrads and a s campus — a close selectivity match.
University of North Carolina Wilmington
Wilmington, NC
64.2% acceptance
Both admit around 64% of applicants, with 15k undergrads and a s campus — a close selectivity match.
Cheaper alternatives
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Worldwide
Daytona Beach, FL
57.9% acceptance
Similar selectivity (58% vs 63%) but out-of-state cost runs $12k — meaningfully less than $25k.
University of Memphis
Memphis, TN
72% acceptance
Similar selectivity (72% vs 63%) but out-of-state cost runs $15k — meaningfully less than $25k.
University of North Georgia
Dahlonega, GA
67.9% acceptance
Similar selectivity (68% vs 63%) but out-of-state cost runs $17k — meaningfully less than $25k.
Reaches above this college
University of North Florida
Jacksonville, FL
53.2% acceptance
Same s setting in the South, but more selective (53% vs 63%) — a stretch target if Florida Gulf Coast University is already on your list.
University of West Georgia
Carrollton, GA
51.6% acceptance
Same s setting in the South, but more selective (52% vs 63%) — a stretch target if Florida Gulf Coast University is already on your list.
Baylor University
Waco, TX
51.3% acceptance
Same s setting in the South, but more selective (51% vs 63%) — a stretch target if Florida Gulf Coast University is already on your list.
Safer alternatives
Coastal Carolina University
Conway, SC
75.3% acceptance
Same s setting in the South, but higher admit rate (75% vs 63%) — a likelier admit with a similar feel.
University of Central Oklahoma
Edmond, OK
78.1% acceptance
Same s setting in the South, but higher admit rate (78% vs 63%) — a likelier admit with a similar feel.
Towson University
Towson, MD
82% acceptance
Same s setting in the South, but higher admit rate (82% vs 63%) — a likelier admit with a similar feel.
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