Florida Gulf Coast University

Overview of Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU)

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The university strives to prepare students to excel and innovate, fueling economic development and life enrichment. Students and faculty alike are conscious citizens actively engaged and environmentally aware. Some of the institution’s most prominent core values include diversity, equality, and inclusion, as well as educating people beyond the campus.

The total student population at Florida Gulf Coast University is 15,358, with 80% enrolled full-time. The school employs approximately 516 full-time faculty members and 253 part-time faculty members. There are also approximately 15 graduate assistants providing instructional support and seven graduate assistants performing research. The student-to-faculty ratio is 22:1, which is above the national average reported by the National Center for Education Statistics in 2018. This means that some students may struggle to receive the one-on-one attention and support they need from instructors.

Faculty members are scholars and researchers committed to teaching and serving their communities. Florida Gulf Coast University does not have a tenure system, with professors instead working on multi-year contracts. Many faculty members eagerly create new programs and initiatives to benefit students.

Top Rankings For Florida Gulf Coast University

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FGCU Acceptance Rate and Admissions

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FGCU Tuition Cost & Financial Aid

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U.S. News & World Report ranked Florida as the best state for higher education. In line with this, Florida Gulf Coast University degrees does offer affordable degree options and has not increased tuition in seven years. Prospective students should be aware, however, that many factors impact the cost of education including residency, enrollment type, and course format.

Florida resident students enrolled in 15 undergraduate credit hours per term for two terms paid $6,118 in tuition and fees for the 2021-2022 academic year. Non-residents paid an additional $19,043 for the same course load and timeframe. Additional financial responsibilities include books, supplies, room and board, transportation, and personal expenses. For Florida residents living with parents, Florida Gulf Coast University estimates a total cost of $13,601.

The tuition and fees for full-time graduate students taking nine credit hours per term for two terms in the 2021-2022 academic year was $6,720. Those from out-of-state, however, paid $23,412 in tuition and fees for the same course load and timeframe.

Florida Gulf Coast University offers several types of financial aid including grants, scholarships, loans, and federal work study. Students are encouraged to complete Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), as well as applying for outside scholarships. Approximately 78% of students receive some form of financial aid, but only 35% utilize loans. Notably, 52% of students graduate with no debt.

Sticker Price

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Academics

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Florida Gulf Coast University offers a personal education experience in a state-of-the-art setting. The institution offers 63 undergraduate degrees, 26 master’s degrees, seven doctorates, and 17 certificate programs.

Students can choose to pursue majors in the following colleges:

The retention rate for first-time, full-time, undergraduate freshmen who began their studies in 2019 was 81%. This is significant, as it is well above the national average of 68% for the entire nation. The rate for part-time bachelor’s students was lower, however, totaling at 66%. Regardless, this means the majority of students enrolled at the university were happy with their overall experience and chose to return in 2020.

The overall graduation rate for full-time, first-time students who began their studies in fall 2014 was 53%, while the transfer-out rate was 9%. It’s worth noting, however, that only 63% of entering students were first-time enrollees attending classes full-time and, therefore, many students weren’t included in this statistic.

The university is fully accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate, baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral degrees. Florida Gulf Coast University also strives to achieve specialized accreditation for eligible programs. Some notable programmatic accreditations include Professional Golf Association (PGA) of America, Accreditation Commission for Programs in Hospitality Administration (ACPHA), Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), and the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).

Student Population Total

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Outcome & Salary

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Outlook for Florida Gulf Coast University graduates is promising. Based on data collected from an alumni survey in 2019, 90% of those who graduated from the institution were working full or part-time. Of those, 70% were working in their field of study. Additionally, 33% had completed additional education since graduation and 20% had started their own businesses.

Photos & Videos

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