Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) vs FSU Poly

Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) and Florida Polytechnic University (FPU) are two distinct institutions offering unique educational experiences in Florida. FGCU, located in Fort Myers, boasts a diverse student body and a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs, with a focus on liberal arts and professional studies. In contrast, FPU, situated in Lakeland, specializes in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) disciplines, providing a highly focused and immersive learning environment. While both universities offer excellent academic opportunities, their acceptance rates, popular majors, student demographics, and graduation rates vary significantly. Explore the comprehensive comparison table below to discover which university aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
Florida Gulf Coast University logo

Florida Gulf Coast University

Florida Polytechnic University logo

Florida Polytechnic University

Overview

Location Fort Myers, Florida Lakeland, Florida
Campus setting Suburb: Large Rural: Fringe
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Public Public
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 82.0% 70.0%
Common app member Yes Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 89.2% 54.6%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $30

Graduate: $30
Undergraduate: $30

Graduate: $30
SAT range 1010 - 1180 1183 - 1370
ACT range 19 - 25 26 - 31
Students submitting SAT score 79.0% 90.0%
Students submitting ACT score 45.0% 49.0%
Total number of applicants 14,462 2,124
Total number of admissions given out 12,901 1,159
Admitted students who chose to enroll 3,125 398
Yield rate 24.2% 34.3%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Required
Recommendation letters Not required Not required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required Not required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price
In state: $20,390

Out of state: $39,434
In state: $21,611

Out of state: $37,676
Average net price $9,840 $9,376
Tuition
In state: $4,191

Out of state: $22,328
$3,152
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $4,820

Meal plan: $4,346
Room/dormitory: $6,941

Meal plan: $4,276
Available payment plans
  • Prepaid tuition plan
  • Prepaid tuition plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

78.0%
Average amount $6,754
100.0%
Average amount $10,409
Students receiving federal student loan 30.0%
Average amount $7,251
67.0%
Average amount $2,226
Students taking out private loans 4.0%
Average amount $16,201
2.0%
Average amount $9,664

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 14,228
Men 42.9% Women 57.1%
1,479
Men 82.8% Women 17.2%
Graduate students 1,681
Men 29.2% Women 70.8%
84
Men 83.3% Women 16.7%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Low
Low
Out-of-state students 17.6% N/A
International students 2.1% 2.8%
Campus local/setting Suburb: Large Rural: Fringe
Dormitory capacity 4,732 800
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from Florida Illinois New Jersey Pennsylvania Ohio N/A

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Health Professions
  • Multidisciplinary Studies
  • Liberal Arts
  • Education
  • Engineering
  • Engineering
  • Computer and Information Science
  • Multidisciplinary Studies
  • Business
  • Mathematics and Statistics
Students to faculty ratio 22:1 18:1
Institutional accreditation Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

Outcome

Graduation rate 56.2% 55.6%
Dropout rate 26.2% 42.9%
Transferred out 13.4% N/A
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $57,910
  • Year 2: $59,722
  • Year 3: $85,341
Computer Software and Media Applications (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $63,005
  • Year 3: $74,972
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $70,296
  • Year 3: $73,324
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $66,429
  • Year 2: $66,821
  • Year 3: $68,880
Accounting and Related Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $51,840
  • Year 2: $59,124
  • Year 3: $68,095
Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $47,707
  • Year 2: $47,520
  • Year 3: $65,837
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $60,279
  • Year 2: $62,409
  • Year 3: $64,731
Civil Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $54,799
  • Year 2: $57,318
  • Year 3: $63,963
Biomedical/Medical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $48,944
  • Year 2: $46,769
  • Year 3: $59,253
Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $54,874
  • Year 2: $57,318
  • Year 3: $58,083
Computer Software and Media Applications (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $56,731
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: N/A
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $52,501
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: N/A