Career Training Path › Florida › Gulf Coast State College
Gulf Coast State College
Panama City, Florida · Public college
Address: 5230 West U.S. Highway 98, Panama City, FL 32401 · Phone: (850) 769-1551 · School website ↗ · Verify on College Scorecard ↗
No accreditor sanctions in the last 36 months
Gulf Coast State College is a public trade and career school in Panama City, FL, offering EMT & paramedic training, surgical technologist programs, and LPN/LVN programs, accredited by SACS and program-specific bodies.
Per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, median graduate debt at Gulf Coast State College is $7,147 and median earnings 10 years after entry are $38,359; the campus's completion rate compared to the state average of 70.5% is not reported.
Annual cost of attendance for Gulf Coast State College is not reported in federal data; contact the school for current tuition. Federal financial aid, including FAFSA and Pell Grants, can be used here, with 28.3% of students receiving Pell.
What these trades pay once you're working
| Occupation | Starting (10th pct) | Median | Experienced (75th) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emergency medical technicians | $34,120 | $39,870 | $47,000 |
| Surgical technologists | $41,270 | $62,440 | $75,170 |
| Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses | $50,450 | $61,770 | $64,710 |
| Radiologic technologists and technicians | $51,390 | $76,750 | $82,650 |
| Chefs and head cooks | $31,920 | $58,240 | $75,840 |
| Dental hygienists | $75,960 | $91,980 | $96,060 |
| Medical assistants | $35,880 | $43,680 | $46,800 |
| Dental assistants | $37,800 | $47,620 | $54,690 |
| Nursing assistants | $34,350 | $37,510 | $42,310 |
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wages for everyone employed in the occupation in Florida (May 2025; national where the state figure is not published). The program table below shows what this campus's own graduates earned in their first year, whatever job they took.
Trade programs at this campus
| Program | Credential | Grads / yr | Earnings, yr 1 | Earnings, yr 2 | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 49 | $37,111 | $39,729 | not reported |
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants | Certificate, 1–2 years | 29 | $31,385 | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Associate degree | 23 | $41,085 | $43,240 | $10,465 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Certificate, 1–2 years | 20 | $37,111 | $39,729 | not reported |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Associate degree | 16 | $41,085 | $43,240 | $10,465 |
| Dental Support Services and Allied Professions | Associate degree | 15 | not reported | $46,673 | not reported |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | Associate degree | 11 | not reported | $43,798 | not reported |
| Dental Support Services and Allied Professions | Certificate, 1–2 years | 11 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Culinary Arts and Related Services | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 9 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Associate degree | 8 | $41,085 | $43,240 | $10,465 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Associate degree | 8 | $41,085 | $43,240 | $10,465 |
| Culinary Arts and Related Services | Certificate, 1–2 years | 8 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Certificate, 1–2 years | 7 | $37,111 | $39,729 | not reported |
| Culinary Arts and Related Services | Associate degree | 7 | not reported | $20,824 | not reported |
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants | Certificate, under 300 hours | 2 | $31,385 | not reported | not reported |
Earnings are median wages and self-employment income reported to the IRS (W-2 and Schedule SE) for graduates who received federal aid and were working and not enrolled, measured in the calendar year after finishing. They are pay only: health insurance, retirement contributions and other benefits are not included.
Graduates per year from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey. Earnings and debt are College Scorecard field-of-study medians for graduates of this program at this campus (reported at the 4-digit program level, so closely related programs share a figure); "not reported" means too few graduates were counted to publish a figure.
About this school
Gulf Coast State College is a public trade and career training campus in Panama City, Florida, located in a small city setting. The school participates in federal financial aid programs (Title IV), meaning eligible students can use FAFSA, federal loans, and Pell Grants to help pay for their education. It holds accreditation through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, along with program-specific accreditors including the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation, the American Physical Therapy Association's Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education, the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, and the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology. Across its 15 program offerings, the campus most frequently awards credentials in EMT and paramedic training (64 completers), surgical technologist programs (43 completers), and LPN/LVN programs (29 completers), with 223 total trade completers reported.
In terms of outcomes, the state average completion rate for comparable programs is 70.5%, though this campus's own completion rate relative to that average is not reported for this campus in federal data. Graduates carry a median debt of $7,147, and median earnings ten years after entry are reported at $38,359. Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data. About 28.3% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating a meaningful share of the student body qualifies for need-based federal aid.
This campus may suit students pursuing hands-on healthcare and technical credentials, from EMT training to surgical technology and nursing pathways, though specific program lengths are not detailed here. Prospective students, including career changers, should verify current accreditation status and outcome data directly through the College Scorecard or by contacting the school.
Questions students ask
What trade and career programs does this campus offer?
Gulf Coast State College offers 15 trade and career programs, most notably EMT & paramedic training, surgical technologist programs, and LPN/LVN programs.
Is this school accredited, and by whom?
Yes, the school is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, along with program-specific accreditors such as the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation, and the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology, among others.
Can I use federal financial aid (FAFSA, Pell Grants) at this school?
Yes, this school participates in Title IV federal financial aid programs, so students can use FAFSA, federal loans, and Pell Grants.
What share of students finish their program here, and how does that compare to the state?
The state average completion rate is 70.5%, but this campus's specific completion rate and its comparison to that average are not reported for this campus in federal data.
How much debt do graduates of this school typically carry?
Graduates of this school carry a median debt of $7,147, per federal data.
What do graduates of this school earn?
Median earnings for graduates 10 years after entry are reported at $38,359.
How much does it cost to attend for a year?
Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data; contact the school directly for current tuition figures.
Is this a public, non-profit, or for-profit school, and why does that matter?
Gulf Coast State College is a public institution, which often means lower tuition costs and eligibility for state-based funding compared to private for-profit schools.
How long do the programs here take to complete?
Specific program lengths are not reported in the available data; contact the school at (850) 769-1551 or visit their website for details.
How do I verify this school's accreditation and outcomes myself?
You can verify accreditation and outcome data through the College Scorecard at https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?134343 or by contacting the school directly.
Is this school a good fit for an adult changing careers?
The school offers hands-on programs like EMT training and surgical technology, which may appeal to career changers, though specific fit depends on program length and schedule details not reported here.
What license or certification will I need after finishing a program here?
Licensing and certification requirements vary by program and are not detailed in this data; contact the school directly for program-specific licensure information.
How do I contact the school or apply?
You can reach Gulf Coast State College at (850) 769-1551 or visit their website at https://gulfcoast.edu/ for application details.
How does this campus compare with other schools offering the same trade nearby?
Comparative data with nearby schools is not reported in this dataset; use the College Scorecard link to compare outcomes across institutions.
Data: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey; College Scorecard June 2026; Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs (DAPIP), September 2026. Figures are the U.S. Department of Education's official measures, not Career Training Path's opinion. Tuition, schedules and program availability change — confirm with the school before enrolling.