Polk State College
A good fit for families who need the lowest possible cost and in-state Florida residents. graduation rate is below 40%. a public school with 7,180 students.
About This School
Polk State College is a public institution located in Winter Haven, Florida with approximately 7,180 undergraduate students enrolled. The average net price after financial aid is $9,427 per year. The graduation rate is 35%, and the typical graduate earns $35,000 within 10 years of enrollment.
Polk State College (PSC) is a public college based in Winter Haven, Florida, United States, and is part of the Florida College System. Established in 1964, PSC operates its main campuses in Winter Haven and Lakeland, with additional education centers in Bartow and Lake Wales. The college offers both associate and bachelor’s degrees.
The numbers tell a mixed story here: the low average debt of $6,500 and affordable net price of ~$9,000/year make this one of the more financially sensible options for a Florida student starting out, especially for those pursuing an associate degree or transferring to a four-year school. However, the 34% graduation rate is a real concern — most students who enroll don't finish — so it's worth asking honestly whether you have a clear plan and strong support system before committing. If you're cost-conscious, have a specific program in mind, and plan to transfer, this can work well; if you need a structured environment to stay on track, consider whether additional support resources are available to you here.
Popular Programs
Percentage of degrees awarded. Source: College Scorecard.
Admissions
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Cost & Financial Aid
Financial Aid
Full Cost
After Graduation
Earnings 6 Years After Enrollment, by Gender
Gap: 10% less for female graduates. National avg ~16%.
What Each Major Actually Earns
Median earnings four years after graduation, by major, next to the national median for that same major at every college. The school-wide average hides this: at most schools the spread between the best- and worst-paying majors is far wider than the gap between schools.
Polk State College graduates earn most above the national rate in Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($94,269 vs $88,910 nationally), and most below it in Business Administration, Management and Operations ($52,404 vs $68,257).
| Major | Grads | Here | National | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 199 | $52,404 | $68,257 | −$15,853 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 71 | $94,269 | $88,910 | +$5,359 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 47 | $55,634 | $55,378 | +$256 |
U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study data. Median earnings of graduates working and not enrolled four years after completing a bachelor's degreehere. Majors with too few graduates to report are omitted for privacy, so this is not the school's full program list.
Will This School Pay Off?
Strong return. Graduates earn well above their debt load.
Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. These are means across all graduates, not specific to any major.
Student Body
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (7,180 undergraduates).
Contact & Location
Official Links
Schools Like This in Florida
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State College of Florida-Manatee-Sarasota
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Daytona State College
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See How Colleges Compare
Polk State College is one of thousands of colleges in our data studies, each built from the same U.S. Department of Education data shown on this page. Compare schools head to head:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Polk State College cost?
The average net price at Polk State College is about $9,427 per year after grants and scholarships, based on federal data. Your actual cost depends on your family's finances and aid package.
What is the graduation rate at Polk State College?
Polk State College has a graduation rate of 35%, according to U.S. Department of Education data.
Sources & Methodology
Primary data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Accessed via automated sync. Latest values may come from different reporting years depending on the metric.
School overview from Wikipedia. Used for context only, not as a primary data source for admissions, cost, or outcomes claims.
- Earnings figures are institution-level averages, not major-specific.
- Some metrics are based on Title IV financial aid recipients only.
- Some values may be privacy-suppressed or rolled up by the Department of Education.
- Contact the school directly for current admissions requirements and costs.
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