Polk State College is a public institution offering bachelor's degrees based in Winter Haven, Florida. It enrolls 7,180 students (a large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Open / Online). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
69/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Open / Online
Outcomes46
Value69
Affordability53
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
Admissions data is not yet reported for Polk State College.
Acceptance Rate
—
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Polk State College isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $9,427 per year. That's well below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$9,427
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
32%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
6%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$2,694
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$9,817
Room & Board (off-campus)
$12,186
Books & Supplies
$2,698
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$3,964
Total Cost of Attendance
$13,451
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$9,446
$30,001 – $48,000
$9,203
$48,001 – $75,000
$9,502
Over $110,000
$7,464
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$1,75010%percentile
$3,00025%percentile
$10,076Medianpercentile
$14,19675%percentile
$25,87590%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $6,766
↓ $3,310
No Pell $5,500
↓ $4,576
Dependent students $5,500
↓ $4,576
Independent students $9,370
↓ $706
Female students $7,000
↓ $3,076
Male students $5,500
↓ $4,576
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $5,500, less than completers ($10,076), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
26% of full-time students who enrolled at Polk State College graduate within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
26%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
—
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Polk State College earn a median of $40,624 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$40,624
Earning > $25K
66%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$32,900
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$40,700
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $7,800, about 19% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
14.5 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Moderate. Only 69% of graduates are paying down principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Polk State College is home to 7,180 students, a large student community. Some distinctive traits: 51% are first-generation college students, 65% study part-time.
Total Enrolled
7,180
Part-Time
65%
First-Generation
51%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
Hispanic 29.6%2,125
White 27.3%1,960
Black 11.3%813
International 4.4%313
Other 2.8%197
Asian 1.6%114
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Polk State College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Small CityWinter Haven, Florida
Housing
Commuter campusNo on-campus housing
Adult Learners
28%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)
What You Can Study
Polk State College offers
a varied set of programs:
27 distinct programs across
10 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Polk State College is 20:1, on the higher side.
Student : Faculty
20:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$6,619
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$32M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$64,887
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
153 instructional faculty across 1 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
No Rank
153
100%
$64,887
Pros & Cons of Polk State College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Polk State College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Very affordable net price after aid
Low typical debt at graduation
First-gen-friendly student body
Flexible part-time enrollment options
CONS
Larger class sizes than typical
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
Earnings outcomes are on the lower side
No graduate programs offered at this institution
Mostly part-time student body, less full-time campus feel
Best for:
Based on the data, Polk State College is a fit for
families focused on keeping net cost low; working adults or students needing part-time study options.
Frequently Asked Questions about Polk State College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Polk State College.
How much does Polk State College cost?
The average net price after aid at Polk State College is $9,427 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Polk State College worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $40,624 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $9,427 per year. That's roughly 4.3x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Polk State College known for?
Polk State College is best known for its programs in Liberal Arts, Business Administration, Nursing. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Polk State College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Polk State College are $40,624, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Polk State College accredited?
Yes. Polk State College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend Polk State College?
Polk State College enrolls 7,180 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Polk State College?
Polk State College graduates 26% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Polk State College a public or private college?
Polk State College is a Public institution.
Where is Polk State College located?
Polk State College is located in Winter Haven, Florida.
What programs does Polk State College offer?
Polk State College offers 27 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts, Business Administration, Nursing.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Polk State College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Polk State College is 20:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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Free, data-backed guides to help you decide, built on the same federal data as this profile.
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