About
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.
Graduation rate & outcomes
Completion, retention, and the equity gap between Pell and non-Pell students.
Overall completion
35%
Overall completion
35%
Pell equity
9.3pp gap
Pell recipients
31%137 of 438
Non-Pell (all)
40%145 of 360
No Federal Aid
40%145 of 360
Non-Pell students graduate at a 9.3-point higher rate than Pell recipients.
Source: IPEDS Graduation Rates (GR) — Pell/SSL cohort, 2024 cohort.
Program outcomes
Federal Program Performance Data: how each program's graduate earnings and debt measure up under Financial Value Transparency and Gainful Employment.
Of 51 Title IV programs, 11 pass the federal Gainful Employment test and 1 fails. 39 have graduate earnings too small to publish, so they carry no pass/fail verdict.
Total programs
51
Passing
11
21.6% of portfolio
Failing (GE)
1
2.0% of portfolio
Fail rate
2.0%
+1.4pp vs 0.6% national
Pass / fail distribution
51programs
- Passing11 · 21.6%
- No Data39 · 76.5%
- Failing1 · 2.0%
Severity spectrum
Critical
0
Severe
1
Recoverable
0
At Risk
0
Watch
0
Safe
11
No data
39
Tiers band programs by how far graduate earnings sit above or below the benchmark, from Critical (below −15%) through Safe (above +25%). No data means earnings were privacy-suppressed.
Earnings premium gap
Graduate earnings versus the federal benchmark, worst gaps first.
Program
Typical
Benchmark
EP gap
Human Development Family Studies and Related Services
Associate Degree · Family And Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences
$28,739
$32,488
Same-State HS Median
-11.5%
−$3,749
Human Development Family Studies and Related Services
Associate Degree · Family And Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences
-11.5%
$28,739 vs $32,488
Computer Software and Media Applications
Associate Degree · Computer And Information Sciences And Support Services
$41,443
$32,488
Same-State HS Median
+27.6%
+$8,955
Computer Software and Media Applications
Associate Degree · Computer And Information Sciences And Support Services
+27.6%
$41,443 vs $32,488
Liberal Arts and Sciences General Studies and Humanities
Associate Degree · Liberal Arts And Sciences, General Studies And Humanities
$43,940
$32,488
Same-State HS Median
+35.2%
+$11,452
Liberal Arts and Sciences General Studies and Humanities
Associate Degree · Liberal Arts And Sciences, General Studies And Humanities
+35.2%
$43,940 vs $32,488
Criminal Justice and Corrections
Associate Degree · Security And Protective Services
$48,056
$32,488
Same-State HS Median
+47.9%
+$15,568
Criminal Justice and Corrections
Associate Degree · Security And Protective Services
+47.9%
$48,056 vs $32,488
Business Administration Management and Operations
Bachelor Degree · Business, Management, Marketing, And Related Support Services
$52,404
$32,488
Same-State HS Median
+61.3%
+$19,916
Business Administration Management and Operations
Bachelor Degree · Business, Management, Marketing, And Related Support Services
+61.3%
$52,404 vs $32,488
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services
Associate Degree · Health Professions And Related Clinical Sciences
$53,932
$32,488
Same-State HS Median
+66.0%
+$21,444
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services
Associate Degree · Health Professions And Related Clinical Sciences
+66.0%
$53,932 vs $32,488
Business Administration Management and Operations
Associate Degree · Business, Management, Marketing, And Related Support Services
$54,431
$32,488
Same-State HS Median
+67.5%
+$21,943
Business Administration Management and Operations
Associate Degree · Business, Management, Marketing, And Related Support Services
+67.5%
$54,431 vs $32,488
Criminal Justice and Corrections
Bachelor Degree · Security And Protective Services
$55,634
$32,488
Same-State HS Median
+71.2%
+$23,146
Criminal Justice and Corrections
Bachelor Degree · Security And Protective Services
+71.2%
$55,634 vs $32,488
Debt vs earnings
Median completer debt against median graduate earnings, highest burden first.
Program
Median debt
Median earnings
Debt burden
Business Administration Management and Operations
Bachelor Degree · Business, Management, Marketing, And Related Support Services
$18,250
$52,404
35%
Business Administration Management and Operations
Bachelor Degree · Business, Management, Marketing, And Related Support Services
$18,250 debt · $52,404 earn
Criminal Justice and Corrections
Bachelor Degree · Security And Protective Services
$15,227
$55,634
27%
Criminal Justice and Corrections
Bachelor Degree · Security And Protective Services
$15,227 debt · $55,634 earn
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services
Associate Degree · Health Professions And Related Clinical Sciences
$13,094
$53,932
24%
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services
Associate Degree · Health Professions And Related Clinical Sciences
$13,094 debt · $53,932 earn
Registered Nursing Nursing Administration Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
Bachelor Degree · Health Professions And Related Clinical Sciences
$19,444
$94,269
21%
Registered Nursing Nursing Administration Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
Bachelor Degree · Health Professions And Related Clinical Sciences
$19,444 debt · $94,269 earn
Allied Health Diagnostic Intervention and Treatment Professions
Associate Degree · Health Professions And Related Clinical Sciences
$13,359
$69,815
19%
Allied Health Diagnostic Intervention and Treatment Professions
Associate Degree · Health Professions And Related Clinical Sciences
$13,359 debt · $69,815 earn
Liberal Arts and Sciences General Studies and Humanities
Associate Degree · Liberal Arts And Sciences, General Studies And Humanities
$6,592
$43,940
15%
Liberal Arts and Sciences General Studies and Humanities
Associate Degree · Liberal Arts And Sciences, General Studies And Humanities
$6,592 debt · $43,940 earn
Registered Nursing Nursing Administration Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
Associate Degree · Health Professions And Related Clinical Sciences
$11,000
$79,660
14%
Registered Nursing Nursing Administration Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
Associate Degree · Health Professions And Related Clinical Sciences
$11,000 debt · $79,660 earn
Air Transportation
Associate Degree · Transportation And Materials Moving
$5,500
$83,657
7%
Air Transportation
Associate Degree · Transportation And Materials Moving
$5,500 debt · $83,657 earn
Accreditation status & history
Who accredits the institution, current standing, and any past actions.
AccreditedInstitutional accreditor
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges
Accredited since 1967Next review Dec 2026
Programmatic accreditations · 6
Action history · 12
- Aug 2025Renewal of AccreditationAmerican Occupational Therapy Association, Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education · Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) - Programs leading to an associate degree
- Oct 2023Accreditation Reaffirmed: Probation RemovedAmerican Physical Therapy Association, Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education · Physical Therapy (PTA) - Programs for the physical therapist assistant
- May 2023Grant Substantive Change: ProgramSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges
- Oct 2022Loss of Accreditation or Preaccreditation: DenialAmerican Physical Therapy Association, Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education · Physical Therapy (PTA) - Programs for the physical therapist assistant
- Nov 2021Probation or Equivalent or a More Severe Status: Show CauseAmerican Physical Therapy Association, Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education · Physical Therapy (PTA) - Programs for the physical therapist assistant
Tuition & cost
What families actually pay, broken down by family income.
Net price by family income
Aid exceeds costFamily pays
$75–110k—
Negative values mean aid exceeds the published cost of attendance for that income band.
Avg net price
$9,427
+$1,642vs Baccalaureate median $7,786
Federal loans
6.5%
In-state tuition
$2,694
Out-of-state
$9,817
Federal aid volume & trends
Pell grants and federal Direct Loan volume disbursed to students, and how they've trended.
In AY 2024–25, 4,510 students received $19.7M in Pell grants, alongside $6.3M in federal Direct Loans.
Pell recipients
4,510
AY 2024–25
Pell disbursed
$19.7M
$19,683,527 total
Direct Loans
$6.3M
1,646 loan awards
Pell recipients · 5-year trend
4k’20
4k’21
4k’22
4k’23
5k’24
Loan volume by type · AY 2024–25
Subsidized$2.7M
835 loan awards
Unsubsidized · UG$3.5M
805 loan awards
Parent PLUS$30K
6 loan awards
Loan awards count each loan type a student holds, not unique borrowers; one student may carry several (e.g. subsidized and unsubsidized), so the per-type figures are the reliable detail.
Student loan default rate
The share of student borrowers who default on federal loans within three years, against the national benchmark.
Of 944 borrowers who entered repayment, 37 (3.9%) defaulted within three years — above the 2.3% national rate.
Default rate
3.9%
+1.6pp vs 2.3% national
Borrowers in repayment
944
Defaulted
37
Measurement window
3 years
Federal CDR standard
Default rate vs national, by cohort
2016
10.1%+0.8
2017
11.2%+2.0
2018
10.1%+3.1
2019
3.9%+1.6
2020*
0.0%
This institutionNational rate
* Cohorts 2020 and later read near 0% because the federal COVID-19 payment pause (CARES Act) suspended defaults nationwide. These years reflect a national policy, not institutional performance; the 2019 cohort is the last measured under normal repayment.
Academic programs at Polk State College
Top program areas ranked by completions.
Distinct CIP programs51
UndergraduateOffered
GraduateOffered
Top program families by completions
1,393 total completions
01Liberal Arts
76254.7%
01Liberal Arts
76254.7%
02Health Professions
25017.9%
02Health Professions
25017.9%
03Business
20114.4%
03Business
20114.4%
04Security/Protective
664.7%
04Security/Protective
664.7%
05Education
402.9%
05Education
402.9%
06Computer Sciences
292.1%
06Computer Sciences
292.1%
07Transportation
261.9%
07Transportation
261.9%
08Family/Consumer Sci
110.8%
08Family/Consumer Sci
110.8%
09Engineering Tech
70.5%
09Engineering Tech
70.5%
10Mechanic
10.1%
10Mechanic
10.1%
Enrollment trends & demographics
Fall headcount, 12-month unduplicated enrollment, and student body composition.
Fall total
10,318
12-mo unduplicated
14,130
Undergraduate
14,130
Graduate
0
Gender split
Men
37%5,211
Women
63%8,919
Race / ethnicity composition
Hispanic
29.6%
White
27.3%
Unknown
23.1%
Black
11.3%
Non-resident
4.4%
Two or more
2.5%
Asian
1.6%
American Indian / Alaska Native
0.1%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander
0.1%
Athletics & Title IX gender equity
How athletic participation, aid, and spending are split between men and women.
Athletes
93
36 M · 57 W
Women athletes
61.3%
Athletic aid
$637K
Total student aid
Budget
$1.4M
Total expenses
Men vs women · spending splits
Athletic student aid
$253K
$384K
Recruiting expense
$2K
$2K
Head-coach salaries
$66K
$58K
Men Women
Sport-by-sport · 5
Sport
Men
Women
Expenses
Soccer
—
27
$268,860
Soccer
— · 27 W
Baseball
24
—
$311,272
Baseball
24 M · —
Softball
—
20
$221,349
Softball
— · 20 W
Basketball
12
—
$273,673
Basketball
12 M · —
Volleyball
—
10
$218,836
Volleyball
— · 10 W
Campus safety & crime statistics
Reported on-campus crimes over the last three years, including violence and hate crimes.
Criminal offenses · per 1,000 students
0.25
2 offenses · 7,963 students
3-year trend
0.002 yrs ago0.001 yr ago0.25Latest
Offenses · 3-yr
2
Last three years
VAWA · 3-yr
1
DV, dating, stalking
Hate crimes · 3-yr
0
Res-hall fires · 3-yr
0
Criminal offenses by type
Burglary
1
Motor vehicle theft
1
By location
2total
- On campus2
VAWA offenses
1
Domestic violence
0
Dating violence
0
Stalking
1 total under the Violence Against Women Act.
Hate crimes by bias
No hate crimes reported.
Arrests vs disciplinary referrals
CategoryArrestsReferrals
Weapons00
Drugs00
Liquor00
Residence-hall fires
No residence-hall fires reported.
Student-faculty ratio
Student-to-faculty ratio and instructional staff counts.
Student-to-faculty
19.0:1
Instructional staff (full-time equivalent)
158
Polk State College vs Peer comparison
The peer institutions Polk State College selected for federal comparison reporting.
This institutionPeer median
A larger shape on any axis means this institution outperforms its peers on that dimension. For acceptance rate and net price, lower raw values are inverted so "more selective" and "more affordable" appear larger.
| Carnegie | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SubjectPolk State College | 35% | — | 10,318 | $9,427 | Baccalaureate |
| — | — | 6,510 | $11,602 | Community College | |
| — | — | 12,965 | $6,113 | Community College | |
| — | — | 30,728 | $14,506 | Baccalaureate | |
| — | — | 14,082 | $9,610 | Community College | |
| — | — | 20,375 | $3,345 | Community College | |
| — | — | 7,623 | $5,283 | Community College | |
| — | — | 12,712 | $9,747 | Community College | |
| — | — | 14,053 | $6,440 | Baccalaureate | |
| — | — | 11,755 | $3,589 | Community College | |
| — | — | 9,099 | $7,200 | Community College | |
| — | 90.8% | 17,437 | $11,453 | Community College | |
| — | — | 11,999 | $11,713 | Community College | |
| — | — | 11,485 | $15,002 | Community College | |
| — | — | 21,483 | $3,861 | Community College | |
| — | — | 8,859 | $4,060 | Community College | |
| — | — | 8,681 | $5,168 | Community College | |
| — | — | 13,429 | $6,376 | Community College | |
| — | — | 9,240 | $9,086 | Community College | |
| — | — | 9,119 | $7,660 | Community College | |
| — | — | 9,226 | $4,647 | Community College | |
| — | — | 8,694 | $6,962 | Community College | |
| — | — | 56,457 | $9,919 | Community College | |
| — | — | 7,867 | $7,911 | Community College | |
| — | — | 25,916 | $9,182 | Baccalaureate | |
| — | — | 9,399 | $4,983 | Community College | |
| — | — | 9,491 | $3,957 | Baccalaureate | |
| — | — | 7,684 | $7,337 | Community College | |
| — | — | 12,758 | $11,098 | Baccalaureate | |
| — | — | 15,390 | $8,970 | Baccalaureate | |
| — | 100.0% | 7,004 | $4,754 | Community College | |
| — | — | 8,750 | $22,356 | Baccalaureate | |
| — | — | 16,884 | $11,762 | Community College | |
| — | — | 13,552 | $1,406 | Community College | |
| — | — | 4,478 | $14,327 | Community College | |
| — | — | 47,425 | $12,037 | Baccalaureate | |
| — | — | 6,410 | $7,012 | Community College | |
| — | — | 24,609 | $8,759 | Community College | |
| Peer group median | 35% | 95.4% | 11,620 | $7,786 |
Institutions like Polk State College
Explore the federal data for institutions in Polk State College's comparison group.
- Community CollegeNorth Carolina
Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College
Grad rate—Admit rate—Enrollment6,510Net price$11,602View data - Community CollegeKentucky
Bluegrass Community and Technical College
Grad rate—Admit rate—Enrollment12,965Net price$6,113View data - BaccalaureateFlorida
Broward College
Grad rate—Admit rate—Enrollment30,728Net price$14,506View data - Community CollegeNorth Carolina
Cape Fear Community College
Grad rate—Admit rate—Enrollment14,082Net price$9,610View data - Community CollegeNorth Carolina
Central Piedmont Community College
Grad rate—Admit rate—Enrollment20,375Net price$3,345View data - Community CollegeTennessee
Chattanooga State Community College
Grad rate—Admit rate—Enrollment7,623Net price$5,283View data - Community CollegeLouisiana
Delgado Community College
Grad rate—Admit rate—Enrollment12,712Net price$9,747View data - BaccalaureateFlorida
Eastern Florida State College
Grad rate—Admit rate—Enrollment14,053Net price$6,440View data - Community CollegeNorth Carolina
Fayetteville Technical Community College
Grad rate—Admit rate—Enrollment11,755Net price$3,589View data - Community CollegeNorth Carolina
Forsyth Technical Community College
Grad rate—Admit rate—Enrollment9,099Net price$7,200View data - Community CollegeGeorgia
Georgia State University-Perimeter College
Grad rate—Admit rate90.8%Enrollment17,437Net price$11,453View data - Community CollegeSouth Carolina
Greenville Technical College
Grad rate—Admit rate—Enrollment11,999Net price$11,713View data - Community CollegeNorth Carolina
Guilford Technical Community College
Grad rate—Admit rate—Enrollment11,485Net price$15,002View data - Community CollegeFlorida
Hillsborough Community College
Grad rate—Admit rate—Enrollment21,483Net price$3,861View data - Community CollegeMississippi
Hinds Community College
Grad rate—Admit rate—Enrollment8,859Net price$4,060View data - Community CollegeVirginia
J Sargeant Reynolds Community College
Grad rate—Admit rate—Enrollment8,681Net price$5,168View data - Community CollegeKentucky
Jefferson Community and Technical College
Grad rate—Admit rate—Enrollment13,429Net price$6,376View data - Community CollegeAlabama
Jefferson State Community College
Grad rate—Admit rate—Enrollment9,240Net price$9,086View data - Community CollegeAlabama
John C Calhoun State Community College
Grad rate—Admit rate—Enrollment9,119Net price$7,660View data - Community CollegeSouth Carolina
Midlands Technical College
Grad rate—Admit rate—Enrollment9,226Net price$4,647View data - Community CollegeMississippi
Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College
Grad rate—Admit rate—Enrollment8,694Net price$6,962View data - Community CollegeVirginia
Northern Virginia Community College
Grad rate—Admit rate—Enrollment56,457Net price$9,919View data - Community CollegeMississippi
Northwest Mississippi Community College
Grad rate—Admit rate—Enrollment7,867Net price$7,911View data - BaccalaureateFlorida
Palm Beach State College
Grad rate—Admit rate—Enrollment25,916Net price$9,182View data - Community CollegeTennessee
Pellissippi State Community College
Grad rate—Admit rate—Enrollment9,399Net price$4,983View data - BaccalaureateFlorida
Pensacola State College
Grad rate—Admit rate—Enrollment9,491Net price$3,957View data - Community CollegeNorth Carolina
Pitt Community College
Grad rate—Admit rate—Enrollment7,684Net price$7,337View data - BaccalaureateFlorida
Santa Fe College
Grad rate—Admit rate—Enrollment12,758Net price$11,098View data - BaccalaureateFlorida
Seminole State College of Florida
Grad rate—Admit rate—Enrollment15,390Net price$8,970View data - Community CollegeTennessee
Southwest Tennessee Community College
Grad rate—Admit rate100.0%Enrollment7,004Net price$4,754View data - BaccalaureateFlorida
State College of Florida-Manatee-Sarasota
Grad rate—Admit rate—Enrollment8,750Net price$22,356View data - Community CollegeVirginia
Tidewater Community College
Grad rate—Admit rate—Enrollment16,884Net price$11,762View data - Community CollegeSouth Carolina
Trident Technical College
Grad rate—Admit rate—Enrollment13,552Net price$1,406View data - Community CollegeArkansas
University of Arkansas-Pulaski Technical College
Grad rate—Admit rate—Enrollment4,478Net price$14,327View data - BaccalaureateFlorida
Valencia College
Grad rate—Admit rate—Enrollment47,425Net price$12,037View data - Community CollegeVirginia
Virginia Peninsula Community College
Grad rate—Admit rate—Enrollment6,410Net price$7,012View data - Community CollegeNorth Carolina
Wake Technical Community College
Grad rate—Admit rate—Enrollment24,609Net price$8,759View data
Polk State College Institutional Research office
The IR team responsible for the institution's federal reporting.
Office
Office of Institutional Research
Reports to Institutional Effectiveness, Accreditation and Research
Phone
(863) 297-1000
Address
Winter Haven Campus, Administration Building (WAD) corridor
The office coordinates data submissions for external reporting, publishes data in the annual FactBook, and provides various college and higher education data to support decision-making at the institution.
Visit IR office pageTeam
10 members
- Mary ClarkVice President, Institutional Effectiveness, Accreditation and Research
- Vijay BomminiResearch Specialist
- Daniel BraunResearch Specialist
- Erin MartinezDirector of Grants Development and Administration
- Natasha MohamedGrants Coordinator
- Alby ReyesAdministrative Assistant III
- Gregory RogersDirector
- Mary Ellen SchmittGrant Writer
- Gary SmithAssessment Specialist
- Elizabeth WemlingerDirector
Reports & documents (2)
Dashboards, factbooks, data dictionaries, and other reference material published by the IR office.
- DFR reportIPEDS Data Feedback Report 20242024nces.ed.gov
- Strategic planPolk State College Strategic Plan 2023-20282023Polk State College's Strategic Plan for 2023-2028 focuses on strengthening student success through innovative academic and support programs. It aims to align graduate skills with labor market needs, while also enhancing institutional resources and regional engagement. The plan further commits to transformational change by prioritizing operational excellence, accountability, and continuous improvement.polk.edu
Notable alumni of Polk State College (16)
A curated list of alumni recognized for notable achievements across industries.
- Frank Attkisson
- Mark Brisker
- TC Clements
- Neil Combee
- Destin Damachoua
- Shaheed Davis
- Robert GilchristAthletics
- Denise Grimsley
- Kenny Howes
- Lance Jeter
- Grady Judd
- Dominick Nelson
Showing 1–12 of 16
1 / 2
Frequently asked questions about Polk State College
Quick answers to the questions most often asked about Polk State College.
What is the graduation rate at Polk State College?
Polk State College reports a 6-year graduation rate of 35% per the latest IPEDS.
How many students attend Polk State College?
Polk State College reports a total enrollment of 10,318 students per the latest IPEDS.
What is the average net price at Polk State College?
The average net price at Polk State College is $9,427 per the latest College Scorecard. Net price is the published cost of attendance minus grant aid.
Where is Polk State College located?
Polk State College is located in Winter Haven, Florida 33881-4299.
Who runs Institutional Research at Polk State College?
Polk State College's IR work is done by the Office of Institutional Research, which reports to Institutional Effectiveness, Accreditation and Research.
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
IPEDS2025 provisional data (Fall 2025–26 release, July 28, 2026)
Enrollment, completions, graduation rates, tuition, financial aid, staffing, and finance for every U.S. institution in federal student aid programs.
College ScorecardJune 10, 2026 release (merged 2025–26 files)
Institution and field-of-study costs, graduate earnings, debt, completion, and admissions outcomes compiled from federal aid records, tax data, and IPEDS.
FVT/GE program performanceProvisional preview, May 18, 2026 release
Program-level debt-to-earnings and earnings-premium measures behind the FVT/GE and STATS accountability frameworks.
DAPIP accreditationContinuously refreshed
Accreditation status for institutions and programs, reported by recognized accrediting agencies.
Federal Pell Grant volumeAY 2025–26 (through Q3), through March 31, 2026
Pell Grant recipient counts, award amounts, and disbursements by institution and award year.
Federal student loan volumeAY 2025–26 (through Q3), through March 31, 2026
Federal Direct Loan recipient counts and disbursement volume by institution and award year.
Cohort Default RatesFY 2022 official rates
Institution-level federal student loan default rates, measuring borrowers who default within three years of entering repayment.
Equity in Athletics (EADA)Academic year 2024–25
Athletics participation, coaching, revenues, and expenses by sport and gender for Title IV institutions.
Campus Safety & SecurityData through reporting year 2024
Criminal offenses, arrests, disciplinary actions, VAWA offenses, and fire statistics reported by campus under the Clery Act.
Last reviewed July 2026All data sources & release dates →
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