Polk State College
Polk State College has open admission, so it admits all applicants who meet basic requirements (effectively a 100% acceptance rate). 35% of students graduate within 150% of normal time, per 2024 IPEDS data. In-state tuition and fees are $2,694 and out-of-state tuition and fees are $9,817 (2024). Fall enrollment is 10,318 students, and 14,130 enrolled over the full 12-month year (2024). Source: IPEDS.
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.
Pell equity
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.
Pass / fail distribution
- Passing11 · 21.6%
- No Data39 · 76.5%
- Failing1 · 2.0%
Severity spectrum
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.
Debt vs earnings
Median completer debt against median graduate earnings, highest burden first.
Accreditation status & history
Who accredits the institution, current standing, and any past actions.
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges
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
Negative values mean aid exceeds the published cost of attendance for that income band.
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 · 5-year trend
Loan volume by type · AY 2024–25
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 vs national, by cohort
* 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.
Top program families by completions
Enrollment trends & demographics
Fall headcount, 12-month unduplicated enrollment, and student body composition.
Gender split
Race / ethnicity composition
Athletics & Title IX gender equity
How athletic participation, aid, and spending are split between men and women.
Men vs women · spending splits
Sport-by-sport · 5
Campus safety & crime statistics
Reported on-campus crimes over the last three years, including violence and hate crimes.
3-year trend
Criminal offenses by type
By location
- On campus2
VAWA offenses
Hate crimes by bias
No hate crimes reported.
Arrests vs disciplinary referrals
Residence-hall fires
Student-faculty ratio
Student-to-faculty ratio and instructional staff counts.
Polk State College vs Peer comparison
The peer institutions Polk State College selected for federal comparison reporting.
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 | — | Open admission | 10,318 | $9,427 | Baccalaureate |
Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College | — | Open admission | 6,510 | $11,602 | Community College |
Bluegrass Community and Technical College | — | Open admission | 12,965 | $6,113 | Community College |
Broward College | — | Open admission | 30,728 | $14,506 | Baccalaureate |
Cape Fear Community College | — | Open admission | 14,082 | $9,610 | Community College |
Central Piedmont Community College | — | Open admission | 20,375 | $3,345 | Community College |
Chattanooga State Community College | — | Open admission | 7,623 | $5,283 | Community College |
Delgado Community College | — | Open admission | 12,712 | $9,747 | Community College |
Eastern Florida State College | — | Open admission | 14,053 | $6,440 | Baccalaureate |
Fayetteville Technical Community College | — | Open admission | 11,755 | $3,589 | Community College |
Forsyth Technical Community College | — | Open admission | 9,099 | $7,200 | Community College |
Georgia State University-Perimeter College | — | 90.8% | 17,437 | $11,453 | Community College |
Greenville Technical College | — | Open admission | 11,999 | $11,713 | Community College |
Guilford Technical Community College | — | Open admission | 11,485 | $15,002 | Community College |
Hillsborough Community College | — | Open admission | 21,483 | $3,861 | Community College |
Hinds Community College | — | Open admission | 8,859 | $4,060 | Community College |
J Sargeant Reynolds Community College | — | Open admission | 8,681 | $5,168 | Community College |
Jefferson Community and Technical College | — | Open admission | 13,429 | $6,376 | Community College |
Jefferson State Community College | — | Open admission | 9,240 | $9,086 | Community College |
John C Calhoun State Community College | — | Open admission | 9,119 | $7,660 | Community College |
Midlands Technical College | — | Open admission | 9,226 | $4,647 | Community College |
Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College | — | Open admission | 8,694 | $6,962 | Community College |
Northern Virginia Community College | — | Open admission | 56,457 | $9,919 | Community College |
Northwest Mississippi Community College | — | Open admission | 7,867 | $7,911 | Community College |
Palm Beach State College | — | Open admission | 25,916 | $9,182 | Baccalaureate |
Pellissippi State Community College | — | Open admission | 9,399 | $4,983 | Community College |
Pensacola State College | — | Open admission | 9,491 | $3,957 | Baccalaureate |
Pitt Community College | — | Open admission | 7,684 | $7,337 | Community College |
Santa Fe College | — | Open admission | 12,758 | $11,098 | Baccalaureate |
Seminole State College of Florida | — | Open admission | 15,390 | $8,970 | Baccalaureate |
Southwest Tennessee Community College | — | 100.0% | 7,004 | $4,754 | Community College |
State College of Florida-Manatee-Sarasota | — | Open admission | 8,750 | $22,356 | Baccalaureate |
Tidewater Community College | — | Open admission | 16,884 | $11,762 | Community College |
Trident Technical College | — | Open admission | 13,552 | $1,406 | Community College |
University of Arkansas-Pulaski Technical College | — | Open admission | 4,478 | $14,327 | Community College |
Valencia College | — | Open admission | 47,425 | $12,037 | Baccalaureate |
Virginia Peninsula Community College | — | Open admission | 6,410 | $7,012 | Community College |
Wake Technical Community College | — | Open admission | 24,609 | $8,759 | Community College |
| Peer group median | — | 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 rateOpen admissionEnrollment6,510Net price$11,602 - Community CollegeKentucky
Bluegrass Community and Technical College
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment12,965Net price$6,113 - BaccalaureateFlorida
Broward College
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment30,728Net price$14,506 - Community CollegeNorth Carolina
Cape Fear Community College
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment14,082Net price$9,610 - Community CollegeNorth Carolina
Central Piedmont Community College
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment20,375Net price$3,345 - Community CollegeTennessee
Chattanooga State Community College
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment7,623Net price$5,283 - Community CollegeLouisiana
Delgado Community College
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment12,712Net price$9,747 - BaccalaureateFlorida
Eastern Florida State College
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment14,053Net price$6,440 - Community CollegeNorth Carolina
Fayetteville Technical Community College
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment11,755Net price$3,589 - Community CollegeNorth Carolina
Forsyth Technical Community College
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment9,099Net price$7,200 - Community CollegeGeorgia
Georgia State University-Perimeter College
Grad rate—Admit rate90.8%Enrollment17,437Net price$11,453 - Community CollegeSouth Carolina
Greenville Technical College
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment11,999Net price$11,713 - Community CollegeNorth Carolina
Guilford Technical Community College
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment11,485Net price$15,002 - Community CollegeFlorida
Hillsborough Community College
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment21,483Net price$3,861 - Community CollegeMississippi
Hinds Community College
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment8,859Net price$4,060 - Community CollegeVirginia
J Sargeant Reynolds Community College
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment8,681Net price$5,168 - Community CollegeKentucky
Jefferson Community and Technical College
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment13,429Net price$6,376 - Community CollegeAlabama
Jefferson State Community College
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment9,240Net price$9,086 - Community CollegeAlabama
John C Calhoun State Community College
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment9,119Net price$7,660 - Community CollegeSouth Carolina
Midlands Technical College
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment9,226Net price$4,647 - Community CollegeMississippi
Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment8,694Net price$6,962 - Community CollegeVirginia
Northern Virginia Community College
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment56,457Net price$9,919 - Community CollegeMississippi
Northwest Mississippi Community College
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment7,867Net price$7,911 - BaccalaureateFlorida
Palm Beach State College
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment25,916Net price$9,182 - Community CollegeTennessee
Pellissippi State Community College
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment9,399Net price$4,983 - BaccalaureateFlorida
Pensacola State College
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment9,491Net price$3,957 - Community CollegeNorth Carolina
Pitt Community College
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment7,684Net price$7,337 - BaccalaureateFlorida
Santa Fe College
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment12,758Net price$11,098 - BaccalaureateFlorida
Seminole State College of Florida
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment15,390Net price$8,970 - Community CollegeTennessee
Southwest Tennessee Community College
Grad rate—Admit rate100.0%Enrollment7,004Net price$4,754 - BaccalaureateFlorida
State College of Florida-Manatee-Sarasota
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment8,750Net price$22,356 - Community CollegeVirginia
Tidewater Community College
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment16,884Net price$11,762 - Community CollegeSouth Carolina
Trident Technical College
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment13,552Net price$1,406 - Community CollegeArkansas
University of Arkansas-Pulaski Technical College
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment4,478Net price$14,327 - BaccalaureateFlorida
Valencia College
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment47,425Net price$12,037 - Community CollegeVirginia
Virginia Peninsula Community College
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment6,410Net price$7,012 - Community CollegeNorth Carolina
Wake Technical Community College
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment24,609Net price$8,759
Polk State College Institutional Research office
The IR team responsible for the institution's federal reporting.
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 page- 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
Frequently asked questions about Polk State College
Quick answers to the questions most often asked about Polk State College.
What is the acceptance rate at Polk State College?
What is the graduation rate at Polk State College?
How many students attend Polk State College?
What is the average net price at Polk State College?
Where is Polk State College located?
Who runs Institutional Research at Polk State College?
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.
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