Polk State College
Polk State College is a public college or university in Winter Haven, FL, with about 39 programs reporting completions in the federal extract used on this page. It reports a completion rate of about 35.34% for the cohort window published by the Education Department—one yardstick, not the whole story of student success.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $2,694
- 2024 Average Net Price: $9,427 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: N/A Moderate Selectivity
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 7,180 34.7% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 35.34%
Polk State College: what the data shows
Common questions about Polk State College, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is Polk State College?
Polk State College is located in Winter Haven, FL (ZIP 33881-4299).
NCES locale classification: Town.
Is Polk State College public or private?
Polk State College is a Public institution.
How much does Polk State College cost?
Published tuition: $2,694 in-state, $9,817 out-of-state.
Average net price after aid: $9,427.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $9,446 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $9,203 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $9,502 |
| $110,001+ | $7,464 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $10,776.
How big is Polk State College?
Total enrollment: 7,180 students.
About 35% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at Polk State College?
150%-time completion rate: 35.34%.
What do graduates of Polk State College earn?
Median earnings: $35,602 six years after entry; $40,624 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $10,076.
31.73% of students receive Pell grants.
What is Polk State College known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Other/Unknown Programs (1,854 completions)
- Liberal Arts & Sciences (794 completions)
- Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, & Nursing Research (202 completions)
- CIP 520299 (192 completions)
- Criminal Justice - Police Science (138 completions)
- CIP 520201 (58 completions)
- CIP 430102 (57 completions)
- CIP 510904 (42 completions)
- Criminal Justice & Corrections (32 completions)
- Criminal Justice - Law Enforcement Administration (32 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is Polk State College a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show completion rate 35.34%; median earnings $40,624 at 10 years; net price $9,427. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Costs
Tuition Costs
$2,694
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at Polk State College was $2,694.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$9,427
2024 Value
In 2024 Polk State College had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $9,427.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$37,708 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$9,427 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$10,776 4-Year In-State Tuition
$39,268 4-Year Out-of-State Tuition
Costs include tuition and fees. Room & board, books, and other expenses are additional.
4-year total cost breakdown for Polk State College.
Financial Aid by Income Level
31.73% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
6.48% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Polk State College was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Polk State College in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $3,366 | $12,272 | $9,259 |
| 2014 | $3,366 | $12,272 | $9,216 |
| 2015 | $3,366 | $12,271 | $8,912 |
| 2016 | $3,366 | $12,272 | $8,769 |
| 2017 | $3,366 | $12,272 | $8,489 |
| 2018 | $3,366 | $12,272 | $7,327 |
| 2019 | $3,366 | $12,272 | $9,740 |
| 2020 | $3,366 | $12,272 | $8,722 |
| 2021 | $3,366 | $12,272 | $7,994 |
| 2022 | $3,366 | $12,272 | $9,107 |
| 2023 | $3,366 | $12,272 | $9,027 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
Admissions
Acceptance Rate
Acceptance rate data is not available for this institution.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
Test score data is not available for this institution.
Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.
Academic Requirements
GPA requirements are not published by this institution. Contact the admissions office for specific academic requirements.
Estimated GPA and test score ranges.
Enrollment
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
34.7% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Polk State College in 2024 is 7,180 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
N/A%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
0.00% 100% Completion Time
35.34% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 0.00% of students graduating from Polk State College completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
ROI & Programs
Financial value and program information for Polk State College.
Return on Investment
$10,076 Median Student Debt
$40,624 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
24.80% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
977.33% Return on Investment
2.5 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for Polk State College.
Top Programs by Completions
10 Programs Reporting Data
Liberal Arts & Sciences: 794 completions
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, & Nursing Research: 202 completions
CIP 52.0299: 192 completions
Criminal Justice - Police Science: 138 completions
CIP 52.0201: 58 completions
CIP 43.0102: 57 completions
CIP 51.0904: 42 completions
Criminal Justice & Corrections: 32 completions
Criminal Justice - Law Enforcement Administration: 32 completions
Other/Unknown Programs: 1,854 completions
Most popular programs at Polk State College.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for Polk State College graduates.
About
Polk State College is a public institution located in Winter Haven, FL, offering 39 distinct degree programs across various academic disciplines. The institution enrolls approximately 7,180 students. The institution maintains a 35.34% graduation rate. Approximately 31.73% of students receive Pell Grants.
Institution Type
Public
Location
Winter Haven, FL 33881-4299
Region: Southeast
Insights and Analysis
Graduation Rate Considerations: The 35.34% graduation rate at Polk State College falls below the national average. Prospective students should carefully consider factors such as academic preparation, support services, and career outcomes when evaluating this institution.
FAQ
How much does Polk State College cost?
Reported in-state tuition is $2,694 and average net price is $9,427 in the latest College Scorecard data.
What do graduates of Polk State College earn?
Median earnings are $35,602 six years after entry and $40,624 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Polk State College?
The 150%-time completion rate is 35.3% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Polk State College students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $10,076.
How big is Polk State College?
Total enrollment is about 7,180 students in the latest reporting year.
Is Polk State College public or private?
Polk State College is a public institution located in Winter Haven, FL.
Is Polk State College an HBCU?
No. Polk State College is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is Polk State College a tribal college?
No. Polk State College is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Is Polk State College a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI)?
By the common federal eligibility proxy used here (≥25% Hispanic enrollment in College Scorecard), yes—Polk State College reports 29.6% Hispanic enrollment share.
Is Polk State College religiously affiliated?
No religious affiliation is reported for Polk State College in IPEDS institutional characteristics.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.