Miami Dade College (MDC) vs Polk State

Miami Dade College and Polk State College, both esteemed institutions of higher learning in Florida, offer diverse educational opportunities to students seeking a quality education. While they share a commitment to academic excellence, these colleges differ in several key aspects. Miami Dade College boasts a higher acceptance rate, welcoming a broader range of students, while Polk State College maintains a more selective admissions process. In terms of popular majors, Miami Dade College excels in the fields of business, health professions, and engineering, whereas Polk State College specializes in programs related to agriculture, education, and public safety. Additionally, the student body demographics vary, with Miami Dade College hosting a more diverse population and Polk State College catering to a predominantly local student base. As for graduation rates, Miami Dade College reports a slightly higher success rate compared to Polk State College. To help you make an informed decision about your educational journey, we have compiled a comprehensive comparison table that delves into these differences and more. Explore the table to discover which college aligns best with your academic
Miami Dade College logo

Miami Dade College

Polk State College logo

Polk State College

Overview

Location Miami, Florida Winter Haven, Florida
Campus setting City: Large City: Small
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Public Public
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate Undergraduate
Students retention rate 67.0%
Common app member Yes No
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate Open Admission Open Admission
Application fees $30
SAT range N/A N/A
ACT range N/A N/A
Students submitting SAT score
Students submitting ACT score
Total number of applicants
Total number of admissions given out
Admitted students who chose to enroll
Yield rate
Test scores (SAT/ACT) Not required
High school GPA N/A N/A
Recommendation letters N/A N/A
High school transcript N/A N/A
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) N/A N/A

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price
In state: $30,052

Out of state: $36,875
In state: $17,401

Out of state: $26,307
Average net price $4,211 $8,227
Tuition
In state: $1,987

Out of state: $7,947
In state: $2,483

Out of state: $9,933
Room & board
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Other alternative tuition plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

92.0%
Average amount $6,698
54.0%
Average amount $5,400
Students receiving federal student loan 2.0%
Average amount $5,125
7.0%
Average amount $4,728
Students taking out private loans 0.0%
Average amount $0
0.0%
Average amount $0

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 44,002
Men 40.7% Women 59.3%
9,044
Men 34.4% Women 65.6%
Graduate students N/A N/A
Racial/ethnic diversity
Low
Moderate
Out-of-state students 0.9% 0.3%
International students 6.2% 1.4%
Campus local/setting City: Large City: Small
Dormitory capacity N/A N/A
First year students are required to live on campus? N/A N/A
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from Florida New York New Jersey California Georgia Florida California Georgia Iowa Mississippi

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Liberal Arts
  • Business
  • Health Professions
  • Law Enforcement and Firefighting
  • Computer and Information Science
  • Liberal Arts
  • Health Professions
  • Business
  • Law Enforcement and Firefighting
  • Education
Students to faculty ratio 18:1 20:1
Institutional accreditation Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

Outcome

Graduation rate 34.7% 33.2%
Dropout rate 52.7% 51.4%
Transferred out 8.8% 11.2%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $55,472
  • Year 2: $55,964
  • Year 3: $66,115
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants (Undergraduate Certificates or Diplomas)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $49,136
  • Year 3: $45,492
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $47,959
  • Year 2: $39,369
  • Year 3: $44,836
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $40,243
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: $39,504
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Undergraduate Certificates or Diplomas)
  • Year 1: $43,063
  • Year 2: $54,435
  • Year 3: $38,626
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $23,150
  • Year 2: $22,217
  • Year 3: $29,518
Film/Video and Photographic Arts (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $13,957
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: N/A
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $31,824
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: N/A
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $73,541
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: N/A
Ophthalmic and Optometric Support Services and Allied Professions (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $37,650
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: N/A
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $65,310
  • Year 2: $70,456
  • Year 3: $68,291
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $57,694
  • Year 2: $53,001
  • Year 3: $52,096
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $39,742
  • Year 2: $48,198
  • Year 3: $49,605
Criminal Justice and Corrections (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $30,427
  • Year 2: $35,274
  • Year 3: $40,565
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $47,233
  • Year 2: $41,007
  • Year 3: $40,265
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $36,616
  • Year 2: $34,660
  • Year 3: $39,777
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $23,837
  • Year 2: $24,035
  • Year 3: $29,385
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $21,337
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: $17,510

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