Palm Beach State vs Polk State

Palm Beach State College and Polk State College, both esteemed institutions of higher learning in Florida, offer diverse educational opportunities to students seeking a transformative college experience. While they share a commitment to academic excellence, these colleges have distinct characteristics that set them apart. Palm Beach State College boasts a higher acceptance rate, welcoming a broader range of students, while Polk State College maintains a slightly more selective admissions process. In terms of student demographics, Palm Beach State College hosts a larger and more diverse student body, reflecting the vibrant cultural tapestry of its surrounding community. Polk State College, on the other hand, has a smaller student population, fostering a close-knit campus environment. Explore the comprehensive comparison table below to delve into further details about these colleges, including popular majors, graduation rates, and other key factors, to help you make an informed decision about your academic journey.
Palm Beach State College logo

Palm Beach State College

Polk State College logo

Polk State College

Overview

Location Lake Worth, Florida Winter Haven, Florida
Campus setting Suburb: 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 No No
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate Open Admission Open Admission
Application fees $40
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: $25,730

Out of state: $33,590
In state: $17,401

Out of state: $26,307
Average net price $9,277 $8,227
Tuition
In state: $3,030

Out of state: $10,890
In state: $2,483

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

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

64.0%
Average amount $6,419
54.0%
Average amount $5,400
Students receiving federal student loan 5.0%
Average amount $3,961
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 24,151
Men 39.1% Women 60.9%
9,044
Men 34.4% Women 65.6%
Graduate students N/A N/A
Racial/ethnic diversity
Moderate
Moderate
Out-of-state students 1.1% 0.3%
International students 0.9% 1.4%
Campus local/setting Suburb: 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 Jersey New York Georgia New Hampshire Florida California Georgia Iowa Mississippi

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Liberal Arts
  • Health Professions
  • Business
  • Law Enforcement and Firefighting
  • Computer and Information Science
  • Liberal Arts
  • Health Professions
  • Business
  • Law Enforcement and Firefighting
  • Education
Students to faculty ratio 27:1 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 41.8% 33.2%
Dropout rate 39.1% 51.4%
Transferred out 14.7% 11.2%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Criminal Justice and Corrections (Undergraduate Certificates or Diplomas)
  • Year 1: $49,515
  • Year 2: $55,770
  • Year 3: $61,389
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $57,782
  • Year 2: $55,151
  • Year 3: $58,990
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $47,528
  • Year 2: $51,273
  • Year 3: $55,899
Fire Protection (Undergraduate Certificates or Diplomas)
  • Year 1: $42,771
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: $50,972
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Undergraduate Certificates or Diplomas)
  • Year 1: $48,009
  • Year 2: $36,132
  • Year 3: $47,292
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $50,421
  • Year 2: $42,682
  • Year 3: $47,091
Precision Metal Working (Undergraduate Certificates or Diplomas)
  • Year 1: $36,340
  • Year 2: $36,674
  • Year 3: $41,715
Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $37,424
  • Year 3: $40,054
Legal Support Services (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $37,424
  • Year 2: $38,829
  • Year 3: $39,824
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $35,331
  • Year 2: $36,039
  • Year 3: $39,594
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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