Pensacola State vs Polk State

Pensacola State College and Polk State College, both esteemed institutions of higher learning in Florida, offer unique educational experiences tailored to diverse student aspirations. While they share a commitment to academic excellence, they differ in several key aspects. Pensacola State boasts a higher acceptance rate, welcoming a broader range of students, while Polk State maintains a slightly more selective admissions process. In terms of academic offerings, Pensacola State excels in programs like nursing, engineering, and business, whereas Polk State shines in fields such as health sciences, education, and public safety. Their student bodies reflect these distinctions, with Pensacola State attracting a larger international student population and Polk State catering to a higher proportion of first-generation college students. When it comes to graduation rates, Polk State holds a slight edge, indicating its effectiveness in supporting students to successful degree completion. Explore the comprehensive comparison table below to delve deeper into these differences and discover which college aligns best with your academic goals and personal preferences.
Pensacola State College logo

Pensacola State College

Polk State College logo

Polk State College

Overview

Location Pensacola, Florida Winter Haven, Florida
Campus setting City: Small 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 $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: $13,987

Out of state: $21,102
In state: $17,401

Out of state: $26,307
Average net price $3,464 $8,227
Tuition
In state: $1,890

Out of state: $7,558
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)

68.0%
Average amount $6,027
54.0%
Average amount $5,400
Students receiving federal student loan 4.0%
Average amount $3,430
7.0%
Average amount $4,728
Students taking out private loans 2.0%
Average amount $715
0.0%
Average amount $0

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 8,604
Men 33.7% Women 66.3%
9,044
Men 34.4% Women 65.6%
Graduate students N/A N/A
Racial/ethnic diversity
Low
Moderate
Out-of-state students 5.9% 0.3%
International students 1.5% 1.4%
Campus local/setting City: Small 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 Alabama Texas Virginia Georgia Florida California Georgia Iowa Mississippi

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Liberal Arts
  • Health Professions
  • Business
  • Computer and Information Science
  • Culinary and Personal Services
  • Liberal Arts
  • Health Professions
  • Business
  • Law Enforcement and Firefighting
  • Education
Students to faculty ratio 22:1 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 36.7% 33.2%
Dropout rate 49.8% 51.4%
Transferred out 11.1% 11.2%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $52,065
  • Year 2: $50,981
  • Year 3: $53,342
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $34,851
  • Year 2: $34,847
  • Year 3: $45,157
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants (Undergraduate Certificates or Diplomas)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $31,133
  • Year 3: $40,605
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $32,801
  • Year 2: $34,348
  • Year 3: $40,594
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $41,671
  • Year 2: $38,289
  • Year 3: $40,211
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Undergraduate Certificates or Diplomas)
  • Year 1: $39,099
  • Year 2: $34,704
  • Year 3: $39,541
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $33,068
  • Year 2: $41,342
  • Year 3: $38,335
Precision Metal Working (Undergraduate Certificates or Diplomas)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $28,055
  • Year 3: $31,600
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions (Undergraduate Certificates or Diplomas)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $26,585
  • Year 3: $25,748
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $21,460
  • Year 2: $21,693
  • Year 3: $24,422
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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