State College of Florida vs Polk State

Envision yourself pursuing higher education in Florida, torn between two esteemed institutions: State College of Florida-Manatee-Sarasota (SCF) and Polk State College (PSC). While both colleges offer a wealth of opportunities, they possess distinct characteristics that may influence your decision. SCF boasts a higher acceptance rate, welcoming a broader range of students, while PSC maintains a slightly more selective admissions process. Explore the diverse academic offerings at each college, with SCF excelling in programs like nursing, business, and education, and PSC showcasing strengths in fields such as engineering, computer science, and health sciences. Discover the vibrant student life and supportive learning environments at both institutions, catering to a diverse mix of learners. Compare the graduation rates, tuition fees, and available financial aid packages to make an informed choice. Delve into the comparison table to uncover further details and determine which college aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.

	Polk State College	State College of Florida-Manatee-Sarasota
Overview
Location	Winter Haven, Florida	Bradenton, Florida
Campus setting	City: Small	Suburb: Large
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		$20
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: $17,401 Out of state: $26,307	In state: $28,769 Out of state: $37,290
Average net price	$8,227	$12,485
Tuition	In state: $2,483 Out of state: $9,933	$2,365
Room & board
Available payment plans	Tuition payment plan	Prepaid tuition plan Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid
Students receiving financial aid (Grants & scholarships)	54.0% Average amount $5,400	76.0% Average amount $5,190
Students receiving federal student loan	7.0% Average amount $4,728	9.0% Average amount $4,133
Students taking out private loans	0.0% Average amount $0	0.0% Average amount $10,620

Students and Campus
Undergraduate students	9,044 Men 34.4% Women 65.6%	8,424 Men 36.5% Women 63.5%
Graduate students	N/A	N/A
Racial/ethnic diversity	Moderate	Low
Out-of-state students	0.3%	0.1%
International students	1.4%	2.0%
Campus local/setting	City: Small	Suburb: Large
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 California Georgia Iowa Mississippi	Florida North Carolina

Academics
Popular study areas	Liberal Arts Health Professions Business Law Enforcement and Firefighting Education	Liberal Arts Health Professions Business Computer and Information Science Law Enforcement and Firefighting
Students to faculty ratio	20:1	21:1
Institutional accreditation	Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges	Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

Outcome
Graduation rate	33.2%	40.3%
Dropout rate	51.4%	46.6%
Transferred out	11.2%	10.0%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)	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	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate's Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: $63,005 Year 3: $68,886 Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $73,935 Year 2: $60,252 Year 3: $63,498 Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services (Associate's Degrees) Year 1: $42,008 Year 2: $38,289 Year 3: $36,621 Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (Associate's Degrees) Year 1: $23,032 Year 2: $23,745 Year 3: $29,285 Health and Medical Administrative Services (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: $35,600 Year 3: N/A

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