Polk State College
- Polk State College, established in 1964, has campuses and centers in every corner of Polk County, including Winter Haven, Lakeland, Bartow, and Lake Wales. Each year, the College serves more than 16,000 students. Degree offerings include the Bachelor of Applied Science, Bachelor of Science, Associate in Arts, and Associate in Science. Additionally, the College offers a wide range of certificate and workforce training options. The College also operates three charter high schools. The advantages of attending Polk State include small class sizes, flexible class schedules and online options, affordable tuition, excellent financial aid, vibrant student life opportunities, and intercollegiate athletics.
School Highlights
- Polk State College serves 16,000 students (25% of students are full-time).
- The college's student:teacher ratio of 18:1 is lower than the state community college average of 38:1.
- Minority enrollment is 50% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the state average of 31%.
- Polk State College is one of 2 community colleges within Polk County, FL.
- The nearest community college to Polk State College is Everest University-Lakeland (14.3 miles away).
Top Placements
Polk State College places among the top 20% of community colleges in Florida for:
- Category Attribute
- Community Size Largest student body
School Overview
- The teacher population of 900 teachers has stayed relatively flat over five years.
| Polk State College | (FL) Community College Avg. | |
| Carnegie Classification | Baccalaureate / Associates Colleges | Baccalaureate / Associates Colleges |
| Institution Level | At least 2 yrs but < 4 yrs | Four or more years |
| Institution Control | Public | Private, non-profit |
| Total Faculty | 900 staff | 37 staff |
| Total Enrollment | 16,000 students | 1,142 students |
 | ||
| Student : Teacher Ratio | 18:1 | 38:1 |
| # Full-Time Students | 4,000 students | 487 students |
| # Part-Time Students | 12,000 students | 655 students |
 |  | |
| % Asian | - | 2% |
| % Hispanic | 22% | 24% |
| % Black | 17% | 17% |
| % White | 50% | 69% |
| % Two or more races | - | 2% |
| % Non Resident races | - | 2% |
| % Unknown races | 11% | - |
 |  | |
| Diversity Score | 0.65 | 0.60 |
 | ||
| College Completion Rate | 31% | 52% |
| Average Graduate Earnings (10 Years) | $34,000 | $30,300 |
Sports
| Total Sports Offered | 6 sports |
| Sports | Baseball, Basketball, Cheering, Soccer, Softball, VolleyballBaseball, Basketball, Cheering, Soccer, Softball, Volleyball, |
Extracurriculars
| Total ExtracurricularsTotal Extra-curric. | 5 extracurriculars |
| ExtracurricularsExtra-curric. | Club or Organization: Golden KEt (GK), Phi Theta Kappa (PTK), Student Government Association Arts and Music Programs: Symphony Orchestra, Theate |
Source: 2016 (or latest year available) IPEDS
Nearby Schools
- The nearest community college to Polk State College is Everest University-Lakeland (14.3 miles away).
- College Location Mi. Students
- Everest University-LakelandPrivate, for profit367 students | 14.30 Mi995 E Memorial Blvd Suite110
Lakeland, FL 33801
(863)686-1444 14.30367 - Everest University-South OrlandoPrivate, for profit22,535 students | 32.90 Mi9200 Soutpark Center Loop
Orlando, FL 32819
(407)851-2525 32.9022,535 - Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts-OrlandoPrivate, for profit972 students | 33.20 Mi8511 Commodity Circle
Orlando, FL 32819
(407)888-4000 33.20972 - 2,780 students | 34.20 Mi600 W College Dr
Avon Park, FL 33825
(863)453-6661 34.202,780 - 1,445 students | 34.60 Mi1485 Florida Mall Avenue
Orlando, FL 32809
(407)671-9922 34.601,445
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