Polk State College

999 Avenue H NE
Winter Haven, FL 33881
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Tel: (863)297-1000
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Polk State College Photo #1 - Polk State College provides access to affordable, quality higher education to more than 16,000 students a year at six locations across Polk County, Florida.
Polk State College Photo #2 - Dr. Angela Garcia Falconetti became Polk State College's fifth president in July 2017.
Polk State College Photo #3 - Polk State College was established in 1964 in Winter Haven, Florida, and today is a multi-campus institution that offers Bachelor of Applied Science, Bachelor of Science, Associate in Arts, and Associate in Science degrees, as well as a ride range of certificate and workforce training options.
Polk State College Photo #4 - Polk State College has an award-winning student life, including nearly 40 clubs and six athletic teams.
Polk State College Photo #5 - In 2017, Polk State College graduated nearly 2,300 students ranging in age from 17 to 76 years old.
Polk State College Photo #6 - The Polk State Volleyball Team finished as state runner-up, advancing to the NJCAA Division 1 Women's Volleyball Championship for the fourth straight year in 2017. The Eagles finished fifth in the nation.
Polk State College Photo #7 - Polk State College has six athletic teams: basketball, baseball, cheerleading, soccer, softball, and volleyball.
Polk State College Photo #8 - In 2017, Polk State College graduated nearly 2,300 students ranging in age from 17 to 76 years old.
Polk State College Photo #9 - Polk State College has an award-winning student life, including nearly 40 clubs and six athletic teams.
Polk State College Photo #10 - At Polk State College, first-time-in-college students have the opportunity to participate in the First-Year Experience and First Flight Convocation, which allows freshmen to spend a day on campus before the start of the semester to learn their way around and connect with peers.
  • 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:

School Overview

  • The teacher population of 900 teachers has stayed relatively flat over five years.
Polk State College(FL) Community College Avg.
Carnegie ClassificationBaccalaureate / Associates CollegesBaccalaureate / Associates Colleges
Institution LevelAt least 2 yrs but < 4 yrsFour or more years
Institution ControlPublicPrivate, non-profit
Total Faculty900 staff37 staff
This chart display total faculty of Polk State College and community college average number of faculty in FL by year, with the latest 2015-16 school year data.

Student Body

  • The student population of Polk State College has grown by 12% over five years.
  • The student:teacher ratio of 18:1 has increased from 16:1 over five years.
  • The Polk State College diversity score of 0.65 is more than the state average of 0.60. The school's diversity has grown by 6% over five years.
Total Enrollment16,000 students1,142 students
This chart display the total enrollment of Polk State College and community college average number of enrollment of FL by year, with the latest 2015-16 school year data.
Student : Teacher Ratio18:138:1
This chart display the student staff ratio of Polk State College and community college average student staff ratio of FL by year, with the latest 2015-16 school year data.
# Full-Time Students4,000 students487 students
This chart display the total number of Full-Time students enrollment of Polk State College and average number of community college Full-Time students enrollment of FL by year, with the latest 2015-16 school year data.
# Part-Time Students12,000 students655 students
This chart display the total number of Part-Time students enrollment of Polk State College and average number of community college Part-Time students enrollment of FL by year, with the latest 2015-16 school year data.
This chart display the Full-Time students and Part-Time students enrollment breakdown of Polk State College.This chart display community college average Full-Time students and Part-Time students enrollment breakdown of FL.
% Asian		-
2%
This chart display the percentage of Asian students in Polk State College and the percentage of Asian community college students in FL by year, with the latest 2015-16 school year data.
% Hispanic
22%
24%
This chart display the percentage of Hispanic students in Polk State College and the percentage of Hispanic community college students in FL by year, with the latest 2015-16 school year data.
% Black
17%
17%
This chart display the percentage of Black students in Polk State College and the percentage of Black community college students in FL by year, with the latest 2015-16 school year data.
% White
50%
69%
This chart display the percentage of White students in Polk State College and the percentage of White community college students in FL by year, with the latest 2015-16 school year data.
% Two or more races		-
2%
This chart display the percentage of Two or more races students in Polk State College and the percentage of Two or more races community college students in FL by year, with the latest 2015-16 school year data.
% Non Resident races		-
2%
This chart display the percentage of Non Resident students in Polk State College and the percentage of Non Resident community college students in FL by year, with the latest 2012-13 school year data.
% Unknown races
11%
-
This chart display the percentage breakdown of students of all ethnic groups in Polk State College.This chart display the percentage breakdown of students of all ethnic groups in FL.
Diversity Score0.650.60
This chart display the diversity score of Polk State College and the community college average diversity score of FL by year, with the latest 2015-16 school year data.
College Completion Rate
31%
52%
This chart display completion rates for First-Time of Full-Time students of Polk State College and community college average completion rates for First-Time of Full-Time students of FL by year, with the latest 2009-10 school year data.
Average Graduate Earnings (10 Years)$34,000$30,300
This chart display average graduate earnings (10 Years) of Polk State College and community college average graduate earnings (10 Years) of FL by year, disaggregated by student subgroups with the latest 2012-13 school year data.

Finances and Admission

  • The public in-state tuition of $112 is less than the state average of $6,464. The in-state tuition has declined by 95% over four years.
  • The public out-state tuition of $409 is less than the state average of $11,973. The out-state tuition has declined by 96% over four years.
In-State Tuition Fees$112$6,464
This chart display tuition fees for an in-state student of Polk State College and the public community college average tuition fees for an in-state student of FL by year, with the latest 2015-16 school year data.
Out-State Tuition Fees$409$11,973
This chart display tuition fees for an out-of-state student of Polk State College and the public community college average tuition fees for an out-of-state student of FL by year, with the latest 2015-16 school year data.
Tuition Notesper credit hour
% Students Receiving Some Financial Aid76%93%
This chart display the percent of students who is receiving some financial aid in Polk State College and the percent of community college students who is receiving some financial aid in FL by year, with the latest 2012-13 school year data.
Median Debt for Graduates$9,000$11,875
This chart display median debt for students who have completed a certificate or degree in Polk State College and average median debt for community college students who have completed a certificate or degree in FL by year, with the latest 2014-15 school year data.
Median Debt for Dropouts$5,500$6,334
This chart display median debt for students who have not completed a certificate or degree in Polk State College and average median debt for community college students who have not completed a certificate or degree in FL by year, with the latest 2014-15 school year data.
Acceptance Rate100%86%
This chart display the percent admitted of Polk State College and the community college average percent admitted of FL by year, with the latest 2015-16 school year data.

Sports

Total Sports Offered6 sports
SportsBaseball, 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

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Quick Stats (2020)
  • Students: 16,000 students
  • In-state tuition: $112
  • Out-state tuition: $409
  • Acceptance Rate: 100%
  • Student:teacher ratio: 18:1
  • Minority enrollment: 50%
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NJCAA Division I (09/10/2018): Polk State College Athletics vs. Central Florida College 36:01

NJCAA Division I (09/10/2018): Polk State College Athletics vs. Central Florida College

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NJCAA Division I (27/09/2018): Polk State College vs. Central Florida College

DSC Men's Basketball Home Game vs. Polk State College 46:18

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Did You Know?
For Florida public community colleges, the average tuition is approximately $6,464 per year for in-state students and $11,973 for out-of-state students. For private community colleges, the average yearly tuition is approximately $15,054 per year. Read more about average community college tuition costs across the country.

The average community college acceptance rate in Florida is 86%. Read more about national community college acceptance rates.

Florida community colleges have a diversity score of 0.60, which is lower than the national average of 0.65. The most diverse community college in Florida is Johnson & Wales University-North Miami. Read more about community college diversity statistics in the USA.
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