Payback
EarningsPlus
Economic score
Polk State College is a public located in Winter Haven, Florida. Polk State College has an open admissions policy.
Return on educational investment at Polk State College is in the top 25% of all ranked schools. The median student earns $36,598 10 years after enrolling, 52nd in Florida, and in the bottom 25% nationally. When adjusted for earning differences by major, Polk State College bachelor students earn 11% less than the national average.
Polk State College’s median net annual cost of $8,722 and average years to graduate of 3.3 are reported only at the school level. We assume these same costs and graduation time for all programs.
The top 3 programs at Polk State College sorted by number of graduates - Business Administration, Registered Nursing, Criminal Justice - are shown below.
Annual net cost
$8,722
Average years to graduate
3.3
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
The average full-time graduate completes their degree in 3.3 years. 35% of all students graduate within 8 years including part-time students. The graduation rate at Polk State College is 23% lower than the state average, and 10% below the average for all community college - baccalaureates in the country.
At Polk State College, Pell Grant recipients represent 31% of the measured graduating class, 4% lower than the national average of 35%. The average Pell Grant recipient at Polk State College graduates within 4.3 years.
We calculate this performance by adjusting the graduation rate of Pell students by their percentage of the student body. This adjustment is made to prevent schools with large numbers of Pell students from underperforming in comparison to schools with few Pell students but high graduation rates.
Polk State College’s economic mobility score of 17.16 is calculated by adjusting the 3.3 economic score of lower-income students by the 31% pell grant recipients within the student body. Polk State College’s EMS of 17.16 ranks in the top 50% nationally. Please note that the economic mobility score considers only students that have graduated.
Economic Mobility
To calculate economic mobility of low-income (household earnings below $30,000) students, we adjust each institution’s economic score by their percentage of Pell Grant students. The logic of this Pell-adjusted calculation is derived from Third Way’s Economic Mobility Index (EMI).
Top 50%
The average Title IV recipient at Polk State College pays $8,722 a year, $-3,356 less than the $5,366 advertised. See below the cost breakdown for students who receive Title IV grants, broken down by income level.
Average net price
The average net price shown by income level for all students that receive Title IV aid. Calculated by deducting the average grant and scholarship aid from tuition, fees, books, and room and board. Limited to first-time, full-time students. Public institution figures are calculated using in-state tuition figures.
Median net price $8,722
Much of the gap between net price and sticker price is filled by institutional and government grants. At Polk State College, 54% of students receive some grants and scholarships, compared to the national average of 87% for all colleges and universities. The average amount of federal, state, and institutional grants that students receive is shown on the right.
This leaves a total of $8,722 on average to be covered by the student – be it through loans or out of pocket. In total, 7% of students take out loans, federal or private, at an average amount of $4,728. This is 47% less than the national average.
Federal grants
$4,728
Pell grants
$3,343
State grants
$1,659
Institutional grants
$2,152
Polk State College offers 4 online bachelor programs, all of which are held exclusively online. We use the IPEDS July '20 — July '21 Distance Education report to determine which programs are online. EarningsPlus data is provided when available.
Online programs
4
Percentage of programs online
67%
Full time
44%
83%
Female
62%
59%
First time
71%
59%
In-state
98%
68%
1st generation
51%
35%
White
47%
52%
Black
17%
14%
Hispanic
27%
15%
Asian
2%
5%
American Indian
N/A
1.6%
Pacific Islander
N/A
0.3%
Other
6%
12%