Polk State College campus
Polk State College logo

Polk State College

Type 4 year, Public
Campus locale City: Small
Degrees offered Undergraduate
Calendar system Semester
Student body size Medium
Student to faculty ratio 20 to 1
Students retention rate 67%
On-time graduation rate 33%

Located in Winter Haven, Florida, Polk State is a public, institution that offers undergraduate degrees. The college operates on a semester-based calendar system, providing students with structured academic terms.

One of the notable aspects of Polk State College is its open admission policy. This means that all high school graduates and individuals who hold a GED qualification are eligible to apply for admission. This inclusive approach allows a wide range of students to pursue their higher education goals, regardless of their academic background.

Polk State College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, ensuring that the institution meets certain standards of quality and effectiveness. This accreditation also allows students to transfer credits to other accredited institutions if they choose to continue their education elsewhere.

While the on-time graduation rate at Polk State is reported to be 33%, it is essential to consider the context of this statistic. For comparison, Florida state's graduation rate for the 2021-2022 was 52% whereas the national average was 49%.

The retention rate of students at Polk State is 67% , which is lower than both the state and national averages. The state average retention rate in Florida is 85%, while the national average is 72%. This indicates that a significant proportion of students who enroll at Polk State do not continue their studies after the first year.


  • Accredited by: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

In-State Tuition & Fees

$3,366

Cost of attendance at Polk State College in 2022 for students from Florida.

See how the college's in-state sticker price compares to 4 year , public colleges in the state as well as nationally.

Florida's average $3,874
National average $8,573

Out-of-State Tuition & Fees

$12,272

Cost of attendance at Polk State College in 2022 for the out-of-state and international students

See how the college's out-of-state sticker price compares to 4 year , public colleges in the state as well as nationally.

Florida's average $14,069
National average $18,862

Average Grant & Scholarships

In 2022, 54 of freshman students at Polk State College received on average $5,400 in grant and scholarships from the college, the state and/or the federal government. Below is detail stats of the aid provided to full-time, freshman students.

$5,400
Students Receiving Aid Average Amount Total Amount
Pell Grant 281 43% $4,712 $1,324,136
Other Federal Grant 281 43% $4,825 $1,355,936
State Grant/Scholarships 274 42% $1,659 $454,687
Institutional Grant/Scholarships 47 7% $2,152 $101,123
Total Grant & Scholarships 354 54% $5,400 $1,911,746

Graduation Rate

The following chart shows the graduation rate of Polk State College students who enrolled in 2015 and after. The stat covers all undergraduates registered as full-time students to study a 4-year bachelor's degree program for the first time.

The breakdown shows the graduation rate by race/ethnicity of US students. All international students are represented under one group.

As of August 31, 2021, the average graduation rate of Polk State College students is 33.2%. Female students graduated at a rate of 37.0%, whereas male students graduated at a rate of 28.9%.

33.2%

  • asian 53.3% 8 students
  • African American 19.1% 21 students
  • white 37.2% 132 students
  • unknown 26.1% 6 students
  • hispanic 32.5% 67 students
  • International Students 40.0% 6 students
  • Mixed Race 34.3% 12 students

Athletic Associations

  • NJCAA
    National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA)

Service Offerings

Polk State College provides the following additional services to its students
  • Remedial services
  • Placement services for graduates
  • Academic/career counseling services
  • Employment services for students

Educational Offerings

Polk State College offers educational programs in the following categories. Check the programs section to learn more about specific programs that you are interested in.
  • Academic
  • Occupational

Special Learning Opportunities

  • Study abroad
  • Teacher certification
  • ROTC - Army
  • ROTC - Air Force

Veteran Services

  • Dedicated point of contact for support services for veterans, military service-members, and their families
  • Credit for military training