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Polk State College

Winter Haven , FL

Polk State College is a public state college located in Polk County, Florida. Established in 1964, it is one of the top colleges in the state, known for its commitment to providing accessible and affordable education to its diverse student population. With campuses in Lakeland and Winter Haven, Polk State College offers a wide range of degree programs, certificates, and courses in various disciplines, including arts and sciences, business, education, health sciences, and public safety.

Polk State College prides itself on its student-centered approach to education. Small class sizes ensure personalized attention, enabling students to build strong relationships with their instructors and classmates. The college also provides comprehensive support services, including academic advising, tutoring, and career counseling, to help students succeed academically and achieve their career goals.

In addition to its academic programs, Polk State College offers a vibrant campus life with numerous extracurricular activities and clubs. Students can participate in student organizations, cultural events, and campus athletics, fostering a sense of community and involvement. Moreover, the college places a strong emphasis on community engagement, with a wide range of outreach programs and partnerships that provide opportunities for students to give back, gain practical experience, and make a positive impact. Overall, Polk State College is renowned for its commitment to student success and serves as a valuable educational resource in the region.

Polk State College is a public two-year college with graduate programs located in Winter Haven, FL and set in an urban environment. This institution follows a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 88%. The freshman retention rate at Polk State College is 62%.

To find out more about what Polk State College has to offer to its students, read on for the latest data reported by this school.

Quick Facts

7,963

Total Number of Undergraduate Students

20:1

Student to Faculty Ratio

Admissions

Learning as much as possible about the school's criteria for admission maximizes your chances of getting admitted. What are the admission requirements for Polk State College?

In 2023, the school accepted 6,763 new students. As far as admission difficulty is considered, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is relatively noncompetitive.

Test Scores

The latest reported average GPA of the enrolled students was 2.6.

Average Test Scores

Retention Rate

What is the freshman retention rate? The freshman retention rate is the percentage of full-time students who entered the institution as freshmen in the previous academic year and returned for the fall term of the current academic year. Why is that information important? Because it tells you if the majority of freshmen enjoyed their first year at a school enough to come back.

The freshman retention rate for Polk State College was 62% in 2023.

Student Body

Deciding if a school is the right fit for you is not an easy task. Knowing more about the student population can help you get a clearer picture of the school's culture and life.

Main Student Body

In 2023, the institution had an enrollment of 7,963 students.

The school reported an out-of-state student body portion of 1% for that year. The total number of undergraduate students enrolled at the school was 7,963, 88 of which were foreign students. 573 students were accepted as transfer students.

Student Population Gender Ratio

The student body is coeducational, with 955 male and 1,728 female full-time students in 2023, which is indicative of the importance this institution places on gender equality.

Student Population Diversity

The importance of student diversity cannnot be denied, when it comes to the overall feeling of inclusion and beloning among the students of any school. Diversity promotes critical thinking, challenges preconceived notions, and encourages intellectual growth, so it helps students develop empathy and a broader understanding of the world. Learn more about all the ethnic communities you might encounter at this institution.

This school had 165 Asian students and 1,129 Afro-American students in 2023. 1,763 undergraduate students at this school declared as Hispanic/Latino and 203 identified with more than one race. The school also had 12 students who declared as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, as well as 12 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 61 students whose ethnicity is unknown.

Cost

One of the most crucial things to take into account when applying to any college or university is the financial component. Here are some details you should know about the expenses at Polk State College that the majority of students face.

Tuition and Fees

Wondering about tuition at Polk State College? Here is what you need to know.

If you are an area resident, your tuition was $2,203. For out-of-state students, tuition fees amounted to $9,146. Tuition costs at Polk State College for international students stood at $9,146. Full-time students in 2023 were mandated to pay additional fees in the amount of $770.

Category Tuition Fees Total
Out-of-State $9,146 $770 $9,916
In-State $2,203 $770 $2,973

Books and Supplies

Another important financial factor to take into consideration is the approximate cost of books and supplies for a college or university. Most students have to set aside about $2,698 for books and supplies during their time at Polk State College.

Boarding

Besides tuition, another cost to consider is the price of housing in the dorms and eating at the school cafeteria. What do schools typically charge for room and board?

At Polk State College, the 2023 annual cost of room and board (on campus) was $12,816.

Tuition $ 2,203
Room and Board $ 12,816
Book and Supplies $ 2,698
Total Expense $ 17,717

Majors

Faculty

20:1

Student to Faculty Ratio

Knowing more about a school's faculty can help you gauge the caliber of the education it can provide to you.

According to the most recent data, the student-faculty ratio at Polk State College was 20:1: that means 20 students per one teacher. This school has recently reported to have 938 faculty members. Out of that number, there were 392 male and 546 female faculty members. The fact that female faculty members outnumber the male ones at this school is telling of the importance gender equality has at Polk State College.

Student Population Diversity Graph

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Campus Life

Not everything at Polk State College is about learning and grades: campus life is an essential part of your educational experience. Find out some details about students' life at Polk State College.

It has a campus size of 98 acres.

Student Organizations

A student organization is run by students at a university or a college institution, whose membership typically consists only of current students and/or alumni.

This school has 37 open-membership student organizations you can participate in. The student organization that is most favored by students is SALO (Student Activities and Leadership Office), followed by Student Government Association and Phi Theta Kappa (PTK). Other popular student organizations at this school are Honors Program Student Council and Florida Student Nursing Association.

There is a drama club you can join if acting is something that interests you.

Student Services

At Polk State College, there are many amenities that make life on campus pleasant and safe.

There are phone and alarm devices that can be accessed 24/7 for emergency situations. There is a security patrol that operates around the clock. In addition, other services like Legal Services and Veteran's Affairs are available to the students of Polk State College.

All in all, campus life at Polk State College is rich and vibrant and provides all you need for a comfortable stay.

Career Services

Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at Polk State College.

Career Counselling

At Polk State College, there is both group career counseling for all students and individual career counseling for all students. There are a library, a job bank, and job fairs. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. There is campus employer recruitment for all the students. Individual job placement is available to all students at this school.

FAQ

Polk State College is located in Winter Haven, FL.

The most recent reported acceptance rate for Polk State College is 88%.

The most recent reported freshman retention rate for Polk State College is 62%.

Contact Information

Polk State College

999 Avenue H, NE

Winter Haven , FL

33881-4299

863 297-1000

School Website

Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.

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