Polk State College

www.polk.edu/

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2021 Undergraduate Tuition

$2,483

2021 Average Net Price

$8,227

After Financial Aid

2019 Student Loan

3.92%

Default Rate

2021 Enrolled Students

9,044

34.8% Full-Time

2021 Graduation Rate

33.2%

252 Graduates

About

Polk State College is a higher education institution located in Polk County, FL. In 2021, the most popular Associates Degree concentrations at Polk State College were Liberal Arts & Sciences (1,333 degrees awarded), Registered Nursing (157 degrees), and Criminal Justice - Law Enforcement Administration (39 degrees).

In 2021, 2,762 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs at Polk State College. 66.3% of these degrees were awarded to women, and 33.7% awarded men. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients was white (1,484 degrees), 2.36 times more than then the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (628 degrees).

The median undergraduate tuition at Polk State College is $2,483, which is $−9,301 less than the national average for Baccalaureate/Associates Colleges ($11,784).

Baccalaureate/Associates Colleges: Mixed Baccalaureate/Associates Baccalaureate/Associates Colleges

Costs

In 2021, the median undergraduate tuition at Polk State College is $2,483, which is $−9,301 less than the national average for Baccalaureate/Associates Colleges ($11,784).

After taking grants and loans into account, the average net price for students is $8,227.

In 2021, 36% of undergraduate students attending Polk State College received financial aid through grants. Comparatively, 10% of undergraduate students received financial aid through loans.

Tuition Costs

$2,483

2021 Undergraduate Tuition

In 2021, the cost of tuition at Polk State College was $2,483. The cost of tuition at Polk State College is $−9,301 less than than the overall (public and private) national average for Baccalaureate/Associates Colleges ($11,784).

This chart compares the tuition costs of Polk State College (in red) with those of other similar universities.

Average Net Price

$8,227

2021 Value

4.04%

1 Year Growth

In 2021 Polk State College had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $8,227. Between 2020 and 2021, the average net price of Polk State College grew by 4.04%.

This chart compares the average net price of Polk State College (in red) with that of other similar universities.

Average net price is calculated from full-time beginning undergraduate students who were awarded a grant or scholarship from federal, state or local governments, or the institution.

Other Student Expenses

$8,339

Room and Board

$2,000

Books and Supplies

The average yearly cost of room and board at Polk State College was of $8,339 in 2021. The cost of room and board did not change between 2020 and 2021.

During the same period, the average yearly cost of books and supplies was $2,000. The cost of books and supplies did not change during the same period.

This chart compares the average student costs at Polk State College (in red) with that of similar universities.

Financial Aid by Income Level

36%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants

10%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans

36% of undergraduate students at Polk State College received financial aid through grants or loans in 2021. This represents a decline of 12.2% with respect to 2020, when 41% of undergraduate students received financial aid.

This chart compares the average award discount at Polk State College (in red) with that of other similar universities.

The average award discount is the ratio between the average grant or scholarship value, and the cost, which is the sum of out-of-state tuition, room, board, book, supplies, and other expenses.

Student Loan Default Rate

Cohort default rates only account for borrowers who default in the first three years, and some schools only have a small proportion of borrowers entering repayment. These rates should be interpreted with caution, as they may not be reflective of the entire school population.

3.92%

2019 Default Rate

Number of Defaults

In 2019 the default rate for borrower's at Polk State College was 3.92%, which represents 37 out of the 944 total borrowers.

A cohort default rate is the percentage of a school's borrowers who enter repayment on certain Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program or William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program loans during a particular federal fiscal year (FY), October 1 to September 30, and default or meet other specified conditions prior to the end of the second following fiscal year.

Enrollment

Polk State College had a total enrollment of 9,044 students in 2021. The full-time enrollment at Polk State College is 3,148 students and the part-time enrollment is 5,896. This means that 34.8% of students enrolled at Polk State College are enrolled full-time.

The enrolled student population at Polk State College, both undergraduate and graduate, is 46.6% White, 27.5% Hispanic or Latino, 16% Black or African American, 4% Two or More Races, 3.06% Asian, 0.343% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders, and 0.276% American Indian or Alaska Native.

Students enrolled at Polk State College in full-time Undergraduate programs are most commonly White Female (28.4%), followed by Hispanic or Latino Female (18.3%) and White Male (17.8%).

Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment

34.8%

Full-Time Enrollment

The total enrollment at Polk State College in 2021, both undergraduate and graduate, is 9,044 students. The full-time enrollment at Polk State College is 3,148 and the part-time enrollment is 5,896. This means that 34.8% of students enrolled at Polk State College are enrolled full-time compared with 42.4% at similar Baccalaureate/Associates Colleges.

This chart shows the full-time vs part-time enrollment status at Polk State College (in red) compares to similar universities.

Retention Rate over Time

67%

2021 Retention Rate

Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall. The retention rate for full-time undergraduates at Polk State College was 67%. Compared with the full-time retention rate at similar Baccalaureate/Associates Colleges (59%), Polk State College had a retention rate higher than its peers.

This chart shows the retention rate over time at Polk State College (highlighted in red) compares to similar universities.

Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity

Most Common Race or Ethnicity (2021)

White
4,213 enrolled students
Hispanic or Latino
2,490 enrolled students
Black or African American
1,444 enrolled students

The enrolled student population at Polk State College is 46.6% White, 27.5% Hispanic or Latino, 16% Black or African American, 4% Two or More Races, 3.06% Asian, 0.343% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders, and 0.276% American Indian or Alaska Native. This includes both full-time and part-time students as well as graduate and undergraduates. By comparison, enrollment for all Baccalaureate/Associates Colleges is 43.3% White, 26.7% Hispanic or Latino, and 13.8% Black or African American.

Any student who is studying in the United States on a temporary basis is categorized as a "Non-Resident Alien", and the share of those students are shown in the chart below. Additionally, 72 students (0.796%) did not report their race.

Graduates

In 2021, 900 more women than men received degrees from Polk State College. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients at Polk State College is white (1,484 degrees awarded). There were 2.36 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (628 degrees).

The most common Associates Degree concentration at Polk State College is Liberal Arts & Sciences (1,333 degrees awarded), followed by Registered Nursing (157 degrees) and Criminal Justice - Law Enforcement Administration (39 degrees).

In 2021, the most specialized majors across all degree types at Polk State College, meaning they have significantly more degrees awarded in that concentration than the national average across all institutions, are Liberal Arts & Humanities (1,333 degrees awarded), Human Sciences (122 degrees), and Transportation (48 degrees).

Common Jobs by Major

Police officers

Most Common Job

The most common jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Polk State College are Police officers (129,783 people), Elementary & middle school teachers (115,961 people), Other managers (82,815 people), Lawyers, & judges, magistrates, & other judicial workers (41,347 people), and Social workers, all other (38,427 people).

The most specialized majors at Polk State College in 2021 are Liberal Arts & Humanities (1,333 degrees awarded), Human Sciences (122 degrees), Transportation (48 degrees), Protective Services (204 degrees), and Communication Technologies (9 degrees) (as of 2021).

Highest Paying Jobs by Major

Surgeons

Highest Paying Job

The highest paying jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Polk State College are Surgeons, Physicians, Broadcast announcers and radio disc jockeys, Securities, commodities, & financial services sales agents, and Magnetic resonance imaging technologists

The most specialized majors at Polk State College are Liberal Arts & Humanities (1,333 degrees awarded), Human Sciences (122 degrees), Transportation (48 degrees), Protective Services (204 degrees), and Communication Technologies (9 degrees) (as of 2021).

Common Industries by Major

Justice, public order, & safety activities

Most Common Industry

The most common industries for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Polk State College are Justice, public order, & safety activities (315,180 people), Elementary & secondary schools (233,494 people), Colleges, universities & professional schools, including junior colleges (74,568 people), General medical and surgical hospitals, and specialty (except psychiatric and substance abuse) hospitals (69,719 people), and Individual & family services (49,976 people).

Majors Awarded

IPEDS uses the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) standard, so the categories may not match the exact concentrations offered by Polk State College.

Most Common (2021)

Liberal Arts & Sciences
1,333 degree-majors awarded
Registered Nursing
157 degree-majors awarded
Criminal Justice - Law Enforcement Administration
39 degree-majors awarded

In 2021, the most common associates degree concentration at Polk State College was Liberal Arts & Sciences with 1,333 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of degree-majors recipients from associates degree programs at Polk State College according to their major.

Sex Breakdown for Common Majors

931

Degrees Awarded to Men

in 2021

1,831

Degrees Awarded to Women

in 2021

In 2021, 931 degrees were awarded to men at Polk State College, which is 0.508 times less than the number of degrees awarded to females (1,831).

This chart displays the sex disparity between the top 5 majors at Polk State College by degrees awarded.

Most Common Male Majors

In 2021, 444 degrees were awarded to men at Polk State College in Liberal Arts & Sciences, which is 0.499 times less than the 889 female recipients with that same degree.

Most Common Female Majors

In 2021, 889 degrees were awarded to men at Polk State College in Liberal Arts & Sciences, which is 2 times more than the 444 male recipients with that same degree.

Graduation Rate by Race and Sex

Showing demographic groups with ≥ 5 graduating students.

Asian Female

Highest Graduation Rate (71.4%)

The student demographic with the highest graduation rate in 2021 at Polk State College is Female and Asian (71.4% graduation rate). Across all Baccalaureate/Associates Colleges, Asian Female students have the highest graduation rate (72.9%).

The department of education defines graduation rate as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within 150% of "normal time" to completion.

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) categorizes any student who is studying in the United States on a temporary basis as a "Non-Resident Alien", and the graduation rate of those students is shown in the chart below. Additionally, 2.38% of graduates (6 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Share

Most Common Student Race or Ethnicity (2021)

White
1,484 degrees awarded
Hispanic or Latino
628 degrees awarded
Black or African American
398 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity at Polk State College is white (1,484 degrees awarded). There were 2.36 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (628 degrees).

1.56% of degree recipients (43 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Sex

Most Common Sex Demographic (2021)

White Female
987 degrees awarded
White Male
497 degrees awarded
Hispanic or Latino Female
410 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity and sex grouping at Polk State College is white female (987 degrees awarded). There were 1.99 times more white female recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, white male (497 degrees).

Operations

Polk State College has an endowment valued at nearly $34.1M, as of the end of the 2021 fiscal year. The return on its endowment was of 25.8k (0.0754%) compared to the 1.05% average return (152k on 14.5M) across all Baccalaureate/Associates Colleges.

In 2021, Polk State College had a total salary expenditure of 88M. Polk State College employs 143 No academic ranks. Most academics at Polk State College are Female No academic rank (80), and Male No academic rank (63).

The most common positions for non-instructional staff at Polk State College are: Librarians, Curators, Archivists, and Academic Affairs and Other Education Services, with 94 employees, Office and Administrative Support, with 89 employees, and Community, Social Service, Legal, Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports and Media with 31 employees.

Endowment

$34.1M

2021 Endowment

5.88%

growth from 2020

Polk State College has an endowment valued at about $34.1M, as of the end of the 2021 fiscal year. The endowment of Polk State College grew 5.88% from the previous year. The value of their endowment was $19.7M higher than than the median endowment of Baccalaureate/Associates Colleges according to the Carnegie Classification grouping.

This line chart shows how the endowment at Polk State College (in red) compares to that of some similar universities.

The small bar chart below shows the endowment quintiles for all universities in the Baccalaureate/Associates Colleges: Mixed Baccalaureate/Associates Carnegie Classification grouping.

Salary Expenditure

$45.3M

2021 Salaries

7.23%

decline from 2020

In 2021, Polk State College paid a median of $45.3M in salaries, which represents 51.5% of their overall expenditure ($88M) and a 7.23% decline from the previous year.

The median for similar Baccalaureate/Associates Colleges is 12.8M (34.8% of overall expenditures).

Instructional Salaries

$8.31M

Instructional Salaries

143

Number of Employees

In 2021, Polk State College paid a total of $8.31M to 143 employees working as instructors, which represents 18.3% of all salaries paid.

This is compared to a median of $3.32M (26%) for similar Baccalaureate/Associates Colleges.

Occupations by Share

No academic rank

Most Common Instructor

143 Employees

Librarians, Curators, Archivists, and Academic Affairs and Other Education Services

Most Common Non-Instructional Employee

94 Employees

In 2021, the most common positions for instructional staff at Polk State College was No academic rank with 143 employees.

In 2021, the most common positions for non-instructional staff at Polk State College were Librarians, Curators, Archivists, and Academic Affairs and Other Education Services with 94 employees, Office and Administrative Support with 89 employees, and Community, Social Service, Legal, Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports and Media with 31 employees.

Instructors by Academic Rank and Sex

Most Common Demographic (2021)

Female No academic rank
Male No academic rank

In 2021, the most common demographic for instructional staff at Polk State College was Female No academic rank with 80 employees, and Male No academic rank with 63 employees.

This chart shows the sex split between each academic rank present at Polk State College.