Polk State College
At a Glance

Polk State College, established in 1964, has locations across Polk County, including Bartow, Lakeland, Lake Wales and Winter Haven. Each year, the college serves more than 14,000 degree-seeking students and 9,000 indidviauls in workforce training programs. 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.
Polk State College (POLK) is a Public institution located in the Central-West region of Florida. POLK has Regional Accreditation.
The main campus in Winter Haven, FL has a Town feeling.
Polk State College offers programs that lead to the following types of degrees:
- Associate (2 yr.)
- Bachelor's (4 yr.)
- Certificate
- AS- Aerospace Administration
- BS- Aerospace Sciences/Aerospace Administration (AS, AA or Equiv)
- BS- Criminal Justice (From Earned AS)
- BSN- Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN)
- AS- Engineering Technology
Student Body (as of 2025)
Enrollment Type | Number of Students |
---|---|
Full Time | 4645 |
Part Time | 9870 |
Part-time students outnumber full-time students (2.12:1) at Polk State College.
Ethnicity | Percentage of Students |
---|---|
American Indian/Alaska Native | 0.00 |
Asian | 0.00 |
Black/African American | 17.00 |
Hawaiian/Pacific Islander | 0.00 |
Hispanic/Latino | 30.00 |
White/Caucasian | 40.00 |
Other/Unknown | 13.00 |
The most common ethnicity is White/Caucasian (40%) followed by Hispanic/Latino (30%.)
Gender | Percentage of Students |
---|---|
Female | 62.00 |
Male | 38.00 |
At 62%, female students outnumber male students by a very significant margin. Percentages are based on "as reported" values.
Polk State College offers a variety of campus clubs and organizations, as well as numerous opportunities for students to participate in community service, leadership development, college-wide committees and intramural sports.
Total Students: | 14,515 |
---|---|
Undergraduate Students: | 14,515 |
Graduate Students: | 0 |
Average Student Age: | 24 |
Costs and Financial Aid (as of 2026)
Polk State's tuition is approximately one-third the cost of universities and private colleges.
for Full-Time
per Credit Hour
per Credit Hour
Scholarships
Start early. Complete the FAFSA online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. The school code for Polk State College is 001514.
Polk State College Foundation provides a variety of scholarships from business partners, alumni and other donors. Institutional Scholarships are provided to students based on need, merit, and public service through Student Financial Services.
Category | Cost |
---|---|
Full-Time Tuition | 3367.00 |
Books and Supplies | 1800.00 |
Housing Costs | 0.00 |
The total estimated full time costs of $5,167.00 consists of $3,367.00 for Tuition, $1,800.00 for Books and Supplies, and $0.00 for Housing.
Admissions (as of 2026)
Polk State College maintains an "open-door" policy and welcomes any high school graduate with a qualifying diploma or GED certificate.
Accepted
Application Fee
Tuition Deposit
for Merit Scholarship
The application to Polk State College is available for free on polk.edu. Limited-admissions programs such as Nursing and Health Sciences require additional applications specific to each program. An advisor will assist you in applying and there are no additional application fees.
All students new to Polk State College must attend an orientation.
Academic Period | Admissions Deadline | Financial Aid Deadline |
---|
Admissions and Financial Aid preferred deadlines are six weeks prior to the beginning of each term. Transfer students should apply six weeks early and order incoming transcripts immediately.
If you complete the FAFSA and submit all required documents and transcripts by the deadline, we promise your application for aid will be processed by the first day of class. We cannot guarantee fnancial aid, but we can promise that you ll know where you stand! Visit our Admission Steps for details!
Distance Learning (as of 2026)
Polk State College is a proud member of the Florida Department of Education’s XploreFLEd, which offers online degree programs at a reduced cost for out-of-state (non-resident) students.
Please reference this site: www.polk.edu/admission-aid or email registrar@polk.edu.
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Distance learning at Polk State College involves initiatives to bring many Polk State College courses to students in such a way that the traditional barriers of time and distance no longer exist. This includes coursework delivered over the Internet using Canvas by Instructure.
Online classes rely on this technology, allowing students flexibility and convenience in scheduling classes. In many ways the online environment is similar to other formats. The most successful students in online classes are highly motivated and disciplined individuals who are comfortable with technology. Students will be viewing videos and tutorials, interacting through discussion boards and blog postings, and reading from texts and other sources.
- Liberal Arts - AA-LART
- Business Administration - AS-BUAD
- Criminal Justice - BS-CRIM
- Supervision And Management - BAS-SUMA
- Nursing - BSN-NURS
Polk State College publishes Distance Learning courses on the FloridaShines Course Catalog. Students enrolled in other Florida public institutions can start registration as transient students directly from the catalog.
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Programs
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Campus Life (as of 2026)
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Social Sororities | |
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Marching Band | |
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Symphony Orchestra | |
Student Government Association | |
Theater |
Polk State offers the advantages of intimate campus life you might expect from a small college — but has a wide range of opportunities and services that are only possible with an institution that serves over 23,000 students each year.
No matter if you’re into the environment or salsa dancing, there is a Polk State student club or organization for you. The College offers dozens of student life opportunities — all you have to do is join. Don’t see what you’re looking for? Contact your campus Student Activities and Leadership Office (SALO) for information on how to start a new club.
Sports
Sport | Men's Team | Women's Team | |
---|---|---|---|
Scholarships Available | |||
Baseball | |||
Basketball | |||
Soccer | |||
Softball | |||
Volleyball |
The Polk State Eagles play in the Suncoast Conference, and the College traditionally fields strong teams in men's baseball, women's softball, men’s basketball, women’s volleyball, and women’s soccer. Many of our student-athletes continue their academic and athletic careers at four-year schools, and some have played professional sports.

- NJCAA Division Region VIII
- SunCoast
Returning Students (as of 2026)
We are glad you are considering returning to Polk State College. We encourage students to use the Admission Steps for answers to many admission questions.