FSW vs. PSC

Deciding between Florida SouthWestern State College and Polk State College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • FSW Fort Myers, FL
  • PSC Winter Haven, FL
  • Setting
  • FSW Large Suburban
  • PSC Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • FSW 14,301
  • PSC 10,318
  • Type
  • FSW Public 4 Year
  • PSC Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • FSW
  • PSC
  • Religious Affiliation
  • FSW -
  • PSC -
  • Status
  • FSW Non-profit
  • PSC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • FSW
  • PSC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • FSW $3,401
  • PSC $2,694
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • FSW $12,979
  • PSC $9,817
  • Room & Board
  • FSW $11,185
  • PSC $12,186
  • Average Net Price
  • FSW $8,356
  • PSC $10,011
  • Average Grant Aid
  • FSW $5,938
  • PSC $3,305
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • FSW 80%
  • PSC 72%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • FSW -
  • PSC -
  • Admitted
  • FSW -
  • PSC -
  • Acceptance Rate
  • FSW Open
  • PSC Open
  • Enrolled
  • FSW Open
  • PSC Open
  • Typical SAT score
  • FSW
  • PSC
  • Typical ACT score
  • FSW
  • PSC
  • Average High School GPA
  • FSW 3.06
  • PSC -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • FSW B
  • PSC -
  • Admissions Standards
  • FSW Unavailable
  • PSC Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • FSW
  • PSC
  • ACT Range
  • FSW
  • PSC
  • SAT Range
  • FSW
  • PSC
  • Submit Test Scores
  • FSW Open admission
  • PSC Open admission
  • Application Deadline
  • FSW
  • PSC

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • FSW 27:1
  • PSC 19:1
  • Popular Majors
  • FSW
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (56%)
    • Health Professions (26%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (5%)
    • Business (5%)
    • Education (4%)
  • PSC
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (52%)
    • Health Professions (20%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (10%)
    • Education (9%)
    • Work and Family Studies (3%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • FSW -
  • PSC -
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • FSW $37,400
  • PSC $34,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • FSW 43%
  • PSC 40%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • FSW $9,000
  • PSC $9,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • FSW $93
  • PSC $98

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • FSW 36%
  • PSC 36%
  • % Women
  • FSW 64%
  • PSC 64%
  • Racial Diversity
  • FSW High
  • PSC High
  • HBCU
  • FSW No
  • PSC No
  • % White
  • FSW 51%
  • PSC 53%
  • % Asian
  • FSW 2%
  • PSC 2%
  • % Black
  • FSW 11%
  • PSC 17%
  • % Hispanic
  • FSW 28%
  • PSC 20%
  • % Native American
  • FSW 0%
  • PSC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • FSW 0%
  • PSC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • FSW 2%
  • PSC 2%
  • % International
  • FSW 2%
  • PSC 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • FSW 4%
  • PSC 4%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • FSW 93%
  • PSC 85%
  • % Out-of-State
  • FSW 0%
  • PSC 0%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • FSW Yes
  • PSC No
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • FSW No
  • PSC No
  • Meal Plan
  • FSW No
  • PSC No
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • FSW Yes
  • PSC No
  • Daycare Facility
  • FSW Yes
  • PSC No

Comparable Facts

Compare Florida SouthWestern State College in Fort Myers, FL with Polk State College in Winter Haven, FL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Florida SouthWestern State College is larger than PSC based on total student enrollment (14,301 students vs. 10,318 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Florida SouthWestern State College is located in Fort Myers, FL (Large Suburban setting); Polk State College is in Winter Haven, FL (Small City setting).
  • Florida SouthWestern State College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Polk State College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Florida SouthWestern State College 27:1; Polk State College 19:1.

FSW vs. PSC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, FSW or PSC? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Florida SouthWestern State College than PSC ($8,356 vs. $10,011).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Florida SouthWestern State College are 8.2% lower than at Polk State College ($11,185 vs. $12,186).
  • Florida SouthWestern State College is 26.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than PSC (about $707 more per year; $3,401.00 vs. $2,694.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 32.2% higher at FSW than at Polk State College (about $3,162 more per year; $12,979.00 vs. $9,817.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Florida SouthWestern State College than at Polk State College (80% vs. 72%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Florida SouthWestern State College students is 79.7% larger than aid received by Polk State College students ($5,938 vs. $3,305).

FSW vs. PSC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, FSW or PSC? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between PSC and FSW.

  • Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: FSW - Open admission; PSC - Open admission.

FSW vs. PSC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for FSW and PSC? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Graduates from Florida SouthWestern State College earn a median of about $3,400 more per year than PSC graduates about ten years after starting college ($37,400 vs. $34,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Florida SouthWestern State College graduates have a $500 lower median loan debt than PSC graduates ($9,000 vs. $9,500).
  • Among borrowers, FSW graduates have an estimated $5 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than PSC graduates ($93 vs. $98).
  • More FSW graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former PSC students, three years after graduation. (43% vs. 40%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.