MDC vs. PSC

Deciding between Miami Dade 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.

Miami Dade College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • MDC Miami, FL
  • PSC Winter Haven, FL
  • Setting
  • MDC Large City
  • PSC Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • MDC 58,941
  • PSC 10,318
  • Type
  • MDC Public 4 Year
  • PSC Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • MDC
  • PSC
  • Religious Affiliation
  • MDC -
  • PSC -
  • Status
  • MDC Non-profit
  • PSC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • MDC
  • PSC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • MDC $2,838
  • PSC $2,694
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • MDC $9,661
  • PSC $9,817
  • Room & Board
  • MDC $27,262
  • PSC $12,186
  • Average Net Price
  • MDC $5,766
  • PSC $10,011
  • Average Grant Aid
  • MDC $7,216
  • PSC $3,305
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • MDC 86%
  • PSC 72%

  • Admissions

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

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • MDC 22:1
  • PSC 19:1
  • Popular Majors
  • MDC
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (68%)
    • Health Professions (14%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)
    • Education (3%)
    • Business (2%)
  • 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
  • MDC -
  • PSC -
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • MDC $34,100
  • PSC $34,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • MDC 41%
  • PSC 40%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • MDC $8,703
  • PSC $9,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • MDC $89
  • PSC $98

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • MDC 42%
  • PSC 36%
  • % Women
  • MDC 58%
  • PSC 64%
  • Racial Diversity
  • MDC Medium
  • PSC High
  • HBCU
  • MDC No
  • PSC No
  • % White
  • MDC 6%
  • PSC 53%
  • % Asian
  • MDC 1%
  • PSC 2%
  • % Black
  • MDC 15%
  • PSC 17%
  • % Hispanic
  • MDC 69%
  • PSC 20%
  • % Native American
  • MDC 0%
  • PSC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • MDC 0%
  • PSC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • MDC 0%
  • PSC 2%
  • % International
  • MDC 6%
  • PSC 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • MDC 3%
  • PSC 4%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • MDC 99%
  • PSC 85%
  • % Out-of-State
  • MDC 1%
  • PSC 0%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Miami Dade College is larger than PSC based on total student enrollment (58,941 students vs. 10,318 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Miami Dade College is located in Miami, FL (Large City setting); Polk State College is in Winter Haven, FL (Small City setting).
  • Miami Dade College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Polk State College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Miami Dade College 22:1; Polk State College 19:1.

MDC vs. PSC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MDC 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 Miami Dade College than PSC ($5,766 vs. $10,011).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Polk State College are 55.3% lower than at Miami Dade College ($12,186 vs. $27,262).
  • Miami Dade College is 5.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than PSC (about $144 more per year; $2,838.00 vs. $2,694.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 1.6% higher at PSC than at Miami Dade College (about $156 more per year; $9,817.00 vs. $9,661.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Miami Dade College than at Polk State College (86% vs. 72%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Miami Dade College students is 118.3% larger than aid received by Polk State College students ($7,216 vs. $3,305).

MDC vs. PSC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, MDC 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 MDC.

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

MDC vs. PSC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for MDC 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 Miami Dade College earn a median of about $100 more per year than PSC graduates about ten years after starting college ($34,100 vs. $34,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Miami Dade College graduates have a $797 lower median loan debt than PSC graduates ($8,703 vs. $9,500).
  • Among borrowers, MDC graduates have an estimated $9 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than PSC graduates ($89 vs. $98).
  • More MDC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former PSC students, three years after graduation. (41% 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.