PSC vs. ABAC

Comparable Facts

Compare Polk State College in Winter Haven, FL with Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in Tifton, GA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Polk State College is larger than ABAC based on total student enrollment (10,318 students vs. 3,825 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Polk State College is located in Winter Haven, FL (Small City setting); Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College is in Tifton, GA (Remote Town setting).
• Polk State College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Polk State College 19:1; Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College 21:1.

PSC vs. ABAC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, PSC or ABAC? 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 Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College than PSC ($7,308 vs. $10,011).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College are 19.6% lower than at Polk State College ($9,800 vs. $12,186).
• Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College is 21.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than PSC (about $574 more per year; $3,268.00 vs. $2,694.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 7.9% higher at ABAC than at Polk State College (about $771 more per year; $10,588.00 vs. $9,817.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College than at Polk State College (91% vs. 72%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College students is 104.1% larger than aid received by Polk State College students ($6,747 vs. $3,305).

PSC vs. ABAC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, PSC or ABAC? 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 ABAC and PSC.

• Polk State College reports an open admissions policy.
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsAbraham Baldwin Agricultural College 860/1080.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsAbraham Baldwin Agricultural College 17/22.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: PSC - Open admission; ABAC - Test optional.

PSC vs. ABAC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for PSC and ABAC? 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 Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College earn a median of about $800 more per year than PSC graduates about ten years after starting college ($34,800 vs. $34,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Polk State College graduates have a $7,000 lower median loan debt than ABAC graduates ($9,500 vs. $16,500).
• Among borrowers, PSC graduates have an estimated $72 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than ABAC graduates ($98 vs. $170).
• More ABAC 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.