PSC vs. Beacon College

Deciding between Polk State College and Beacon 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
  • PSC Winter Haven, FL
  • Beacon College Leesburg, FL
  • Setting
  • PSC Small City
  • Beacon College Small Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • PSC 10,318
  • Beacon College 531
  • Type
  • PSC Public 4 Year
  • Beacon College Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • PSC
  • Beacon College
  • Religious Affiliation
  • PSC -
  • Beacon College -
  • Status
  • PSC Non-profit
  • Beacon College Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • PSC
  • Beacon College

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • PSC $2,694
  • Beacon College $51,680
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • PSC $9,817
  • Beacon College $51,680
  • Room & Board
  • PSC $12,186
  • Beacon College $15,658
  • Average Net Price
  • PSC $10,011
  • Beacon College $46,997
  • Average Grant Aid
  • PSC $3,305
  • Beacon College $23,988
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • PSC 72%
  • Beacon College 93%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • PSC -
  • Beacon College 674
  • Admitted
  • PSC -
  • Beacon College 293
  • Acceptance Rate
  • PSC Open
  • Beacon College 43.5%
  • Enrolled
  • PSC Open
  • Beacon College 38.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • PSC
  • Beacon College
  • Typical ACT score
  • PSC
  • Beacon College
  • Average High School GPA
  • PSC -
  • Beacon College 3.2
  • Typical High School Grades
  • PSC -
  • Beacon College B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • PSC Unavailable
  • Beacon College Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • PSC
  • Beacon College Low
  • ACT Range
  • PSC
  • Beacon College
  • SAT Range
  • PSC
  • Beacon College
  • Submit Test Scores
  • PSC Open admission
  • Beacon College Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • PSC
  • Beacon College

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • PSC 19:1
  • Beacon College 12:1
  • Popular Majors
  • PSC
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (52%)
    • Health Professions (20%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (10%)
    • Education (9%)
    • Work and Family Studies (3%)
  • Beacon College
    • Human Services (41%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (33%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (26%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • PSC -
  • Beacon College 82%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • PSC $34,000
  • Beacon College N/A
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • PSC 40%
  • Beacon College 55%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • PSC $9,500
  • Beacon College $25,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • PSC $98
  • Beacon College $258

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • PSC 36%
  • Beacon College 65%
  • % Women
  • PSC 64%
  • Beacon College 35%
  • Racial Diversity
  • PSC High
  • Beacon College Medium
  • HBCU
  • PSC No
  • Beacon College No
  • % White
  • PSC 53%
  • Beacon College 70%
  • % Asian
  • PSC 2%
  • Beacon College 3%
  • % Black
  • PSC 17%
  • Beacon College 15%
  • % Hispanic
  • PSC 20%
  • Beacon College 4%
  • % Native American
  • PSC 0%
  • Beacon College 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • PSC 0%
  • Beacon College 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • PSC 2%
  • Beacon College 4%
  • % International
  • PSC 1%
  • Beacon College 3%
  • % Unknown Race
  • PSC 4%
  • Beacon College 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • PSC 85%
  • Beacon College 34%
  • % Out-of-State
  • PSC 0%
  • Beacon College 65%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Polk State College is larger than Beacon College based on total student enrollment (10,318 students vs. 531 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Polk State College is located in Winter Haven, FL (Small City setting); Beacon College is in Leesburg, FL (Small Suburban setting).
  • Polk State College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Beacon College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Polk State College 19:1; Beacon College 12:1.

PSC vs. Beacon College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, PSC or Beacon College? 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 Polk State College than Beacon College ($10,011 vs. $46,997).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Polk State College are 22.2% lower than at Beacon College ($12,186 vs. $15,658).
  • Beacon College is 1,818.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than PSC (about $48,986 more per year; $51,680.00 vs. $2,694.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 426.4% higher at Beacon College than at Polk State College (about $41,863 more per year; $51,680.00 vs. $9,817.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Beacon College than at Polk State College (93% vs. 72%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Beacon College students is 625.8% larger than aid received by Polk State College students ($23,988 vs. $3,305).

PSC vs. Beacon College Admissions comparison

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

  • Polk State College reports an open admissions policy.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: PSC - Open admission; Beacon College - Test-free.

PSC vs. Beacon College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for PSC and Beacon College? 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).

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Polk State College graduates have a $15,500 lower median loan debt than Beacon College graduates ($9,500 vs. $25,000).
  • Among borrowers, PSC graduates have an estimated $160 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Beacon College graduates ($98 vs. $258).
  • More Beacon College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former PSC students, three years after graduation. (55% 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.