PSC vs. DSC

Comparable Facts

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

Polk State College is larger than DSC based on total student enrollment (10,318 students vs. 5,135 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

PSC vs. DSC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, PSC or DSC? 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 Dalton State College than PSC ($5,625 vs. $10,011).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Dalton State College are 14.5% lower than at Polk State College ($10,419 vs. $12,186).
• Dalton State College is 23.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than PSC (about $642 more per year; $3,336.00 vs. $2,694.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 8.5% higher at DSC than at Polk State College (about $839 more per year; $10,656.00 vs. $9,817.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Dalton State College than at Polk State College (92% vs. 72%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Dalton State College students is 101.3% larger than aid received by Polk State College students ($6,654 vs. $3,305).

PSC vs. DSC Admissions comparison

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

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: PSC - Open admission; DSC - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: DSC Jul 1, 2027.

PSC vs. DSC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for PSC and DSC? 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 Polk State College earn a median of about $1,500 more per year than DSC graduates about ten years after starting college ($34,000 vs. $32,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Polk State College graduates have a $5,387 lower median loan debt than DSC graduates ($9,500 vs. $14,887).
• Among borrowers, PSC graduates have an estimated $55 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than DSC graduates ($98 vs. $153).
• More DSC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former PSC students, three years after graduation. (42% 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.