PSC vs. FIT

Comparable Facts

Compare Polk State College in Winter Haven, FL with Fashion Institute of Technology in New York, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Polk State College is larger than FIT based on total student enrollment (10,318 students vs. 8,206 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Polk State College is located in Winter Haven, FL (Small City setting); Fashion Institute of Technology is in New York, NY (Large City setting).
• Polk State College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Fashion Institute of Technology is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Polk State College 19:1; Fashion Institute of Technology 16:1.

PSC vs. FIT Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, PSC or FIT? 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 FIT ($10,011 vs. $16,340).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Polk State College are 52.1% lower than at Fashion Institute of Technology ($12,186 vs. $25,458).
• Fashion Institute of Technology is 133.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than PSC (about $3,600 more per year; $6,294.00 vs. $2,694.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 71.9% higher at FIT than at Polk State College (about $7,057 more per year; $16,874.00 vs. $9,817.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Polk State College than at Fashion Institute of Technology (72% vs. 43%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Fashion Institute of Technology students is 151.3% larger than aid received by Polk State College students ($8,304 vs. $3,305).

PSC vs. FIT Admissions comparison

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

• Polk State College reports an open admissions policy.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: PSC - Open admission; FIT - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: FIT Jan 1, 2027.

PSC vs. FIT Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for PSC and FIT? 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 Fashion Institute of Technology earn a median of about $17,600 more per year than PSC graduates about ten years after starting college ($51,600 vs. $34,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Polk State College graduates have a $10,000 lower median loan debt than FIT graduates ($9,500 vs. $19,500).
• Among borrowers, PSC graduates have an estimated $103 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than FIT graduates ($98 vs. $201).
• More FIT graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former PSC students, three years after graduation. (70% 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.