PSC vs. Ringling College of Art and Design

Comparable Facts

Compare Polk State College in Winter Haven, FL with Ringling College of Art and Design in Sarasota, FL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Polk State College is larger than Ringling College of Art and Design based on total student enrollment (10,318 students vs. 1,666 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Polk State College is located in Winter Haven, FL (Small City setting); Ringling College of Art and Design is in Sarasota, FL (Small City setting).
• Polk State College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Ringling College of Art and Design is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Polk State College 19:1; Ringling College of Art and Design 11:1.

PSC vs. Ringling College of Art and Design Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, PSC or Ringling College of Art and Design? 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 Ringling College of Art and Design ($10,011 vs. $62,012).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Polk State College are 36.2% lower than at Ringling College of Art and Design ($12,186 vs. $19,100).
• Ringling College of Art and Design is 2,049.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than PSC (about $55,206 more per year; $57,900.00 vs. $2,694.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 489.8% higher at Ringling College of Art and Design than at Polk State College (about $48,083 more per year; $57,900.00 vs. $9,817.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Ringling College of Art and Design than at Polk State College (100% vs. 72%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Ringling College of Art and Design students is 458% larger than aid received by Polk State College students ($18,442 vs. $3,305).

PSC vs. Ringling College of Art and Design Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, PSC or Ringling College of Art and Design? 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 Ringling College of Art and Design and PSC.

• Polk State College reports an open admissions policy.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: PSC - Open admission; Ringling College of Art and Design - Test-free.

PSC vs. Ringling College of Art and Design Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for PSC and Ringling College of Art and Design? 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 Ringling College of Art and Design earn a median of about $7,800 more per year than PSC graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,800 vs. $34,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Polk State College graduates have a $17,500 lower median loan debt than Ringling College of Art and Design graduates ($9,500 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, PSC graduates have an estimated $181 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Ringling College of Art and Design graduates ($98 vs. $279).
• More Ringling College of Art and Design graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former PSC students, three years after graduation. (67% 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.