PSC vs. Santa Fe College

Comparable Facts

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

Santa Fe College is larger than PSC based on total student enrollment (12,758 students vs. 10,318 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Polk State College is located in Winter Haven, FL (Small City setting); Santa Fe College is in Gainesville, FL (Midsize Suburban setting).
• Polk State College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Santa Fe College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Polk State College 19:1; Santa Fe College 18:1.

PSC vs. Santa Fe College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, PSC or Santa Fe 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 Santa Fe College ($10,011 vs. $11,903).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Santa Fe College are 14.9% lower than at Polk State College ($10,367 vs. $12,186).
• Polk State College is 5.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Santa Fe College (about $131 more per year; $2,694.00 vs. $2,563.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 6.8% higher at PSC than at Santa Fe College (about $628 more per year; $9,817.00 vs. $9,189.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Polk State College than at Santa Fe College (72% vs. 64%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Polk State College students is 27% larger than aid received by Santa Fe College students ($3,305 vs. $2,602).

PSC vs. Santa Fe College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, PSC or Santa Fe 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 Santa Fe College 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; Santa Fe College - Open admission.

PSC vs. Santa Fe College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for PSC and Santa Fe 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).

• Graduates from Santa Fe College earn a median of about $3,500 more per year than PSC graduates about ten years after starting college ($37,500 vs. $34,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Polk State College graduates have a $1,525 lower median loan debt than Santa Fe College graduates ($9,500 vs. $11,025).
• Among borrowers, PSC graduates have an estimated $15 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Santa Fe College graduates ($98 vs. $113).
• More PSC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Santa Fe College students, three years after graduation. (40% vs. 34%)

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.