PSC vs. USC Beaufort

Comparable Facts

Compare Polk State College in Winter Haven, FL with University of South Carolina Beaufort in Bluffton, SC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Polk State College is larger than USC Beaufort based on total student enrollment (10,318 students vs. 2,208 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Polk State College is located in Winter Haven, FL (Small City setting); University of South Carolina Beaufort is in Bluffton, SC (Distant Rural setting).
• Polk State College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of South Carolina Beaufort is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Polk State College 19:1; University of South Carolina Beaufort 15:1.

PSC vs. USC Beaufort Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, PSC or USC Beaufort? 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 USC Beaufort ($10,011 vs. $15,363).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Polk State College are 4.2% lower than at University of South Carolina Beaufort ($12,186 vs. $12,725).
• University of South Carolina Beaufort is 298.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than PSC (about $8,036 more per year; $10,730.00 vs. $2,694.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 121.8% higher at USC Beaufort than at Polk State College (about $11,959 more per year; $21,776.00 vs. $9,817.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of South Carolina Beaufort than at Polk State College (88% vs. 72%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of South Carolina Beaufort students is 163% larger than aid received by Polk State College students ($8,692 vs. $3,305).

PSC vs. USC Beaufort Admissions comparison

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

• Polk State College reports an open admissions policy.
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsUniversity of South Carolina Beaufort 940/1110.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsUniversity of South Carolina Beaufort 17/22.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: PSC - Open admission; USC Beaufort - Test-free.

PSC vs. USC Beaufort Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for PSC and USC Beaufort? 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 University of South Carolina Beaufort earn a median of about $2,700 more per year than PSC graduates about ten years after starting college ($36,700 vs. $34,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Polk State College graduates have a $14,974 lower median loan debt than USC Beaufort graduates ($9,500 vs. $24,474).
• Among borrowers, PSC graduates have an estimated $155 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than USC Beaufort graduates ($98 vs. $253).
• More USC Beaufort graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former PSC students, three years after graduation. (50% 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.