PSC vs. Parkside

Comparable Facts

Compare Polk State College in Winter Haven, FL with University of Wisconsin Parkside in Kenosha, WI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Polk State College is larger than Parkside based on total student enrollment (10,318 students vs. 3,925 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Polk State College is located in Winter Haven, FL (Small City setting); University of Wisconsin Parkside is in Kenosha, WI (Midsize Suburban setting).
• Polk State College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Wisconsin Parkside is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Polk State College 19:1; University of Wisconsin Parkside 20:1.

PSC vs. Parkside Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, PSC or Parkside? 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 Parkside ($10,011 vs. $10,234).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Wisconsin Parkside are 28.2% lower than at Polk State College ($8,750 vs. $12,186).
• University of Wisconsin Parkside is 207% more expensive for in-state tuition than PSC (about $5,576 more per year; $8,270.00 vs. $2,694.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 77.5% higher at Parkside than at Polk State College (about $7,612 more per year; $17,429.00 vs. $9,817.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Polk State College than at University of Wisconsin Parkside (72% vs. 56%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of Wisconsin Parkside students is 129.9% larger than aid received by Polk State College students ($7,598 vs. $3,305).

PSC vs. Parkside Admissions comparison

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

• Polk State College reports an open admissions policy.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsUniversity of Wisconsin Parkside 17/23.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: PSC - Open admission; Parkside - Test optional.

PSC vs. Parkside Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for PSC and Parkside? 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 Wisconsin Parkside earn a median of about $7,000 more per year than PSC graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,000 vs. $34,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Polk State College graduates have a $13,465 lower median loan debt than Parkside graduates ($9,500 vs. $22,965).
• Among borrowers, PSC graduates have an estimated $139 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Parkside graduates ($98 vs. $237).
• More Parkside graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former PSC students, three years after graduation. (54% 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.