Polk State College

    Winter Haven, FL, United States

    Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition

    • Public
    • Small city
    • Baccalaureate/associate college

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    Polk State College Outcomes

    Polk State College has 17 programs with reported graduate earnings. The highest is Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (bachelor's), where graduates earn a median $94,269 four years after finishing, against $86,020 for the same field nationally.

    Outcomes

    Verified data· U.S. College Scorecard · 2025
    32.9%

    Graduation rate

    First-time, full-time students finishing within 150% of normal time

    67%

    First-year retention

    Students who return for a second year

    Median earnings

    $44,710

    Former students who received federal aid

    Polk State College graduate earnings by major

    Source: U.S. College Scorecard, field of study, 2025

    Median earnings of graduates who received federal aid, one and four years after finishing, and the median federal loan debt they borrowed at Polk State College. The field median is the middle value for the same field and credential across every college that reports it. 24 more programs have too few graduates for earnings to be published.

    Largest program
    Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
    794 graduates · $43,940 median earnings
    Above the national median
    12 of 17 programs
    Graduate earnings compared with the same field and credential at other colleges
    Lowest debt for the pay
    Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
    Median debt is 11% of a year's earnings

    Highest-earning programs

    Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (bachelor's)
    $94,269
    Field median $86,020
    Air Transportation (associate)
    $83,657
    Field median $75,637
    Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (associate)
    $79,660
    Field median $79,943
    Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (certificate)
    $75,539
    Field median $56,695
    Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (associate)
    $69,815
    Field median $64,063
    Criminal Justice and Corrections (certificate)
    $58,912
    Field median $58,772
    Criminal Justice and Corrections (bachelor's)
    $55,634
    Field median $54,469
    Business Administration, Management and Operations (associate)
    $54,431
    Field median $49,323
    Median earnings four years after finishing, or one year where four is not reported.

    Bachelor's programs

    Bachelor's programs: graduates, median earnings 1 and 4 years after finishing, national median earnings for the field, and median federal debt
    ProgramGraduatesEarnings 1 yrEarnings 4 yrField medianMedian debt
    Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing70$84,637$94,269$86,02010% above$10,000
    Criminal Justice and Corrections32$41,312$55,634$54,4692% above$17,409
    Business Administration, Management and Operations192$49,699$52,404$64,59019% below$13,549
    Air Transportation25$51,653N/A$54,0394% belowN/A
    Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods33$48,277N/A$44,3829% above$10,152

    Associate programs

    Associate programs: graduates, median earnings 1 and 4 years after finishing, national median earnings for the field, and median federal debt
    ProgramGraduatesEarnings 1 yrEarnings 4 yrField medianMedian debt
    Air Transportation16N/A$83,657$75,63711% aboveN/A
    Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing132$75,110$79,660$79,9430% above$10,500
    Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions48$65,159$69,815$64,0639% above$8,111
    Business Administration, Management and Operations31$50,329$54,431$49,32310% aboveN/A
    Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services7$45,235$53,932$46,24617% aboveN/A
    Criminal Justice and Corrections32$38,377$48,056$47,3062% aboveN/A
    Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities794$29,583$43,940$42,7743% above$9,359
    Computer Software and Media Applications15N/A$41,443$39,5985% aboveN/A
    Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services7$28,150$28,739$34,75017% belowN/A

    Certificate programs

    Certificate programs: graduates, median earnings 1 and 4 years after finishing, national median earnings for the field, and median federal debt
    ProgramGraduatesEarnings 1 yrEarnings 4 yrField medianMedian debt
    Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions39N/A$75,539$56,69533% aboveN/A
    Criminal Justice and Corrections195$57,879$58,912$58,7720% aboveN/A
    Health and Medical Administrative Services31$37,650$44,127$38,71414% aboveN/A

    Career paths from this college

    Careers linked to the programs Polk State College reports, highest national median pay first. Pay and outlook are BLS figures for the whole occupation, not for this college's graduates.

    Explore all 295 careers
    • Bright outlook

      Healthcare practitioners

      Nurse Anesthetists

      Median pay
      $236,590
      Outlook
      Much faster than average

      Master's degree

      Via Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing

      • Critical Thinking
      • Reading Comprehension
      • Active Learning
    • Management

      Chief Executives

      Median pay
      $213,990
      Outlook
      As fast as average

      Bachelor's degree

      Via Business Administration, Management and Operations, Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations

      • Judgment and Decision Making
      • Complex Problem Solving
      • Critical Thinking
    • Management

      Chief Sustainability Officers

      Median pay
      $213,990
      Outlook
      As fast as average

      Bachelor's degree

      Via Business Administration, Management and Operations, Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations

      • Critical Thinking
      • Writing
      • Active Listening
    • Bright outlook

      Management

      Computer and Information Systems Managers

      Median pay
      $175,140
      Outlook
      Much faster than average

      Bachelor's degree

      Via Computer and Information Sciences, General, Computer Software and Media Applications and 2 more

      • Critical Thinking
      • Active Listening
      • Reading Comprehension
    • Bright outlook

      Management

      Architectural and Engineering Managers

      Median pay
      $171,270
      Outlook
      Faster than average

      Bachelor's degree

      Via Business Administration, Management and Operations

      • Reading Comprehension
      • Active Listening
      • Complex Problem Solving

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