PSC vs. Fitchburg State

Should I go to Polk State College or Fitchburg State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if PSC or Fitchburg State is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
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Polk State College vs. Fitchburg State University comparison
Polk State College Fitchburg State University College 3 College 4
Fitchburg State University
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Overview

 PSC Fitchburg State
Location Winter Haven, FL Fitchburg, MA
Setting Small City Midsize Suburban
Enrollment 8,180 6,554
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #549
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website polk.edu fitchburgstate.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 PSC Fitchburg State
Tuition (In State) $2,483 $970
Tuition (Out of State) $9,933 $7,050
Room & Board $8,339 $13,516
Avg Net Price $9,588 $15,535
Avg Grant Aid $3,168 $7,093
% Receiving Grant Aid 71% 76%

Admission

 PSC Fitchburg State
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied - 3,084
Admitted - 2,654
Acceptance Rate Open 86.1%
Enrolled % Open 18.3%
Avg High School GPA - 3.29
Typical High School Grades - B
Admissions Standards Unavailable Average
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 22/28
SAT Range 1020/1220
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline

Academics

 PSC Fitchburg State
Student to Faculty Ratio 20:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (52%)
  • Health Professions (20%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (10%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Work and Family Studies (3%)
  • General Studies (16%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (14%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Health Professions (6%)

Outcomes

 PSC Fitchburg State
Graduation Rate - 47%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $34,000 $44,000
Making Student Loan Payments 40% 65%
Median Student Loan Debt $9,500 $22,685
Median Loan Payment $98 $234

Diversity

 PSC Fitchburg State
% Men 34% 38%
% Women 66% 62%
Racial Diversity High Low
HBCU No No
% White 53% 73%
% Black 17% 9%
% Hispanic 20% 11%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 3%
% International 1% 1%
% Unknown Race 4% 1%

Students

 PSC Fitchburg State
% In-State 99% 90%
% Out-of-State 0% 10%

Campus

 PSC Fitchburg State
Campus Housing No Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan No Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Polk State College is larger than than Fitchburg State based on total student enrollment (8,180 students vs. 6,554 students)

PSC vs. Fitchburg State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, PSC or Fitchburg State?

  • Polk State College is 156% more expensive to attend than Fitchburg State for in-state tuition ($2,483.00 vs. $970.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 40.9% higher at PSC than Fitchburg State University ($9,933.00 vs. $7,050.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Polk State College than Fitchburg State ($9,588 vs. $15,535)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Polk State College are 62.1% lower than costs at Fitchburg State University ($8,339 vs. $13,516)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Fitchburg State University than Polk State College (76% vs. 71%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Fitchburg State University students is 123.9% larger than aid received Polk State College ($7,093 vs. $3,168)

Which college is harder to get into, PSC or Fitchburg State? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Fitchburg State or PSC .

PSC vs. Fitchburg State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, PSC or Fitchburg State? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Fitchburg State and PSC.

  • Graduates from Fitchburg State University earn on average $10,000 more per year than PSC graduates after ten years. ($44,000 vs. $34,000)
  • Polk State College students graduate with a $13,185 lower median federal student loan debt than Fitchburg State graduates. ($9,500 vs. $22,685)
  • PSC graduates are paying $136 less per month on federal student loans than Fitchburg State graduates. ($98 vs. $234)
  • More Fitchburg State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former PSC students, three years after graduation. (65% vs. 40%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/