PSC vs. GS

Comparable Facts

Compare Polk State College in Winter Haven, FL with Georgia Southern University in Statesboro, GA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Georgia Southern University is larger than PSC based on total student enrollment (27,423 students vs. 10,318 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Polk State College is located in Winter Haven, FL (Small City setting); Georgia Southern University is in Statesboro, GA (Remote Town setting).
• Polk State College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Georgia Southern University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Polk State College 19:1; Georgia Southern University 25:1.

PSC vs. GS Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, PSC or GS? 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 GS ($10,011 vs. $15,971).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Georgia Southern University are 5.7% lower than at Polk State College ($11,492 vs. $12,186).
• Georgia Southern University is 123.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than PSC (about $3,328 more per year; $6,022.00 vs. $2,694.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 80.6% higher at GS than at Polk State College (about $7,917 more per year; $17,734.00 vs. $9,817.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Georgia Southern University than at Polk State College (90% vs. 72%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Georgia Southern University students is 172.1% larger than aid received by Polk State College students ($8,994 vs. $3,305).

PSC vs. GS Admissions comparison

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

• Polk State College reports an open admissions policy.
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsGeorgia Southern University 986/1133.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsGeorgia Southern University 18/23.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: PSC - Open admission; GS - Required.
• Typical fall application deadline: GS May 1, 2027.

PSC vs. GS Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for PSC and GS? 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 Georgia Southern University earn a median of about $10,800 more per year than PSC graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,800 vs. $34,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Polk State College graduates have a $13,500 lower median loan debt than GS graduates ($9,500 vs. $23,000).
• Among borrowers, PSC graduates have an estimated $139 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than GS graduates ($98 vs. $237).
• More GS graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former PSC students, three years after graduation. (52% 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.