Public · COLLEGE PAYOFF

Polk State College

Winter Haven, FL · 17 reportable field-and-credential outcomes

MODELED SCENARIO · Negative payoff

−$186,408 over 10 years

Modeled from observed year-5 institution earnings and the institution-wide average net price over four years.

At these assumptions, the estimated earnings premium does not recover the modeled economic investment within ten years.

69.6 yrsModeled economic break-even
−86%Modeled 10-year ROI
$48,130Observed earnings · year 5
Economic ROI includes direct price and earnings forgone during study · $45,000 comparison earnings · values held flat · see the formula
ECONOMIC INVESTMENT → PAYBACK

Estimated payoff over ten years.

The scenario counts direct price and earnings forgone upfront, then applies the reported annual earnings premium.

10-YEAR PAYOFF CURVECumulative economic payoff after graduation
−$186,408at year 10
Net gainInvestment not yet recovered
NET GAIN$0UNRECOVERED
−$217,7080
2
4
6
8
−$186,40810
Years after graduationBreak-even: 69.6 years
FEDERAL COST DATA

Four ways to read college price.

Annual college-wide figures from the current College Scorecard release. Average net price covers full-time, first-time undergraduates receiving federal aid; public-college figures use in-state students. Program tuition and individual aid offers may differ.

Published in-state tuition$2,694
Sticker price
Published out-of-state tuition$9,817
Sticker price
Average net price$9,427
Title IV student average
Cost of attendance$13,451
Tuition + living budget
PRICE SOURCECollege reported · annual amount · federal dataset
OBSERVED FEDERAL MEASURES

Cost, completion and earnings context

$9,427Average net price / year
$13,451Cost of attendance
$48,130Median earnings · year 5 after completion
35.3%Completion rate
Not availableAdmission rate
7,180Student size
NATIONAL CONTEXT

How this college compares

Percentiles compare this institution with currently operating colleges that report the same federal measure.

57thEarnings percentile
18thCompletion percentile
EARNINGS PATH

Reported earnings over time

$45,888Year 1
$53,180Year 4
$48,130Year 5

Separate federal cohorts may underlie different measurement years.

PROGRAM PAYOFF SPREAD

The college average is not the whole story.

Observed earnings vary substantially by field and credential at the same institution.

1Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing · Bachelor's Degree$94,2692Air Transportation · Associate's Degree$83,6573Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing · Associate's Degree$79,6604Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions · Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma$75,5395Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions · Associate's Degree$69,8156Criminal Justice and Corrections · Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma$58,9127Criminal Justice and Corrections · Bachelor's Degree$55,6348Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants · Non-Credential Program (Preparatory Coursework/Teacher Certification)$55,070

Observed year-4 earnings · compare like fields and credentials before deciding

BUILD A REAL SHORTLIST

Comparable colleges in FL

Currently operating public institutions with the closest combination of annual net price and observed year-5 earnings. Similarity is descriptive—not a quality ranking.

Lake Worth, FL

Palm Beach State College

Annual net price
$9,182
Observed earnings · year 5
$47,727
Modeled 10-year ROI
-87%
Open college profile →
Sanford, FL

Seminole State College of Florida

Annual net price
$8,970
Observed earnings · year 5
$49,463
Modeled 10-year ROI
-79%
Open college profile →
Gainesville, FL

Santa Fe College

Annual net price
$11,098
Observed earnings · year 5
$48,475
Modeled 10-year ROI
-85%
Open college profile →
Miami, FL

Miami Dade College

Annual net price
$5,463
Observed earnings · year 5
$48,189
Modeled 10-year ROI
-84%
Open college profile →
ALL REPORTABLE PROGRAM CATEGORIES

Explore exact field-and-credential outcomes

Federal fieldCredentialEarnings, year 4Federal debt
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingBachelor's Degree$94,269$22,416
Air TransportationAssociate's Degree$83,657$11,197
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingAssociate's Degree$79,660$15,460
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment ProfessionsUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma$75,539$11,000
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment ProfessionsAssociate's Degree$69,815$16,995
Criminal Justice and CorrectionsUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma$58,912$13,132
Criminal Justice and CorrectionsBachelor's Degree$55,634$15,769
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing AssistantsNon-Credential Program (Preparatory Coursework/Teacher Certification)$55,070Not available
Business Administration, Management and OperationsAssociate's Degree$54,431$8,000
Allied Health and Medical Assisting ServicesAssociate's Degree$53,932$24,250
Business Administration, Management and OperationsBachelor's Degree$52,404$17,030
Criminal Justice and CorrectionsAssociate's Degree$48,056Not available
Health and Medical Administrative ServicesUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma$44,127$14,479
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and HumanitiesAssociate's Degree$43,940$8,750
Computer Software and Media ApplicationsAssociate's Degree$41,443Not available
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related ServicesAssociate's Degree$28,739Not available
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and MethodsBachelor's DegreeNot available$14,000

Earnings, price, completion and enrollment are observed federal measures. ROI, payoff and break-even are modeled scenarios built from those measures and fixed assumptions. College payoff is not the payoff of every degree at this school; use the program table for a more precise comparison.