Florida's affordable public college offering associate and bachelor degrees across multiple Polk County campuses.
Polk State College offers six bachelor's degrees in Supervision and Management, Criminal Justice, Nursing, Aerospace Sciences, Early Childhood Education, and Elementary Education. The college also provides Associate in Arts and Associate in Science degrees, plus workforce certificates and vocational training. Programs span health sciences, business, engineering, technology, education, public safety, and the arts. The college emphasizes small class sizes, hands-on learning, and flexible delivery (in-person, hybrid, online).
Polk State operates four main locations across Polk County and three charter high schools (Chain of Lakes Collegiate, Lakeland Collegiate, Gateway to College). The college serves over 20,000 students with 68.4% part-time and 31.6% full-time enrollment. Athletics compete in NJCAA Region 8 Suncoast Conference with men's basketball, baseball, and women's soccer, softball, volleyball, and cheerleading. The college provides library, tutoring, and testing centers at multiple campuses.
Polk State maintains an open-door admissions policy, accepting high school graduates with a diploma or GED certificate holders. Application is free. The college offers flexible entry during any term with innovative scheduling options including online, weekend, accelerated, and shift-friendly classes. Transfer pathways include FUSE (partnership with USF), FAMU-IGNITE, and UCF Transfer Connect programs.
Polk State's EMS Program graduates achieve 100% licensure pass rates, far exceeding state and national averages. The college emphasizes real-world, hands-on training with experienced faculty. Recent graduate outcomes include successful transitions to emergency medical services, medical school, and four-year university programs through transfer agreements.