Polk State College
- Company typePublic
- Founded1964
- HeadquartersWinter Haven, United States
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Polk State College does
Polk State College is a public community college founded in 1964, headquartered in Winter Haven, Florida, and operating as part of the Florida College System under the Florida Department of Education. It serves Polk County through five physical campuses (Winter Haven, Lakeland, Bartow/Clear Springs Advanced Technology Center, Lake Wales/JD Alexander Center) plus specialized centers (Airside Center, Center for Public Safety). The institution delivers Associate, Bachelor of Applied Science, and certificate programs in workforce-aligned verticals including Aerospace Sciences (ranked No. 2 nationally for affordability by Best Value Schools), Criminal Justice with Crime Scene Investigations, Supply Chain Management, Healthcare, Nursing, Digital Media, and Business Information Technology, plus the Statewide XploreFLED initiative enabling out-of-state online enrollment at reduced tuition.
Its technology stack is built on industry-standard educational platforms: Ellucian Cloud Experience (Banner) for the student information system accessed via the Polk Portal, Canvas as the learning management system for online and hybrid courses, BankMobile for financial aid disbursement, and BNCollege for bookstore operations including a mobile app. Differentiated instructional assets — such as the 'murder boxes' shipped to online Criminal Justice students — are experiential kit-based, not technology-platform-driven. AI/ML capabilities are not disclosed in the input data.
The revenue model combines state appropriations from Florida (as a Florida College System institution), tuition and fees from in-state and out-of-state learners (standard out-of-state upper-division tuition at $469.70/credit hour; XploreFLED reduced rate at $290/credit hour), employer-sponsored scholarship and internship pipelines (LEGOLAND Florida, Winter Haven Hospital, JetBlue, Lakeland Linder Regional Airport), and auxiliary services including campus bookstores and athletics. Go-to-market is direct-to-consumer via traditional admissions, dual enrollment for high schoolers, veterans services (400+ individuals supported), and corporate partnerships through Corporate College that channel experiential learning into workforce placement (86% job placement rate, the highest in Florida for workforce programs).
Polk State College firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Polk State College
- Legal name
- Polk State College
- Website
- https://polk.edu
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 1964
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Polk State College industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Higher Education
- NAICS
- Junior Colleges (6112), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Comprehensive Community Colleges (Transfer + Workforce) (EDAHADAE)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Technical Community Colleges (Applied/CTE-Focused) (EDAHADAD)
Keywords
Where Polk State College is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Winter Haven
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices4 records
Markets served
Polk State College business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Tuition and Fees: Revenue generated from student tuition for in-state and out-of-state students across associate, bachelor, and certificate programs. Standard out-of-state upper-division tuition is $469.70 per credit hour, with reduced XploreFLED rate of $290 per credit hour for eligible out-of-state students in select programs.
- Corporate Partnerships and Internship Programs: Partnerships with employers like LEGOLAND Florida Resort provide scholarship funding and internship opportunities, creating employer-sponsored educational pathways.
- State Funding: Public college receives state funding from Florida as part of the Florida College System, with legislative session funding for new campus development.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | XploreFLED Out-of-State Tuition Rate |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Standard In-State Tuition |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels4 records
Polk State College product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Polk State College is a public community college delivering affordable Associate in Arts, Associate in Science, Bachelor of Applied Science, Bachelor of Science, and certificate programs across multiple Florida campuses and online. Core offerings include degree programs in Aerospace Sciences, Criminal Justice (with Crime Scene Investigations concentration), Business Information Technology, Supply Chain Management, Digital Media Technology, Nursing, and Early Childhood Education, supplemented by workforce development through Corporate College and employer-sponsored internship pipelines such as the Eagle Co-Op with LEGOLAND Florida Resort.
Product overview
Polk State College is a community college providing affordable, flexible in-person, hybrid, and online classes across multiple Florida campuses (Winter Haven, Lakeland, Bartow, and Lake Wales). The institution offers a comprehensive portfolio of educational products including Associate in Arts, Associate in Science, and Bachelor degree programs. Key products include Business Information Technology (BAS) for business intelligence and programming, Criminal Justice with Crime Scene Investigations concentration featuring innovative 'murder box' online labs, Supply Chain Management programs, Aerospace Sciences (ranked No. 2 nationally for affordability), and Digital Media Technology with Studio 1308 production facility. The institution provides supporting platforms including Canvas LMS for online learning, Ellucian Cloud Experience (Polk Portal) for student services, and the XploreFLEd initiative expanding access to out-of-state students. Additional services include bookstores, veterans services, tutoring centers, and internship programs through partnerships with employers like LEGOLAND Florida Resort. The college serves diverse student populations through traditional degree paths, dual enrollment for high school students, and workforce development programs.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Polk State College Bookstores: Campus bookstores operated at Winter Haven and Lakeland campuses offering textbooks, supplies, and the My College Bookstore app
- Charlie (Eagle Mascot)
- Polkcast
- Studio 1308
- XploreFLED
Products and services
- Aerospace Sciences Program Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Sciences with concentrations in Aerospace Administration and Professional Pilot, plus Associate in Science degrees. Ranked No. 2 in the country for affordability by Best Value Schools and includes FAA-authorized flight hour reduction for pilot certification.
- Business Information Technology Concentration (BAS)
Quantifiable outcome
- 80% of students graduate with zero student-loan debt
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Polk State College
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Polk State College technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration5 records
Feature1 record
Polk State College partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Polk State College FoundationcoreProvides scholarship support for students in financial need. Awarded scholarship to Carlos Buitrago to complete his Radiography Program studies.
- LEGOLAND Florida ResortcoreLongstanding partnership since 2015 providing the Eagle Co-Op Internship Program with over 60 students participating. Partnership includes prepaid scholarship program for LEGOLAND employees, career pathways, and student presentations to executives. The partnership serves both academic and workforce development goals.
- Winter Haven HospitalcoreClinical rotation site for Polk State Radiography Program. Students complete required clinical work at the hospital, with opportunities for immediate employment upon graduation. Graduate Carlos Buitrago hired as interventional radiographer upon program completion.
- Lakeland Linder Regional AirportcoreKey industry partner providing internship and job opportunities for aerospace students. The airport recently transitioned from regional to international status with U.S. Customs and Border Protection facility.
- ExpressJetcoreAviation industry partner offering job opportunities for aerospace graduates. One of several major airline partnerships including JetBlue.
- JetBluecoreMajor airline partner providing career opportunities for Polk State Aerospace graduates.
- Polk County Sheriff's OfficecoreForensic Investigations Administrator Anndee Kendrick serves as adjunct instructor for the Criminal Justice Program. Advisory board member for program curriculum development.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves10 records
Expansion highlights7 records
Polk State College competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Valencia College: Florida College System public community college in Orlando with associate and bachelor degree programs. Directly comparable as a sister Florida community college competing in the same state system for in-state and XploreFLED-style out-of-state online enrollment.
- Hillsborough Community College: Public Florida community college serving the Tampa Bay area with associate/bachelor programs and similar workforce focus. Adjacent geographic peer competing for the same regional student pool and Florida College System funding.
- St. Petersburg College: Florida College System institution offering AA, AS, BAS and BS programs with strong online presence. Comparable in mission, portfolio, and pursuit of out-of-state online enrollment via SPC's robust distance learning catalog.
- Eastern Florida State College: Florida College System public college serving Brevard County with associate, bachelor and workforce certificates. Comparable institution within the same state system with parallel XploreFLED-eligible program mix.
- Florida SouthWestern State College: Florida College System public college with similar baccalaureate expansion and online programs. Sister Florida community college competing for the same statewide student and XploreFLED out-of-state pool.
- Pasco-Hernando State College: Florida College System institution serving Pasco and Hernando counties with AA/AS/BAS offerings. Direct system peer of similar size and portfolio with overlapping workforce program structure.
Regional players
- College of Central Florida: Central Florida community college serving Marion, Citrus, and Levy counties. Comparable Florida College System peer with similar AA/AS/BAS mix and workforce focus, though in a different sub-region than Polk State.
- Indian River State College: Florida College System institution on the Treasure Coast offering associate and bachelor programs. Comparable in scale and program mix, though serving a different geographic catchment within Florida.
- Lake-Sumter State College: Central Florida community college in the Florida College System serving Lake and Sumter counties. Closely comparable in size and mission, sitting immediately adjacent to Polk State's service area.
Broad incumbents
- Broward College: Large Florida College System institution with extensive online, associate, and bachelor offerings. Comparable in online-program ambition and workforce focus, but materially larger scale and broader geographic reach than Polk State.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights2 records
Customer concentration
Polk State College social profiles
Digital presencePolk State College financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Polk State College leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Polk State College funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Polk State College M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Polk State College
What does Polk State College do?
Polk State College is a public community college delivering affordable Associate in Arts, Associate in Science, Bachelor of Applied Science, Bachelor of Science, and certificate programs across multiple Florida campuses and online. Core offerings include degree programs in Aerospace Sciences, Criminal Justice (with Crime Scene Investigations concentration), Business Information Technology, Supply Chain Management, Digital Media Technology, Nursing, and Early Childhood Education, supplemented by workforce development through Corporate College and employer-sponsored internship pipelines such as the Eagle Co-Op with LEGOLAND Florida Resort.
Is Polk State College a public or private company?
Polk State College is a public company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Polk State College founded?
Polk State College was founded in 1964. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Polk State College based?
Polk State College is headquartered in Winter Haven, United States, in the North America region.
How does Polk State College make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Tuition and Fees are the primary driver. The others are corporate Partnerships and Internship Programs and state Funding.
Who are Polk State College's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Valencia College, Hillsborough Community College, St. Petersburg College, Eastern Florida State College, Florida SouthWestern State College and Pasco-Hernando State College. Regional players are College of Central Florida, Indian River State College and Lake-Sumter State College. Broward College is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Polk State College have an API?
No public API is recorded for Polk State College.
What industry is Polk State College in?
Polk State College's product category is Higher Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAHADAE, Comprehensive Community Colleges (Transfer + Workforce), with a secondary code of EDAHADAD, Technical Community Colleges (Applied/CTE-Focused). Its NAICS code is 6112 and its SIC code is 8200.