Polk State College vs Academy for Nursing and Health Occupations: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Academy for Nursing and Health Occupations comes closer — median earnings $47,039 against a $60,762 total, vs $40,624 at Polk State College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Polk State College | Academy for Nursing and Health Occupations |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $9,427 | $30,381 |
| Total net cost | $18,854 | $60,762 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $40,624 | $47,039 |
| Median debt | $10,076 | $20,293 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$173,574 | -$87,182 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Polk State College or Academy for Nursing and Health Occupations?
Polk State College, at $9,427 a year after aid versus $30,381 — a gap of $20,954 a year, or $41,908 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Polk State College or Academy for Nursing and Health Occupations graduates earn more?
Academy for Nursing and Health Occupations graduates report a median $47,039 ten years after entry, $6,415 more than the $40,624 at Polk State College. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
Which leaves students with less debt, Polk State College or Academy for Nursing and Health Occupations?
Polk State College: its completers carry a median $10,076 in federal loans versus $20,293 at Academy for Nursing and Health Occupations, a difference of $10,217. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
42% of students finish at Academy for Nursing and Health Occupations, against 35% at Polk State College. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.