Colleges Near Lakeland, Florida
Looking for information about the best colleges and universities serving Lakeland? Here's your guide to the top schools offering degrees to students in the area, including institutions located within 30 miles of Lakeland, Florida.
There are at least 8 colleges serving the area, including 5 private colleges and universities, 1 public college or university, and 1 community college offering 2-year degrees.
The Best Adult Colleges & Careers Guide provides a breakdown of the colleges serving Lakeland, with details about cost, enrollment, student type and degree offerings. Click here to learn more about the guide.
Lakeland, Florida Colleges by the Numbers
Associate, bachelor's, masters, and doctoral degree completions at institutions near Lakeland, Florida have been declining over the past 5 years. In 2022, students completed 7,990 doctorates at colleges and universities near Lakeland. That was a decrease of 13% from completions reported in 2018.
Schools with Degree Completions
Est. Total Completions in 2022
Est. Completions (Last 5 Years)
Sponsored
Top School For Adults & Online Students
Franklin University is a top choice for transfer students, online learners and adults who need to balance school with busy lives. Founded in 1902 in Columbus, Ohio, Franklin's main focus has been serving adult students and tailoring education to fit their needs. Nonprofit and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org/800.621.7440), Franklin offers more than 50 bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs — all available 100% online.
Undergraduate Enrollment
4,444
Completions By Degree
1,820
Est. Online Degree Offerings
100%
Private Colleges & Universities Offering Degrees Near Lakeland, Florida
There are at least 5 schools offering degrees near Lakeland, Florida, and 5 are four-year private colleges or universities where about 20,213 undergraduate students were enrolled. In 2022, a total of 7,213 degrees were completed at private colleges and universities, including 6,094 that were offered online.
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
Franklin offers more than 50 online bachelor's degrees, master's degrees and doctoral programs in the Lakeland, Florida area. Franklin University is an institutionally accredited nonprofit 4-year school where most students attend classes part-time. Most of the students are adults and all programs completed were offered online. Bachelor's degrees are the most popular at Franklin University. In 2022, 1,011 bachelor's degrees were completed. In addition, 94 associate degrees, 676 master's degrees, and 39 doctoral degrees were earned.
Undergraduate Enrollment
4,444
Completions By Degree
1,820
Est. Online Degree Availability
100%
Completions by Program Area
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
Strayer University-Florida is an institutionally accredited for profit 4-year school where most students attend classes part-time. Most of the students are adults and all programs completed were offered online. Bachelor's degrees are the most popular at Strayer University-Florida. In 2022, 177 bachelor's degrees were completed. In addition, 57 associate degrees, 95 master's degrees, and 0 doctoral degrees were earned.
Undergraduate Enrollment
1,276
Completions By Degree
329
Est. Online Degree Availability
100%
Completions by Program Area
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
Southeastern University is an institutionally accredited nonprofit 4-year school where most students attend classes full-time. Most of the students are of traditional age and most programs completed were offered online. Bachelor's degrees are the most popular at Southeastern University. In 2022, 943 bachelor's degrees were completed. In addition, 184 associate degrees, 417 master's degrees, and 52 doctoral degrees were earned.
Undergraduate Enrollment
5,296
Completions By Degree
1,596
Est. Online Degree Availability
73%
Completions by Program Area
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
Saint Leo University is an institutionally accredited nonprofit 4-year school where most students attend classes full-time. Most of the students are a mixture of traditional and adult aged and all programs completed were offered online. Bachelor's degrees are the most popular at Saint Leo University. In 2022, 1,305 bachelor's degrees were completed. In addition, 242 associate degrees, 1,018 master's degrees, and 49 doctoral degrees were earned.
Undergraduate Enrollment
6,456
Completions By Degree
2,614
Est. Online Degree Availability
95%
Completions by Program Area
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
Florida Southern College is an institutionally accredited nonprofit 4-year school where most students attend classes full-time. Most of the students are of traditional age and some programs completed were offered online. Bachelor's degrees are the most popular at Florida Southern College. In 2022, 685 bachelor's degrees were completed. In addition, 0 associate degrees, 136 master's degrees, and 33 doctoral degrees were earned.
Undergraduate Enrollment
2,741
Completions By Degree
854
Est. Online Degree Availability
34%
Completions by Program Area
Public Colleges & Universities Near Lakeland, Florida
There is 1 four-year public college located near Lakeland, Florida. About 1,337 students were enrolled in undergraduate programs, and about 382 degrees were completed at public colleges near Lakeland. Tuition shown reflects in-state rates.
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
Florida Polytechnic University is an institutionally accredited public 4-year school where most students attend classes full-time. Most of the students are of traditional age and no programs completed were offered online. Bachelor's degrees are the most popular at Florida Polytechnic University. In 2022, 220 bachelor's degrees were completed. In addition, 128 associate degrees, 34 master's degrees, and 0 doctoral degrees were earned.
Undergraduate Enrollment
1,337
Completions By Degree
382
Est. Online Degree Availability
0%
Completions by Program Area
Community Colleges Near Lakeland, Florida
There is 1 community college near Lakeland, Florida where students can earn 2-year associate degrees. In 2022, about 6,946 students were enrolled in undergraduate courses at community colleges near Lakeland, and about 2,043 associate degrees were completed.
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
Polk State College is an institutionally accredited 2-year school where most students attend classes part-time. Most of the students are of traditional age and most programs completed were offered online.
Undergraduate Enrollment
6,946
Completions By Degree
2,043
Est. Online Degree Availability
90%
Completions by Program Area
Affordable Colleges Near Lakeland, Florida
Wondering what you can expect to pay for a degree near Lakeland, Florida? According to undergraduate tuition data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, the average tuition at Lakeland-area's 4-year nonprofit schools is $26,819. The average tuition at similar 4-year for-profit schools near Lakeland is $13,515, while tuition at 2-year online colleges and universities is N/A.
4-Year Nonprofit
4-Year For-Profit
2-Year
Accredited Colleges Serving Lakeland, Florida
Earning a college degree is an investment — and earning a degree from an institutionally accredited university is one of the best ways to ensure your education is of high quality. Institutionally accredited universities are held to rigorous standards by state and regional bodies and undergo regular reviews to verify that their processes and academic programs meet the proper standards.
Wondering if a certain college or university offering degree programs in Lakeland, Florida is institutionally accredited? View a list of institutionally accredited colleges and universities serving Lakeland, Florida here. We've made it easy to find your school by breaking down the list by school type.
- Franklin University
- Florida Southern College
- Saint Leo University
- Southeastern University
- Polk State College
- Strayer University-Florida
Lakeland, Florida Job Market & Opportunities
What happens after you earn your college degree in Lakeland? What's the Lakeland, Florida job market outlook? Get a snapshot of jobs and careers, including annual job openings, median earnings and more.
In 2022, there were about 1,632,370 jobs in the Lakeland, Florida area. From 2021-2022, job growth in Lakeland was above the national average, at 4.9%. There were 221,699 job openings in the area. In terms of earnings, workers in Lakeland do worse than the national average, with an average hourly pay of $19.06.