Colleges and Universities in Lakeland, Florida: A Comprehensive Guide

Lakeland, Florida, and its surrounding areas, offer a diverse range of higher education institutions catering to various academic and career aspirations. This article provides a detailed overview of the colleges and universities serving Lakeland, including information on programs, costs, and job market outlook.

Overview of Colleges and Universities Near Lakeland

The Best Adult Colleges & Careers Guide provides a breakdown of the colleges serving Lakeland, with details about cost, enrollment, student type and degree offerings. These institutions include both public and private colleges, each with its unique characteristics and strengths. There are four-year private colleges or universities where about 20,677 undergraduate students were enrolled.

Featured Institutions

Several prominent colleges and universities serve the Lakeland area. Here's a closer look at some of them:

Southeastern University (SEU)

Southeastern University offers more than 120-degree programs at the associate, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral levels. Dual enrollment, certificates, and non-degree studies are also available. The institution emphasizes a faith-based approach to education.

Popular Programs: Bachelor's degrees are the most popular at Southeastern University.
Online Programs: A significant portion of programs completed were offered online.
Completions: In 2024, 1,019 bachelor's degrees were completed, along with 158 associate degrees, 368 master's degrees, and 62 doctoral degrees.
Campus Visit: "Grow Your Faith. Find Your People. Come on over! We’d love to have you on campus."

Florida Southern College

Florida Southern College offers a diverse array of majors, master's, and doctorate programs designed to cater to various academic interests.

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Popular Programs: Bachelor's degrees are the most popular at Florida Southern College.
Online Programs: A significant portion of programs completed were offered online.
Completions: In 2024, 682 bachelor's degrees were completed, 177 master's degrees, and 56 doctoral degrees were earned.

Keiser University - Lakeland

Keiser University Lakeland is conveniently located in central Florida off Interstate 4, just 40 minutes from Tampa and one hour from Orlando. Keiser University is focused on providing a career-focused education in growing fields such as Business, Criminal Justice, or Nursing.

Location and Amenities: The campus is easily accessible from Interstate 4 and features spacious classrooms, computer and medical labs, a library with internet-enabled computer workstations, an auditorium, a comfortable lounge area, a student services information and career center, and on-site parking.
Instructional Equipment: Keiser University uses state-of-the-industry instructional equipment which meets program standards and learning objectives.
Directions: From Interstate 4 north or south, exit at Kathleen Road and go south. Continue approximately 1/10 of a mile to the Interstate Business Park on the left-hand side of the road. Turn left onto Interstate Drive and travel approximately 3/4 of a mile until you reach Keiser University on the left-hand side of the road.

Saint Leo University

Saint Leo University provides a variety of degree programs with a strong emphasis on online learning.

Popular Programs: Bachelor's degrees are the most popular at Saint Leo University.
Online Programs: A significant portion of programs completed were offered online.
Completions: In 2024, 1,163 bachelor's degrees were completed, along with 158 associate degrees, 965 master's degrees, and 91 doctoral degrees.

Strayer University-Florida

Strayer University-Florida focuses on providing accessible education with a significant online presence.

Popular Programs: Bachelor's degrees are the most popular at Strayer University-Florida.
Online Programs: A significant portion of programs completed were offered online.
Completions: In 2024, 147 bachelor's degrees were completed, 81 associate degrees, and 57 master's degrees were earned.

Florida Polytechnic University

Florida Polytechnic University is a four-year public college located near Lakeland, Florida.

Popular Programs: Bachelor's degrees are the most popular at Florida Polytechnic University.
Online Programs: A significant portion of programs completed were offered online.
Completions: In 2024, 269 bachelor's degrees were completed, 32 associate degrees, and 38 master's degrees were earned.

Franklin University

Franklin University is a top choice for transfer students, online learners, and adults who need to balance school with busy lives.

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Popular Programs: Bachelor's degrees are the most popular at Franklin University.
Online Programs: A significant portion of programs completed were offered online.
Completions: In 2024, 1,602 bachelor's degrees were completed, 98 associate degrees, 840 master's degrees, and 65 doctoral degrees were earned.

Cost of Education

The average cost of tuition at nonprofit schools near Lakeland, Florida, is $28,007, indicating that education is of high quality.

Florida's Emphasis on Affordability

The College Board’s “Annual Trends in College Pricing” report confirmed that the cost of a bachelor’s degree at Florida’s public universities has been the lowest in the country for three consecutive years. News & World Report also ranked Florida as No. 1 for tuition and fees.

Affordable Tuition: The average State University System student pays $270 for a bachelor’s degree after factoring in Florida’s investment in financial aid, marking the sixth consecutive year of decline.
Reduced Loan Burden: Within the SUS, over 17,000 fewer resident undergraduate students took out loans in 2020-21 compared to 2019-20, while 77% of resident undergraduate students did not take out any loans.

Accreditation

It is essential to ensure that the college or university you are considering is institutionally accredited. You can find a list of institutionally accredited colleges and universities serving Lakeland, Florida, to verify the accreditation status of your chosen institution.

Lakeland, Florida Job Market Outlook

Understanding the job market outlook is crucial for students planning their future careers.

Job Market Size: In 2024, there were about 1,792,313 jobs in the Lakeland, Florida area.
Job Growth: From 2023-2024, job growth in Lakeland was above the national average, at 2.4%.
Job Openings: There were 235,152 job openings in the area.

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