Polk State College
Published tuition$3,366 - $12,709
Online programsYes
Best Online Accounting Programs in Lakeland, FL (2026)
Lakeland, Florida has 5 accredited schools offering accounting programs, with tuition ranging from $3,366 to $12,709 per year for indexed programs. Lakeland has a population of about 117,030. Median household income is $60,947 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 27.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In the Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL metro area, the top-earning accounting-related role is Financial Manager at a median $151,440 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Closest Accounting Schools to Lakeland
The 5 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 5 schools in our directory that offer accounting programs near Lakeland. Distances are calculated from Lakeland city center.
How We Rank Schools
Every school list on this site is ordered by the BOC Score, computed from the most recent school-level data published by the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard and IPEDS). To qualify, a school must be currently operating and accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Each eligible school is then scored on five measures, percentile-ranked against schools at the same credential level:
- Graduation rate 30%
- Median earnings, 10 years after entry 25%
- Average net price (lower is better) 20%
- Retention rate 15%
- Fully online availability 10%
Schools without enough outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score. On this page, schools are ordered by distance from Lakeland. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.
Strayer University-Florida
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programsYes
Erwin Technical College
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programs--
Hillsborough Community College
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programsYes
South Florida State College
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programsYes
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Florida schools on the Florida accounting page.
Accounting Wages Near Lakeland
Lakeland is part of the Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL metro area (BLS area code 29460). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Florida statewide.
| Occupation | Median Wage | Source | COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accountant and Auditor | $76,820 | Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | $79,114 |
| Financial Manager | $151,440 | Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | $155,963 |
| Financial Analyst | $84,860 | Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | $87,394 |
| Budget Analyst | $71,400 | Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | $73,532 |
| Tax Preparer | $45,660 | Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | $47,024 |
| Tax Examiner and Collector | $43,720 | Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | $45,026 |
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerk | $46,860 | Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | $48,260 |
Source: BLS, May 2025 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes wage data at the metro (MSA) and state level – not by individual city.
Lakeland at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 117,030 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $60,947 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 27.7% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 97.1 (below U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Accounting-related employment in Polk County | 1,015 workers, 269 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other Lakeland-Area Cities With Accounting Programs
- Plant City, FL – 10.5 mi away (38,200 pop)
- Winter Haven, FL – 15.7 mi away (231,412 pop)
- Zephyrhills, FL – 18.8 mi away (74,712 pop)
- Haines City, FL – 21.0 mi away (23,454 pop)
- Temple Terrace, FL – 25.9 mi away (26,515 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited accounting schools are near Lakeland, FL?
Our directory has 5 accredited schools offering accounting programs near Lakeland. The closest is Polk State College in Winter Haven, FL (14.8 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is South Florida State College (41.7 miles). 4 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying accounting roles near Lakeland?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data, the top-paying accounting-related roles near Lakeland are: Financial Manager ($151,440), Financial Analyst ($84,860), Accountant and Auditor ($76,820). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Florida statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Should I look at programs in Plant City instead of Lakeland?
Plant City, FL is 10.5 miles from Lakeland and has its own set of local accounting programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.
Is Lakeland an affordable place to study accounting?
Lakeland’s median household income of $60,947 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Lakeland while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Florida public universities often offer reduced in-state online tuition.
How do I verify a program is accredited?
Confirm institutional accreditation via the U.S. Department of Education database (U.S. Dept. of Education database), and check for any program-specific accreditation listed by the school.
Learn More About Accounting Programs
- Accounting accreditation: what to look for
- Accounting concentrations and specializations
- Is a Accounting degree worth it?
- Main Accounting degree guide
- Online Accounting programs in Florida
- Accounting programs by state
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Data verified: June 11, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; Employment Projections 2024–2034) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2023 cohort). The source agency and data year are cited inline with every statistic.