Best Online Education Programs in Sarasota, FL (2026)
Sarasota, Florida has a population of about 56,218. The city’s median household income is $70,065 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 41.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 20 accredited schools offering education programs near Sarasota, with tuition ranging from $2,682 to $10,634 per year for indexed programs. In the North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL metro area, the top-earning education-related role is Education Administrator, K-12 at a median $101,660 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Education Schools to Sarasota
The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 20 schools in our directory that offer education programs near Sarasota. Distances are calculated from Sarasota city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| State College of Florida-Manatee-Sarasota | Bradenton, FL | 7.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| St Petersburg College | St. Petersburg, FL | 30.5 mi | $2,682 - $10,634 | – |
| Hillsborough Community College | Tampa, FL | 41.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| The University of Tampa | Tampa, FL | 42.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Strayer University-Florida | Tampa, FL | 46.9 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Florida College | Temple Terrace, FL | 49.1 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| University of South Florida | Tampa, FL | 50.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Trinity College of Florida | Trinity, FL | 59.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Florida Southern College | Lakeland, FL | 60.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Southeastern University | Lakeland, FL | 61.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Florida schools on the Florida education page.
Education Wages Near Sarasota
Sarasota is part of the North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL metro area (BLS area code 35840). 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Secondary School Teacher | $66,160 | North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $64,609 |
| Elementary School Teacher | $59,840 | North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $58,438 |
| Middle School Teacher | $59,040 | North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $57,656 |
| Education Teacher, Postsecondary | $62,020 | FL statewide | $60,566 |
| Education Administrator, K-12 | $101,660 | North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $99,277 |
| Education Administrator, Postsecondary | $85,300 | North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $83,301 |
| Tutor | $36,020 | North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $35,176 |
| Educational and Career Counselor | $63,780 | North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $62,285 |
Source: BLS, May 2024 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.
Sarasota at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 56,218 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $70,065 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 41.7% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 102.4 (above U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Education-related employment in Sarasota County | 3,194 workers, 283 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other Sarasota-Area Cities With Education Programs
- Bradenton, FL – 10.6 mi away (55,687 pop)
- Venice, FL – 17.3 mi away (22,465 pop)
- North Port, FL – 28.8 mi away (190,003 pop)
- Saint Petersburg, FL – 32.2 mi away (260,999 pop)
- Pinellas Park, FL – 37.3 mi away (52,137 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited education schools are near Sarasota, FL?
Our directory has 20 accredited schools offering education programs near Sarasota. The closest is State College of Florida-Manatee-Sarasota in Bradenton, FL (7.4 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Southeastern University (61.2 miles). 0 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying education roles near Sarasota?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying education-related roles near Sarasota are: Education Administrator, K-12 ($101,660), Education Administrator, Postsecondary ($85,300), Secondary School Teacher ($66,160). 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 Bradenton instead of Sarasota?
Bradenton, FL is 10.6 miles from Sarasota and has its own set of local education programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.
Is Sarasota an affordable place to study education?
Sarasota’s median household income of $70,065 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Sarasota 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.
Related Resources
Data verified: May 5, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2024; 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.