Best Online Education Programs in Winter Haven, FL (2026)
Winter Haven, Florida has a population of about 52,846. The city’s median household income is $59,604 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 22.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 32 accredited schools offering education programs near Winter Haven, with tuition ranging from $3,366 to $12,709 per year for indexed programs. In the Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL metro area, the top-earning education-related role is Education Administrator, K-12 at a median $84,090 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Education Schools to Winter Haven
The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 32 schools in our directory that offer education programs near Winter Haven. Distances are calculated from Winter Haven city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Polk State College | Winter Haven, FL | 1.5 mi | $3,366 - $12,709 | – |
| Southeastern University | Lakeland, FL | 13.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Warner University | Lake Wales, FL | 14.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Florida Southern College | Lakeland, FL | 15.1 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Webber International University | Babson Park, FL | 15.9 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Johnson University Florida | Kissimmee, FL | 28.8 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| South Florida State College | Avon Park, FL | 32.8 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| DeVry University-Florida | Orlando, FL | 34.1 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Valencia College | Orlando, FL | 38.0 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Strayer University-Florida | Tampa, FL | 40.1 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Florida schools on the Florida education page.
Education Wages Near Winter Haven
Winter Haven 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Secondary School Teacher | $62,840 | Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | $64,717 |
| Elementary School Teacher | $62,390 | Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | $64,253 |
| Middle School Teacher | $50,070 | Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | $51,565 |
| Education Teacher, Postsecondary | $62,020 | FL statewide | $63,872 |
| Education Administrator, K-12 | $84,090 | Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | $86,601 |
| Education Administrator, Postsecondary | $81,470 | Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | $83,903 |
| Tutor | $37,940 | Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | $39,073 |
| Educational and Career Counselor | $49,090 | Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | $50,556 |
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.
Winter Haven at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 52,846 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $59,604 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 22.2% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 97.1 (below U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Education-related employment in Polk County | 5,237 workers, 232 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other Winter Haven-Area Cities With Education Programs
- Haines City, FL – 8.5 mi away (23,454 pop)
- Lakeland, FL – 15.7 mi away (286,876 pop)
- Plant City, FL – 25.5 mi away (38,200 pop)
- Kissimmee, FL – 26.6 mi away (365,099 pop)
- Saint Cloud, FL – 29.5 mi away (47,809 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited education schools are near Winter Haven, FL?
Our directory has 32 accredited schools offering education programs near Winter Haven. The closest is Polk State College in Winter Haven, FL (1.5 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Strayer University-Florida (40.1 miles). 0 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying education roles near Winter Haven?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying education-related roles near Winter Haven are: Education Administrator, K-12 ($84,090), Education Administrator, Postsecondary ($81,470), Secondary School Teacher ($62,840). 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 Haines City instead of Winter Haven?
Haines City, FL is 8.5 miles from Winter Haven 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 Winter Haven an affordable place to study education?
Winter Haven’s median household income of $59,604 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Winter Haven 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.