Best Online Liberal Arts Programs in Lakeland, FL (2026)
Lakeland, Florida has a population of about 117,030. The city’s median household income is $60,947 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 27.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 38 accredited schools offering liberal arts programs near Lakeland, with tuition ranging from $3,366 to $41,727 per year for indexed programs. In the Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL metro area, the top-earning liberal arts-related role is Management Analyst at a median $77,260 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Liberal Arts Schools to Lakeland
The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 38 schools in our directory that offer liberal arts programs near Lakeland. Distances are calculated from Lakeland city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida Southern College | Lakeland, FL | 1.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Southeastern University | Lakeland, FL | 2.8 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Florida Polytechnic University | Lakeland, FL | 9.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Polk State College | Winter Haven, FL | 14.9 mi | $3,366 - $12,709 | – |
| Herzing University-Tampa | Tampa, FL | 23.9 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Florida College | Temple Terrace, FL | 26.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Saint Leo University | Saint Leo, FL | 26.8 mi | $28,360 - $41,727 | – |
| Warner University | Lake Wales, FL | 26.8 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| University of South Florida | Tampa, FL | 28.0 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Hillsborough Community College | Tampa, FL | 31.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Florida schools on the Florida liberal arts page.
Liberal Arts 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public Relations Specialist | $59,640 | Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | $61,421 |
| Management Analyst | $77,260 | Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | $79,567 |
| Technical Writer | $70,550 | Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | $72,657 |
| News Analyst, Reporter, or Journalist | $57,720 | FL statewide | $59,444 |
| Editor | $64,380 | FL statewide | $66,303 |
| Training and Development Specialist | $62,060 | Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | $63,913 |
| Human Resources Specialist | $60,990 | Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | $62,812 |
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.
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 |
| Liberal Arts-related employment in Polk County | 1,093 workers, 96 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other Lakeland-Area Cities With Liberal Arts 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 liberal arts schools are near Lakeland, FL?
Our directory has 38 accredited schools offering liberal arts programs near Lakeland. The closest is Florida Southern College in Lakeland, FL (1.6 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Hillsborough Community College (31.7 miles). 0 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying liberal arts roles near Lakeland?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying liberal arts-related roles near Lakeland are: Management Analyst ($77,260), Technical Writer ($70,550), Editor ($64,380). 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 liberal arts 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 liberal arts?
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.
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.
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