Best Online Liberal Arts Programs in Plant City, FL (2026)
Plant City, Florida has a population of about 40,009. The city’s median household income is $64,536 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 22.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 35 accredited schools offering liberal arts programs near Plant City, with tuition ranging from $3,366 to $41,727 per year for indexed programs. In the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL metro area, the top-earning liberal arts-related role is Management Analyst at a median $92,250 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Liberal Arts Schools to Plant City
The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 35 schools in our directory that offer liberal arts programs near Plant City. Distances are calculated from Plant City city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida Southern College | Lakeland, FL | 10.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Southeastern University | Lakeland, FL | 12.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Herzing University-Tampa | Tampa, FL | 13.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Florida College | Temple Terrace, FL | 16.1 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| University of South Florida | Tampa, FL | 18.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Florida Polytechnic University | Lakeland, FL | 19.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Hillsborough Community College | Tampa, FL | 21.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| The University of Tampa | Tampa, FL | 21.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Saint Leo University | Saint Leo, FL | 23.8 mi | $28,360 - $41,727 | – |
| Polk State College | Winter Haven, FL | 24.9 mi | $3,366 - $12,709 | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Florida schools on the Florida liberal arts page.
Liberal Arts Wages Near Plant City
Plant City is part of the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL metro area (BLS area code 45300). 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 | $58,600 | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $58,077 |
| Management Analyst | $92,250 | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $91,427 |
| Technical Writer | $81,020 | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $80,297 |
| News Analyst, Reporter, or Journalist | $38,860 | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $38,513 |
| Editor | $64,780 | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $64,202 |
| Training and Development Specialist | $63,820 | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $63,251 |
| Human Resources Specialist | $62,430 | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $61,873 |
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.
Plant City at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 40,009 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $64,536 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 22.7% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 100.9 (above U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Liberal Arts-related employment in Hillsborough County | 5,130 workers, 345 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other Plant City-Area Cities With Liberal Arts Programs
- Lakeland, FL – 10.5 mi away (286,876 pop)
- Temple Terrace, FL – 15.9 mi away (26,515 pop)
- Zephyrhills, FL – 16.0 mi away (74,712 pop)
- Tampa, FL – 19.9 mi away (2,744,107 pop)
- Winter Haven, FL – 25.5 mi away (231,412 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited liberal arts schools are near Plant City, FL?
Our directory has 35 accredited schools offering liberal arts programs near Plant City. The closest is Florida Southern College in Lakeland, FL (10.6 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Polk State College (24.9 miles). 0 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying liberal arts roles near Plant City?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying liberal arts-related roles near Plant City are: Management Analyst ($92,250), Technical Writer ($81,020), Editor ($64,780). 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 Lakeland instead of Plant City?
Lakeland, FL is 10.5 miles from Plant City 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 Plant City an affordable place to study liberal arts?
Plant City’s median household income of $64,536 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Plant City 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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