Photo: CKColerEL · CC BY 3.0Polk State College is 4.8 miles from Eagle Lake
No college sits inside Eagle Lake’s boundary, but Polk State College’s campus in Winter Haven, with 4,687 students on campus, is 4.8 miles from the center of town, and Valencia College is 41.7 miles away in Orlando. About 5% of Eagle Lake’s residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Florida (6%).
From the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard, June 2026; IPEDS fall 2023 enrollment) and the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 2020–24. Straight-line distances from the center of Eagle Lake. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college from Eagle Lake
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Eagle Lake
Three private colleges within 14 miles, and two public colleges within 13.4 miles.
Degree-granting colleges with 100 or more students on campus (fall 2023 enrollment, minus students who study only online). Admitted: share of applicants offered a place. Net price: the average a year after grants, for students on federal aid. Graduate: within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting.
What would your family pay?
The average a year after grants, for families on federal aid, at the colleges within 15 miles. Pick your family’s income.
Starts at $48–75k, where Eagle Lake’s median household income ($70,523) falls.
The average a year after grants and scholarships, for first-time, full-time students on federal aid, from the College Scorecard. Your own price depends on your aid package; every college has a net price calculator. For community colleges the net price counts housing and food at full cost, so tuition is shown beside it. “—”: not reported for that income.
Do students finish, and does it pay?
Each dot is a college within 15 miles of Eagle Lake: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.
Graduation: first-time, full-time students within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 years (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting, for students who got federal aid.
Questions about college near Eagle Lake
Is Eagle Lake a college town?
No. About 5 of every 100 Eagle Lake residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as Florida (6). The nearest campus, Polk State College, is 4.8 miles away in Winter Haven.
What colleges are near Eagle Lake?
Within 15 miles: Polk State College (4.8 miles, 4,687 students on campus), Southeastern University (10.7 miles, 6,779), Florida Southern College (12.4 miles, 2,955), Florida Polytechnic University (13.4 miles, 1,618) and Warner University (14 miles, 684).
What is the closest community college to Eagle Lake, and what does it cost?
Valencia College in Orlando, 41.7 miles away. Tuition and fees are $2,664 a year for Florida residents; the federal net price, $12,037, counts housing and food at full cost.
How much does Polk State College cost if we live in Florida?
Tuition and fees are $2,694 a year in-state and $9,817 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $9,446 (under $30,000 income) to $7,464 (over $110,000), housing and food included.
Neighbors talk college
Students, parents, alumni and the neighbors next door.
Colleges: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS (Scorecard 06/10/2026 · IPEDS 2024 · fall 2023 enrollment). “On campus” is fall enrollment minus students who study only online. Distances are straight-line from the center of Eagle Lake. Residents in college, age, rent and poverty (including poverty without college students, table B14006): U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–24. Colleges are described, not graded; the College town label marks towns where 15% or more of residents are enrolled. How TownRatings describes colleges →