Photo: Wikisteveb4 · CC BY 4.0Seminole State College of Florida is 1.8 miles from Lake Mary
No college sits inside Lake Mary’s boundary, but Seminole State College of Florida’s campus in Sanford, with 8,201 students on campus, is 1.8 miles from the center of town, and Valencia College is 18.9 miles away in Orlando. About 8% of Lake Mary’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 Lake Mary. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college from Lake Mary
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Lake Mary
Seven private colleges within 14.3 miles, and two public colleges within 13.6 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 $75–110k, where Lake Mary’s median household income ($109,173) 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 Lake Mary: 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. *Reported for all the campuses that file together: Herzing University-Orlando (11); Concorde Career Institute-Orlando (2).
Questions about college near Lake Mary
Is Lake Mary a college town?
No. About 8 of every 100 Lake Mary residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as Florida (6). The nearest campus, Seminole State College of Florida, is 1.8 miles away in Sanford.
What colleges are near Lake Mary?
9 colleges are within 15 miles. The largest: the University of Central Florida (13.6 miles, 55,377 students on campus), Seminole State College of Florida (1.8 miles, 8,201) and Full Sail University (11.8 miles, 4,541).
What is the closest community college to Lake Mary, and what does it cost?
Valencia College in Orlando, 18.9 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 Seminole State College of Florida cost if we live in Florida?
Tuition and fees are $3,122 a year in-state and $11,447 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $7,038 (under $30,000 income) to $14,242 (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 Lake Mary. 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 →