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Colleges in and near Sanford

Sanford is home to Seminole State College of Florida

Seminole State College of Florida (8,201 students on campus) is inside the city. About 5% of Sanford’s residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Florida (6%).

Seminole State College of Florida

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 Sanford. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
7
72,210 students on campus
Nearest college
3.6 mi
Seminole State College of Florida
Residents in college
5%
About the same as FL (6%)
Nearest community college
21.8 mi
Valencia College · $2,664 tuition
Nearest public university
3.6 mi
Seminole State College of Florida · $3,122 in-state
Median household income
$67K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in Sanford

Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.

A college in SanfordSeminole State College of Florida has 8,201 students on campus in Sanford, 41% of whom graduate within six years.In-state price at Seminole State College of FloridaLiving in Florida, Seminole State College of Florida charges $3,122 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $11,447. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.A community college 21.8 miles awayValencia College in Orlando: tuition and fees $2,664 a year for Florida residents.Students are 5% of residentsAbout the same as Florida (6%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Sanford

Five private colleges within 14.3 miles, and two public colleges within 13.7 miles.

5 mi10 mi15 miUniversity of Central FloridaSeminole State College of FloridaFull Sail UniversitySanford
University or collegeCommunity college
Seminole State College of FloridaUniversity or college · Public · 8,201 on campus · In Sanford$9knet price41%graduate$42kearningsCambridge College of Healthcare & TechnologyUniversity or college · For-profit · 298 on campus · 10.7 mi · Altamonte Springs$23knet price47%graduate$28kearningsCity College-Altamonte SpringsUniversity or college · For-profit · 329 on campus · 11.6 mi · Altamonte SpringsHerzing University-OrlandoUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 451 on campus · 12.2 mi · Winter Park94%admitted$20knet price37%graduate$37kearningsEarnings are reported for all 11 campuses that file with it.Full Sail UniversityUniversity or college · For-profit · 4,541 on campus · 13.4 mi · Winter Park · mostly online$39knet price44%graduate$38kearnings83% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.University of Central FloridaUniversity or college · Public · 55,377 on campus · 13.7 mi · Orlando40%admitted$10knet price78%graduate$58kearningsRollins CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 3,013 on campus · 14.3 mi · Winter Park48%admitted$35knet price75%graduate$58kearnings

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 it costs

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.

Family income

Starts at $48–75k, where Sanford’s median household income ($66,891) falls.

University of Central Florida13.7 mi · Orlando · sticker $23,133$10,128a year
Seminole State College of FloridaIn Sanford · sticker $14,281$10,355a year
Herzing University-Orlando12.2 mi · Winter Park · sticker $26,664$18,891a year
Cambridge College of Healthcare & Technology10.7 mi · Altamonte Springs · sticker $28,779$21,260a year
Rollins College14.3 mi · Winter Park · sticker $76,108$30,079a year
Full Sail University13.4 mi · Winter Park · mostly online · sticker $47,530$38,181a year

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.

Outcomes

Do students finish, and does it pay?

Each dot is a college within 15 miles of Sanford: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.

$0$20k$40k$60k$80k0%25%50%75%100%Graduate →Seminole State College of FloridaCambridge College of Healthcare & TechnologyHerzing University-OrlandoFull Sail UniversityUniversity of Central FloridaRollins College
University of Central Florida78% graduate$58k earnings$18k typical debt
Seminole State College of Florida41% graduate$42k earnings$11k typical debt
Full Sail University44% graduate$38k earnings$27k typical debt
Rollins College75% graduate$58k earnings$26k typical debt
Herzing University-Orlando37% graduate$37k earnings*$22k typical debt
Cambridge College of Healthcare & Technology47% graduate$28k earnings$15k typical debt

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).

Majors

What students study in Sanford

Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field at Seminole State College of Florida, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.

Liberal arts 30%Business 24%Health professions 14%Engineering tech 8%Computer science 7%Public safety 7%Everything else 10%

Biggest programs

Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General126 graduates a year
$60k4 yrs out
Management Information Systems and Services103 graduates a year
$66k4 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences, General92 graduates a year
$76k4 yrs out
Design and Applied Arts45 graduates a year
$52k4 yrs out
Construction Engineering Technology/Technician40 graduates a year
$80k4 yrs out
Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians19 graduates a year
$77k4 yrs out

College Scorecard: degree shares (PCIP; each college’s six largest fields are kept, the rest count as everything else) and the field-of-study file, median earnings 4 years after graduating.

Questions about college in Sanford

Is Sanford a college town?

No. About 5 of every 100 Sanford residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as Florida (6). The largest campus in the city, Seminole State College of Florida, has 8,201 students on campus.

What colleges are in Sanford?

Seminole State College of Florida is inside the city. Valencia College is 21.8 miles away in Orlando.

What is the closest community college to Sanford, and what does it cost?

Valencia College in Orlando, 21.8 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.

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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 Sanford. 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 →