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Sarasota SkylinePhoto: Cullen Morgan · CC BY 4.0
Colleges in and near Sarasota

Sarasota is home to two colleges, with 2,453 students on campus

Ringling College of Art and Design (1,721 students on campus) and New College of Florida (732) are inside the city. About 6% of Sarasota’s residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Florida (6%).

Ringling College of Art and Design

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 Sarasota. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
5
8,158 students on campus
Nearest college
1.6 mi
Ringling College of Art and Design
Residents in college
6%
About the same as FL (6%)
Nearest community college
41.6 mi
Hillsborough · $2,506 tuition
Nearest public university
3.4 mi
New College of Florida · $6,916 in-state
Median household income
$72K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in Sarasota

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

A college in SarasotaRingling College of Art and Design has 1,721 students on campus in Sarasota, 72% of whom graduate within six years.In-state price at New College of FloridaLiving in Florida, New College of Florida charges $6,916 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $29,944. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.A community college 41.6 miles awayHillsborough Community College in Tampa: tuition and fees $2,506 a year for Florida residents.Students are 6% 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 Sarasota

Three private colleges within 7.8 miles, and two public colleges within 7.5 miles.

5 mi10 mi15 miState College of Florida-Manatee-SarasotaRingling College of Art and DesignNew College of FloridaSarasota
University or collegeCommunity college
Ringling College of Art and DesignUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,721 on campus · In Sarasota70%admitted$58knet price72%graduate$43kearningsNew College of FloridaUniversity or college · Public · 732 on campus · In Sarasota73%admitted$7knet price67%graduate$48kearningsGalen Health Institutes-SarasotaUniversity or college · For-profit · 404 on campus · 5.8 mi · Sarasota$28knet price$61kearningsEarnings are reported for all 20 campuses that file with it.State College of Florida-Manatee-SarasotaUniversity or college · Public · 5,157 on campus · 7.5 mi · Bradenton$22knet price38%graduate$40kearningsMeridian CollegeUniversity or college · For-profit · 144 on campus · 7.8 mi · Sarasota$30knet price51%graduate$34kearningsEarnings are reported for all 2 campuses that file with it.

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 Sarasota’s median household income ($72,105) falls.

New College of FloridaIn Sarasota · sticker $24,449$4,880a year
State College of Florida-Manatee-Sarasota7.5 mi · Bradenton · sticker $28,709$26,326a year
Galen Health Institutes-Sarasota5.8 mi · Sarasota · sticker $35,116$30,789a year
Meridian College7.8 mi · Sarasota · sticker $33,683$33,683a year
Ringling College of Art and DesignIn Sarasota · sticker $80,276$55,121a 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 Sarasota: 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 →Ringling College of Art and DesignNew College of FloridaState College of Florida-Manatee-SarasotaMeridian College
State College of Florida-Manatee-Sarasota38% graduate$40k earnings$9k typical debt
Ringling College of Art and Design72% graduate$43k earnings$27k typical debt
New College of Florida67% graduate$48k earnings$17k typical debt
Meridian College51% graduate$34k earnings*$13k 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: Meridian College (2).

Majors

What students study in Sarasota

Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field across Sarasota’s 2 colleges, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.

Visual & performing arts 44%Communications tech 23%Liberal arts 10%Interdisciplinary 6%Computer science 3%Social sciences 3%Everything else 10%

Biggest programs

Graphic CommunicationsRingling College of Art and Design · 124 graduates a year
$75k4 yrs out
Design and Applied ArtsRingling College of Art and Design · 124 graduates a year
$48k4 yrs out
Fine and Studio ArtsRingling College of Art and Design · 73 graduates a year
$36k4 yrs out
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and HumanitiesNew College of Florida · 55 graduates a year
$39k4 yrs out
Biological and Physical SciencesNew College of Florida · 45 graduates a year
$42k4 yrs out
Film/Video and Photographic ArtsRingling College of Art and Design · 24 graduates a year
$41k4 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 Sarasota

Is Sarasota a college town?

No. About 6 of every 100 Sarasota residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as Florida (6). The largest campus in the city, Ringling College of Art and Design, has 1,721 students on campus.

What colleges are in Sarasota?

Ringling College of Art and Design and New College of Florida are inside the city. Hillsborough Community College is 41.6 miles away in Tampa.

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

Hillsborough Community College in Tampa, 41.6 miles away. Tuition and fees are $2,506 a year for Florida residents; the federal net price, $3,861, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does New College of Florida cost if we live in Florida?

Tuition and fees are $6,916 a year in-state and $29,944 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $3,591 (under $30,000 income) to $13,586 (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 Sarasota. 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 →