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St. Pete Pier - EastPhoto: Jackdude101 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Colleges in and near St. Petersburg

St. Petersburg is home to three colleges, with about 17,000 students on campus

St Petersburg College (13,501 students on campus) and Eckerd College (1,986) are inside the city. About 7% of St. Petersburg’s residents are enrolled in college, above Florida (6%).

St Petersburg CollegeEckerd CollegeGalen College of Nursing-Tampa Bay

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 St. Petersburg. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
3
17,088 students on campus
Nearest college
0.9 mi
St Petersburg College
Residents in college
7%
Above FL (6%)
Nearest community college
16.3 mi
Ultimate Medical Academy
Nearest public university
0.9 mi
St Petersburg College · $2,682 in-state
Median household income
$75K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in St. Petersburg

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

Three colleges within 7 milesEckerd College admits 76% of applicants. Together they have 17,088 students on campus.In-state price at St Petersburg CollegeLiving in Florida, St Petersburg College charges $2,682 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $9,286. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.A community college 16.3 miles awayUltimate Medical Academy in Clearwater.Students are 7% of residentsAbove Florida (6%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of St. Petersburg

Two private colleges within 7 miles, and one public college within 0.9 miles.

5 mi10 mi15 miSt Petersburg CollegeEckerd CollegeGalen College of Nursing-Tampa BaySt. Petersburg
University or collegeCommunity college
St Petersburg CollegeUniversity or college · Public · 13,501 on campus · In St. Petersburg$1knet price38%graduate$43kearningsEckerd CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,986 on campus · In St. Petersburg76%admitted$38knet price66%graduate$52kearningsGalen College of Nursing-Tampa BayUniversity or college · For-profit · 1,601 on campus · In St. Petersburg$28knet price63%graduate$61kearningsEarnings are reported for all 20 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 $75–110k, where St. Petersburg’s median household income ($75,192) falls.

St Petersburg CollegeIn St. Petersburg · sticker $12,885$8,923a year
Galen College of Nursing-Tampa BayIn St. Petersburg · sticker $34,369$32,598a year
Eckerd CollegeIn St. Petersburg · sticker $68,944$35,840a 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 St. Petersburg: 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 →St Petersburg CollegeEckerd CollegeGalen College of Nursing-Tampa Bay
St Petersburg College38% graduate$43k earnings$17k typical debt
Eckerd College66% graduate$52k earnings$27k typical debt
Galen College of Nursing-Tampa Bay63% graduate$61k earnings*$24k 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: Galen College of Nursing-Tampa Bay (20).

Majors

What students study in St. Petersburg

Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field across St. Petersburg’s 3 colleges, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.

Liberal arts 36%Health professions 21%Computer science 10%Business 9%Public safety 5%Biology 4%Everything else 14%

Biggest programs

Business Administration, Management and OperationsSt Petersburg College · 293 graduates a year
$62k4 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingSt Petersburg College · 171 graduates a year
$92k4 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingGalen College of Nursing-Tampa Bay · 154 graduates a year
$92k4 yrs out
Computer/Information Technology Administration and ManagementSt Petersburg College · 138 graduates a year
$72k4 yrs out
Public HealthSt Petersburg College · 89 graduates a year
$59k4 yrs out
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population BiologyEckerd College · 84 graduates a year
$49k4 yrs out
Education, OtherSt Petersburg College · 80 graduates a year
$45k4 yrs out
Natural Resources Conservation and ResearchEckerd College · 77 graduates a year
$40k4 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 St. Petersburg

Is St. Petersburg a college town?

No. About 7 of every 100 St. Petersburg residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), above Florida (6). The largest campus in the city, St Petersburg College, has 13,501 students on campus.

What colleges are in St. Petersburg?

St Petersburg College, Eckerd College and Galen College of Nursing-Tampa Bay are inside the city. Ultimate Medical Academy is 16.3 miles away in Clearwater.

What is the closest community college to St. Petersburg, and what does it cost?

Ultimate Medical Academy in Clearwater, 16.3 miles away.

How much does St Petersburg College cost if we live in Florida?

Tuition and fees are $2,682 a year in-state and $9,286 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $-716 (under $30,000 income) to $11,943 (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 St. Petersburg. 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 →