Photo: LittleT889 · CC BY 4.0Southern Technical College is 2.4 miles from Taft
No college sits inside Taft’s boundary, but Southern Technical College’s campus in Orlando, with 1,683 students on campus, is 2.4 miles from the center of town, and Valencia College is 8.7 miles away in Orlando. About 6% of Taft’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 Taft. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college from Taft
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Taft
Nine private colleges within 13.8 miles, and Valencia College 8.7 miles away.
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 Taft’s median household income ($55,735) 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 Taft: 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: Universal Technical Institute-Orlando (3); Concorde Career Institute-Orlando (2); Herzing University-Orlando (11).
Questions about college near Taft
Is Taft a college town?
No. About 6 of every 100 Taft residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as Florida (6). The nearest campus, Southern Technical College, is 2.4 miles away in Orlando.
What colleges are near Taft?
10 colleges are within 15 miles. The largest: Valencia College (8.7 miles, 23,395 students on campus), Full Sail University (12.3 miles, 4,541) and Rollins College (11.4 miles, 3,013).
What is the closest community college to Taft, and what does it cost?
Valencia College in Orlando, 8.7 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 Valencia College cost if we live in Florida?
Tuition and fees are $2,664 a year in-state and $9,576 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $11,453 (under $30,000 income) to $14,781 (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 Taft. 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 →