Glover School · Photo: Ebyabe · CC BY-SA 3.0Florida Southern College is 8.9 miles from Willow Oak
No college sits inside Willow Oak’s boundary, but Florida Southern College’s campus in Lakeland, with 2,955 students on campus, is 8.9 miles from the center of town, and Hillsborough Community College is 26.4 miles away in Tampa. About 3% of Willow Oak’s residents are enrolled in college, below 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 Willow Oak. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college from Willow Oak
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Willow Oak
Two private colleges within 9.9 miles. The nearest public four-year college, Florida Polytechnic University, is 19.2 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 and the nearest public four-year college. Pick your family’s income.
Starts at $48–75k, where Willow Oak’s median household income ($65,688) 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: 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.
Questions about college near Willow Oak
Is Willow Oak a college town?
No. About 3 of every 100 Willow Oak residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), below Florida (6). The nearest campus, Florida Southern College, is 8.9 miles away in Lakeland.
What colleges are near Willow Oak?
Within 15 miles: Florida Southern College (8.9 miles, 2,955 students on campus) and Southeastern University (9.9 miles, 6,779).
What is the closest community college to Willow Oak, and what does it cost?
Hillsborough Community College in Tampa, 26.4 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 Florida Polytechnic University cost if we live in Florida?
Tuition and fees are $4,940 a year in-state and $21,005 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $8,819 (under $30,000 income) to $16,423 (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 Willow Oak. 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 →