Florence is home to two colleges, with 3,263 students on campus
Gateway Community and Technical College (2,741 students on campus) and Beckfield College-Florence (522) are inside the city, and Thomas More University (1,685) is 4.7 miles from the center, in Crestview Hills. About 4% of Florence’s residents are enrolled in college, below Kentucky (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 Florence. Colleges are described, not graded.
Within 15 miles
12
61,392 students on campus
Nearest college
1.7 mi
Beckfield College-Florence
Residents in college
4%
Below KY (6%)
Nearest community college
2.4 mi
Gateway Community and Technical College · $4,728 tuition
Nearest public university
55.9 mi
Kentucky State · $9,387 in-state
Median household income
$71K
prices below start here
What stands out about college in Florence
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Eight private colleges within 14.2 miles, two public colleges within 11.9 miles, and two community colleges. The nearest public four-year college, Kentucky State University, is 55.9 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 it costs
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.
Family income
Starts at $48–75k, where Florence’s median household income ($71,003) 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.
Outcomes
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.
University of Cincinnati75% graduate$55k earnings*$21k typical debt
Art Academy of Cincinnati41% graduate$34k earnings$27k typical debt
Gods Bible School and College40% graduate$38k earnings$5k 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: University of Cincinnati (3).
Majors
What students study in Florence
Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field across Florence’s 2 colleges, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.
Health professions 31%Mechanics & repair 17%Computer science 11%Precision production 10%Construction trades 9%Liberal arts 7%Everything else 15%
Biggest programs
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and HumanitiesGateway Community and Technical College · 321 graduates a year
$44k4 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingGateway Community and Technical College · 96 graduates a year
$89k4 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences, GeneralGateway Community and Technical College · 36 graduates a year
$59k4 yrs out
Business Administration, Management and OperationsGateway Community and Technical College · 31 graduates a year
$48k4 yrs out
Human Services, GeneralGateway Community and Technical College · 12 graduates a year
$32k4 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 Florence
Is Florence a college town?
No. About 4 of every 100 Florence residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), below Kentucky (6). The largest campus in the city, Gateway Community and Technical College, has 2,741 students on campus.
What colleges are in Florence?
Gateway Community and Technical College and Beckfield College-Florence are inside the city. Thomas More University is 4.7 miles from the center, in Crestview Hills.
What is the closest community college to Florence, and what does it cost?
Gateway Community and Technical College in Florence, 2.4 miles away. Tuition and fees are $4,728 a year for Kentucky residents; the federal net price, $5,725, counts housing and food at full cost.
How much does Kentucky State University cost if we live in Kentucky?
Tuition and fees are $9,387 a year in-state and $13,658 from out of state.
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 Florence. 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 →
Photo: RhymesWithAlbatross · CC BY-SA 3.0