Central Carolina Technical College is 7 miles from Lakewood
No college sits inside Lakewood’s boundary, but Central Carolina Technical College’s campus in Sumter, with 1,816 students on campus, is 7 miles from the center of town. About 11% of Lakewood’s residents are enrolled in college, about the same as South Carolina (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 Lakewood. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college from Lakewood
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Lakewood
One private college within 7.2 miles, and two community colleges. The nearest public four-year college, South Carolina State University, is 37 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 Lakewood’s median household income ($56,500) 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 Lakewood
Is Lakewood a college town?
No. About 11 of every 100 Lakewood residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as South Carolina (6). The nearest campus, Central Carolina Technical College, is 7 miles away in Sumter.
What colleges are near Lakewood?
Within 15 miles: Central Carolina Technical College (7 miles, 1,816 students on campus), the University of South Carolina-Sumter (7.1 miles, 1,277) and Morris College (7.2 miles, 408).
What is the closest community college to Lakewood, and what does it cost?
Central Carolina Technical College in Sumter, 7 miles away. Tuition and fees are $5,715 a year for South Carolina residents; the federal net price, $5,571, counts housing and food at full cost.
How much does South Carolina State University cost if we live in South Carolina?
Tuition and fees are $11,060 a year in-state and $21,750 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $16,846 (under $30,000 income) to $24,523 (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 Lakewood. 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 →