Best Online Education Programs in Philadelphia, PA (2026)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania has a population of about 1,582,432. The city’s median household income is $60,698 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 34.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited education programs within 100 miles of Philadelphia. In the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area, the top-earning education-related role is Education Administrator, K-12 at a median $127,120 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Education Schools to Philadelphia
The five accredited institutions below are the closest options indexed in our directory that offer education programs. Distances are calculated from Philadelphia city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arcadia University | Glenside, PA | 6.0 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Widener University | Chester, PA | 15.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Immaculata University | Immaculata, PA | 23.1 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| West Chester University of Pennsylvania | West Chester, PA | 24.8 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| The College of New Jersey | Ewing, NJ | 26.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Pennsylvania schools on the Pennsylvania education page.
Education Wages Near Philadelphia
Philadelphia is part of the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area (BLS area code 37980). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Pennsylvania statewide.
| Occupation | Median Wage | Source | COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Secondary School Teacher | $78,440 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $76,452 |
| Elementary School Teacher | $74,480 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $72,593 |
| Middle School Teacher | $77,030 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $75,078 |
| Education Teacher, Postsecondary | $64,820 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $63,177 |
| Education Administrator, K-12 | $127,120 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $123,899 |
| Education Administrator, Postsecondary | $108,200 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $105,458 |
| Tutor | $38,520 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $37,544 |
| Educational and Career Counselor | $66,940 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $65,244 |
Source: BLS, May 2024 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes wage data at the metro (MSA) and state level – not by individual city.
Philadelphia at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 1,582,432 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $60,698 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 34.6% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 102.6 (above U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Education-related employment in Philadelphia County | 57,708 workers, 654 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other Philadelphia-Area Cities With Education Programs
- Camden, NJ – 5.1 mi away (74,420 pop)
- Norristown, PA – 13.5 mi away (34,370 pop)
- Chester, PA – 16.9 mi away (33,988 pop)
- Trenton, NJ – 24.6 mi away (293,697 pop)
- Wilmington, DE – 28.2 mi away (71,442 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited education programs are near Philadelphia, PA?
Our directory lists 5 education programs within 100 miles of Philadelphia. The closest is Arcadia University in Glenside, PA (6.0 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is The College of New Jersey (26.2 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.
What are the highest-paying education roles near Philadelphia?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying education-related roles near Philadelphia are: Education Administrator, K-12 ($127,120), Education Administrator, Postsecondary ($108,200), Secondary School Teacher ($78,440). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Pennsylvania statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Should I look at programs in Camden instead of Philadelphia?
Camden, NJ is 5.1 miles from Philadelphia and has its own set of local education programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.
Is Philadelphia an affordable place to study education?
Philadelphia’s median household income of $60,698 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Philadelphia while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Pennsylvania public universities often offer reduced in-state online tuition.
How do I verify a program is accredited?
Confirm institutional accreditation via the U.S. Department of Education database (U.S. Dept. of Education database), and check for any program-specific accreditation listed by the school.
Related Resources
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