Best Online Liberal Arts Programs in Mesa, AZ (2026)
Mesa, Arizona has a population of about 507,478. The city’s median household income is $78,779 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 31.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 27 accredited schools offering liberal arts programs near Mesa, with tuition ranging from $2,358 to $19,682 per year for indexed programs. In the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ metro area, the top-earning liberal arts-related role is Management Analyst at a median $90,810 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Liberal Arts Schools to Mesa
The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 27 schools in our directory that offer liberal arts programs near Mesa. Distances are calculated from Mesa city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chandler-Gilbert Community College | Chandler, AZ | 8.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Mesa Community College | Mesa, AZ | 8.9 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| American InterContinental University System | Chandler, AZ | 9.8 mi | Contact school for pricing | ✓ |
| Scottsdale Community College | Scottsdale, AZ | 12.3 mi | $2,358 - $19,682 | – |
| Arizona State University Campus Immersion | Tempe, AZ | 12.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Arizona State University Digital Immersion | Scottsdale, AZ | 12.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | ✓ |
| Rio Salado College | Tempe, AZ | 14.8 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| University of Advancing Technology | Tempe, AZ | 15.0 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| GateWay Community College | Phoenix, AZ | 16.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| University of Phoenix-Arizona | Phoenix, AZ | 17.0 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Arizona schools on the Arizona liberal arts page.
Liberal Arts Wages Near Mesa
Mesa is part of the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ metro area (BLS area code 38060). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Arizona statewide.
| Occupation | Median Wage | Source | COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public Relations Specialist | $65,350 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $63,262 |
| Management Analyst | $90,810 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $87,909 |
| Technical Writer | $82,110 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $79,487 |
| News Analyst, Reporter, or Journalist | $49,140 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $47,570 |
| Editor | $65,430 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $63,340 |
| Training and Development Specialist | $66,360 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $64,240 |
| Human Resources Specialist | $66,020 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $63,911 |
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.
Mesa at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 507,478 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $78,779 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 31.5% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 103.3 (above U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Liberal Arts-related employment in Maricopa County | 13,189 workers, 984 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other Mesa-Area Cities With Liberal Arts Programs
- Gilbert, AZ – 6.5 mi away (237,133 pop)
- Apache Junction, AZ – 10.6 mi away (39,954 pop)
- Chandler, AZ – 11.3 mi away (247,477 pop)
- Queen Creek, AZ – 12.1 mi away (35,524 pop)
- Tempe, AZ – 12.4 mi away (182,498 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited liberal arts schools are near Mesa, AZ?
Our directory has 27 accredited schools offering liberal arts programs near Mesa. The closest is Chandler-Gilbert Community College in Chandler, AZ (8.7 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is University of Phoenix-Arizona (17.0 miles). 2 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying liberal arts roles near Mesa?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying liberal arts-related roles near Mesa are: Management Analyst ($90,810), Technical Writer ($82,110), Training and Development Specialist ($66,360). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Arizona statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Should I look at programs in Gilbert instead of Mesa?
Gilbert, AZ is 6.5 miles from Mesa and has its own set of local liberal arts programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.
Is Mesa an affordable place to study liberal arts?
Mesa’s median household income of $78,779 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Mesa while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Arizona 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
Data verified: May 5, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2024; Employment Projections 2024–2034) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2023 cohort). The source agency and data year are cited inline with every statistic.
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