Best Online Liberal Arts Programs in Tempe, AZ (2026)
Tempe, Arizona has a population of about 186,419. The city’s median household income is $77,643 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 49.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 26 accredited schools offering liberal arts programs near Tempe, 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 Tempe
The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 26 schools in our directory that offer liberal arts programs near Tempe. Distances are calculated from Tempe city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona State University Campus Immersion | Tempe, AZ | 2.1 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| University of Advancing Technology | Tempe, AZ | 2.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Rio Salado College | Tempe, AZ | 3.0 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Mesa Community College | Mesa, AZ | 3.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| University of Phoenix-Arizona | Phoenix, AZ | 4.9 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Arizona State University Digital Immersion | Scottsdale, AZ | 5.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | ✓ |
| GateWay Community College | Phoenix, AZ | 5.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| South Mountain Community College | Phoenix, AZ | 5.8 mi | $2,358 - $17,872 | – |
| GateWay Community College-Central City | Phoenix, AZ | 7.8 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Scottsdale Community College | Scottsdale, AZ | 8.9 mi | $2,358 - $19,682 | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Arizona schools on the Arizona liberal arts page.
Liberal Arts Wages Near Tempe
Tempe 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.
Tempe at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 186,419 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $77,643 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 49.5% | 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 Tempe-Area Cities With Liberal Arts Programs
- Chandler, AZ – 8.6 mi away (247,477 pop)
- Gilbert, AZ – 12.0 mi away (237,133 pop)
- Mesa, AZ – 12.4 mi away (484,587 pop)
- Phoenix, AZ – 15.6 mi away (4,054,083 pop)
- Fountain Hills, AZ – 18.7 mi away (24,482 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited liberal arts schools are near Tempe, AZ?
Our directory has 26 accredited schools offering liberal arts programs near Tempe. The closest is Arizona State University Campus Immersion in Tempe, AZ (2.1 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Scottsdale Community College (8.9 miles). 1 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying liberal arts roles near Tempe?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying liberal arts-related roles near Tempe 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 Chandler instead of Tempe?
Chandler, AZ is 8.6 miles from Tempe 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 Tempe an affordable place to study liberal arts?
Tempe’s median household income of $77,643 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Tempe 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.
Back to Best Online Liberal Arts Programs in Arizona (2026)
Return to Best Online Liberal Arts Programs in Arizona (2026)