Best Online Liberal Arts Programs in Benton, AR (2026)
Benton, Arkansas has a population of about 35,954. The city’s median household income is $69,638 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 28.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 30 accredited schools offering liberal arts programs near Benton, with tuition ranging from $8,455 to $22,626 per year for indexed programs. In the Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR metro area, the top-earning liberal arts-related role is Management Analyst at a median $76,040 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Liberal Arts Schools to Benton
The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 30 schools in our directory that offer liberal arts programs near Benton. Distances are calculated from Benton city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Arkansas at Little Rock | Little Rock, AR | 16.6 mi | $8,455 - $21,013 | – |
| University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences | Little Rock, AR | 18.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| University of Arkansas Grantham | LIttle Rock, AR | 18.9 mi | Contact school for pricing | ✓ |
| Arkansas Baptist College | Little Rock, AR | 19.3 mi | $8,760 - $22,626 | – |
| Arkansas State University Three Rivers | Malvern, AR | 19.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Philander Smith University | Little Rock, AR | 19.8 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| University of Arkansas-Pulaski Technical College | North Little Rock, AR | 21.0 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Shorter College | N Little Rock, AR | 21.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Champion Christian College | Hot Springs, AR | 28.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| National Park College | Hot Springs, AR | 31.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Arkansas schools on the Arkansas liberal arts page.
Liberal Arts Wages Near Benton
Benton is part of the Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR metro area (BLS area code 30780). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Arkansas statewide.
| Occupation | Median Wage | Source | COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public Relations Specialist | $61,800 | Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $69,128 |
| Management Analyst | $76,040 | Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $85,056 |
| Technical Writer | $60,330 | Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $67,483 |
| News Analyst, Reporter, or Journalist | $37,230 | Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $41,644 |
| Editor | $47,420 | Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $53,043 |
| Training and Development Specialist | $53,470 | Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $59,810 |
| Human Resources Specialist | $55,050 | Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $61,577 |
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.
Benton at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 35,954 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $69,638 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 28.6% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 89.4 (below U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
Other Benton-Area Cities With Liberal Arts Programs
- Bryant, AR – 5.3 mi away (20,005 pop)
- Little Rock, AR – 15.9 mi away (442,554 pop)
- North Little Rock, AR – 23.6 mi away (66,278 pop)
- Hot Springs, AR – 27.8 mi away (57,744 pop)
- Sherwood, AR – 28.2 mi away (30,657 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited liberal arts schools are near Benton, AR?
Our directory has 30 accredited schools offering liberal arts programs near Benton. The closest is University of Arkansas at Little Rock in Little Rock, AR (16.6 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is National Park College (31.5 miles). 1 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying liberal arts roles near Benton?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying liberal arts-related roles near Benton are: Management Analyst ($76,040), Public Relations Specialist ($61,800), Technical Writer ($60,330). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Arkansas statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Should I look at programs in Bryant instead of Benton?
Bryant, AR is 5.3 miles from Benton 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 Benton an affordable place to study liberal arts?
Benton’s median household income of $69,638 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Benton while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Arkansas 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
- Online Liberal Arts Programs in Arkansas
- Main Liberal Arts Degree Guide
- Liberal Arts Programs by State
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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