Best Online Liberal Arts Programs in Lafayette, CO (2026)

Lafayette, Colorado has a population of about 30,471. The city’s median household income is $110,431 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 65.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 3 accredited liberal arts programs within 100 miles of Lafayette, with tuition ranging from $4,030 to $33,751 per year. In the Boulder, CO metro area, the top-earning liberal arts-related role is Management Analyst at a median $106,660 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).


Closest Liberal Arts Schools to Lafayette

The five accredited institutions below are the closest options indexed in our directory that offer liberal arts programs. Distances are calculated from Lafayette city center.

SchoolCityDistanceTuitionOnline
University of DenverDenver, CO23.1 miContact school for pricing
Community College of AuroraAurora, CO24.7 mi$4,030 - $16,210
Colorado State University-Fort CollinsFort Collins, CO39.8 mi$12,896 - $33,751

Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Colorado schools on the Colorado liberal arts page.


Liberal Arts Wages Near Lafayette

Lafayette is part of the Boulder, CO metro area (BLS area code 14500). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Colorado statewide.

OccupationMedian WageSourceCOL-Adjusted (US=100)
Public Relations Specialist$90,000Boulder, CO$85,551
Management Analyst$106,660Boulder, CO$101,388
Technical Writer$99,740Boulder, CO$94,810
News Analyst, Reporter, or Journalist$59,650CO statewide$56,702
Editor$78,700Boulder, CO$74,810
Training and Development Specialist$77,670Boulder, CO$73,831
Human Resources Specialist$85,200Boulder, CO$80,989

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.


Lafayette at a Glance

MetricValueSource
Population30,471Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income$110,431Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+65.6%Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)
Regional Price Parity (US=100)105.2 (above U.S. average)BEA RPP 2024
Liberal Arts-related employment in Boulder County825 workers, 244 establishmentsBLS QCEW 2024 annual

Other Lafayette-Area Cities With Liberal Arts Programs


Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited liberal arts programs are near Lafayette, CO?

Our directory lists 3 liberal arts programs within 100 miles of Lafayette. The closest is University of Denver in Denver, CO (23.1 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Colorado State University-Fort Collins (39.8 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.

What are the highest-paying liberal arts roles near Lafayette?

Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying liberal arts-related roles near Lafayette are: Management Analyst ($106,660), Technical Writer ($99,740), Public Relations Specialist ($90,000). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Colorado statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.

Should I look at programs in Louisville instead of Lafayette?

Louisville, CO is 2.9 miles from Lafayette 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 Lafayette an affordable place to study liberal arts?

Lafayette’s median household income of $110,431 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Lafayette while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Colorado 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.