Best Online Liberal Arts Programs in Wilmington, DE (2026)
Wilmington, Delaware has a population of about 71,124. The city’s median household income is $55,269 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 33.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 159 accredited schools offering liberal arts programs near Wilmington, with tuition ranging from $12,330 to $80,014 per year for indexed programs. In the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area, the top-earning liberal arts-related role is Management Analyst at a median $101,150 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Liberal Arts Schools to Wilmington
The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 159 schools in our directory that offer liberal arts programs near Wilmington. Distances are calculated from Wilmington city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salem Community College | Carneys Point, NJ | 4.0 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Wilmington University | New Castle, DE | 4.8 mi | $12,330 - $19,326 | – |
| Goldey-Beacom College | Wilmington, DE | 8.6 mi | $13,440 - $24,633 | – |
| Neumann University | Aston, PA | 10.8 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| University of Delaware | Newark, DE | 12.5 mi | $16,080 - $39,720 | – |
| Widener University | Chester, PA | 12.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Cheyney University of Pennsylvania | Cheyney, PA | 13.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Brandywine | Media, PA | 13.9 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Pennsylvania Institute of Technology | Media, PA | 14.1 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Swarthmore College | Swarthmore, PA | 15.0 mi | $62,412 - $80,014 | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Delaware schools on the Delaware liberal arts page.
Liberal Arts Wages Near Wilmington
Wilmington 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 Delaware statewide.
| Occupation | Median Wage | Source | COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public Relations Specialist | $64,380 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $62,749 |
| Management Analyst | $101,150 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $98,587 |
| Technical Writer | $82,890 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $80,789 |
| News Analyst, Reporter, or Journalist | $61,580 | DE statewide | $60,019 |
| Editor | $77,220 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $75,263 |
| Training and Development Specialist | $72,710 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $70,867 |
| Human Resources Specialist | $72,670 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $70,828 |
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.
Wilmington at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 71,124 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $55,269 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 33.1% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 102.6 (above U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Liberal Arts-related employment in New Castle County | 1,359 workers, 155 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other Wilmington-Area Cities With Liberal Arts Programs
- Chester, PA – 11.3 mi away (33,988 pop)
- Newark, DE – 12.8 mi away (33,398 pop)
- Middletown, DE – 22.4 mi away (32,540 pop)
- Camden, NJ – 26.3 mi away (74,420 pop)
- Philadelphia, PA – 28.2 mi away (5,591,554 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited liberal arts schools are near Wilmington, DE?
Our directory has 159 accredited schools offering liberal arts programs near Wilmington. The closest is Salem Community College in Carneys Point, NJ (4.0 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Swarthmore College (15.0 miles). 0 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying liberal arts roles near Wilmington?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying liberal arts-related roles near Wilmington are: Management Analyst ($101,150), Technical Writer ($82,890), Editor ($77,220). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Delaware statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Should I look at programs in Chester instead of Wilmington?
Chester, PA is 11.3 miles from Wilmington 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 Wilmington an affordable place to study liberal arts?
Wilmington’s median household income of $55,269 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Wilmington while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Delaware 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 Delaware
- 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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