Best Online Liberal Arts Programs in Sarasota, FL (2026)
Sarasota, Florida has a population of about 56,218. The city’s median household income is $70,065 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 41.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 24 accredited schools offering liberal arts programs near Sarasota, with tuition ranging from $2,682 to $75,726 per year for indexed programs. In the North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL metro area, the top-earning liberal arts-related role is Management Analyst at a median $94,390 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Liberal Arts Schools to Sarasota
The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 24 schools in our directory that offer liberal arts programs near Sarasota. Distances are calculated from Sarasota city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ringling College of Art and Design | Sarasota, FL | 1.5 mi | $55,480 - $75,726 | – |
| New College of Florida | Sarasota, FL | 3.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| State College of Florida-Manatee-Sarasota | Bradenton, FL | 7.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Eckerd College | Saint Petersburg, FL | 27.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| St Petersburg College | St. Petersburg, FL | 30.5 mi | $2,682 - $10,634 | – |
| Hillsborough Community College | Tampa, FL | 41.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| The University of Tampa | Tampa, FL | 42.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Herzing University-Tampa | Tampa, FL | 45.8 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Florida College | Temple Terrace, FL | 49.1 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| University of South Florida | Tampa, FL | 50.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Florida schools on the Florida liberal arts page.
Liberal Arts Wages Near Sarasota
Sarasota is part of the North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL metro area (BLS area code 35840). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Florida statewide.
| Occupation | Median Wage | Source | COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public Relations Specialist | $58,610 | North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $57,236 |
| Management Analyst | $94,390 | North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $92,178 |
| Technical Writer | $88,510 | North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $86,436 |
| News Analyst, Reporter, or Journalist | $52,700 | North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $51,465 |
| Editor | $61,200 | North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $59,766 |
| Training and Development Specialist | $50,770 | North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $49,580 |
| Human Resources Specialist | $64,840 | North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $63,320 |
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.
Sarasota at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 56,218 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $70,065 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 41.7% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 102.4 (above U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Liberal Arts-related employment in Sarasota County | 1,619 workers, 148 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other Sarasota-Area Cities With Liberal Arts Programs
- Bradenton, FL – 10.6 mi away (55,687 pop)
- Venice, FL – 17.3 mi away (22,465 pop)
- North Port, FL – 28.8 mi away (190,003 pop)
- Saint Petersburg, FL – 32.2 mi away (260,999 pop)
- Pinellas Park, FL – 37.3 mi away (52,137 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited liberal arts schools are near Sarasota, FL?
Our directory has 24 accredited schools offering liberal arts programs near Sarasota. The closest is Ringling College of Art and Design in Sarasota, FL (1.5 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is University of South Florida (50.5 miles). 0 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying liberal arts roles near Sarasota?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying liberal arts-related roles near Sarasota are: Management Analyst ($94,390), Technical Writer ($88,510), Human Resources Specialist ($64,840). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Florida statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Should I look at programs in Bradenton instead of Sarasota?
Bradenton, FL is 10.6 miles from Sarasota 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 Sarasota an affordable place to study liberal arts?
Sarasota’s median household income of $70,065 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Sarasota while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Florida 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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