Valdosta, Georgia has a population of about 55,222. The city’s median household income is $45,849 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 28.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 17 accredited schools offering liberal arts programs near Valdosta, with tuition ranging from $11,640 to $26,189 per year for indexed programs. In Georgia, the top-earning liberal arts-related role is News Analyst, Reporter, or Journalist at a median $76,440 annually (BLS, May 2024).
The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 17 schools in our directory that offer liberal arts programs near Valdosta. Distances are calculated from Valdosta city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Valdosta State University | Valdosta, GA | 0.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Wiregrass Georgia Technical College | Valdosta, GA | 5.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| North Florida College | Madison, FL | 27.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Southern Regional Technical College | Thomasville, GA | 39.9 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Thomas University | Thomasville, GA | 40.7 mi | $11,640 - $26,189 | – |
| Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College | Tifton, GA | 46.1 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| South Georgia State College | Douglas, GA | 51.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Coastal Pines Technical College | Waycross, GA | 58.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Florida Gateway College | Lake City, FL | 63.0 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Florida State University | Tallahassee, FL | 66.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Georgia schools on the Georgia liberal arts page.
Valdosta is part of the Valdosta, GA metro area (BLS area code 46660). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Georgia statewide.
| Occupation | Median Wage | Source | COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public Relations Specialist | $51,710 | Valdosta, GA | $58,562 |
| Management Analyst | N/A | GA statewide | – |
| Technical Writer | $72,440 | GA statewide | $82,039 |
| News Analyst, Reporter, or Journalist | $76,440 | GA statewide | $86,569 |
| Editor | $66,880 | GA statewide | $75,742 |
| Training and Development Specialist | $44,840 | Valdosta, GA | $50,781 |
| Human Resources Specialist | $50,630 | Valdosta, GA | $57,339 |
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.
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 55,222 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $45,849 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 28.1% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 88.3 (below U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
Our directory has 17 accredited schools offering liberal arts programs near Valdosta. The closest is Valdosta State University in Valdosta, GA (0.6 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Florida State University (66.6 miles). 0 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying liberal arts-related roles near Valdosta are: News Analyst, Reporter, or Journalist ($76,440), Technical Writer ($72,440), Editor ($66,880). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Georgia statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Thomasville, GA is 41.5 miles from Valdosta 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.
Valdosta’s median household income of $45,849 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Valdosta while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Georgia public universities often offer reduced in-state online tuition.
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.
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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