Best Online Liberal Arts Programs in Batavia, IL (2026)
Batavia, Illinois has a population of about 26,730. The city’s median household income is $119,167 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 55.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 92 accredited schools offering liberal arts programs near Batavia, with tuition ranging from $3,432 to $56,447 per year for indexed programs. In the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, the top-earning liberal arts-related role is Management Analyst at a median $120,140 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Liberal Arts Schools to Batavia
The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 92 schools in our directory that offer liberal arts programs near Batavia. Distances are calculated from Batavia city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aurora University | Aurora, IL | 6.9 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Waubonsee Community College | Sugar Grove, IL | 8.6 mi | $3,432 - $14,661 | – |
| North Central College | Naperville, IL | 9.9 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Wheaton College | Wheaton, IL | 10.9 mi | $43,930 - $56,447 | – |
| Elgin Community College | Elgin, IL | 11.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Benedictine University | Lisle, IL | 12.0 mi | $34,290 - $46,548 | – |
| College of DuPage | Glen Ellyn, IL | 12.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Northern Baptist Theological Seminary | Lisle, IL | 13.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Judson University | Elgin, IL | 14.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Elmhurst University | Elmhurst, IL | 19.0 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Illinois schools on the Illinois liberal arts page.
Liberal Arts Wages Near Batavia
Batavia is part of the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area (BLS area code 16980). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Illinois statewide.
| Occupation | Median Wage | Source | COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public Relations Specialist | $63,910 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $61,689 |
| Management Analyst | $120,140 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $115,965 |
| Technical Writer | $80,240 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $77,452 |
| News Analyst, Reporter, or Journalist | $60,850 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $58,736 |
| Editor | $71,600 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $69,112 |
| Training and Development Specialist | $65,030 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $62,770 |
| Human Resources Specialist | $75,610 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $72,983 |
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.
Batavia at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 26,730 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $119,167 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 55.1% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 103.6 (above U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Liberal Arts-related employment in Kane County | 463 workers, 62 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other Batavia-Area Cities With Liberal Arts Programs
- Geneva, IL – 2.5 mi away (21,880 pop)
- Saint Charles, IL – 4.9 mi away (32,717 pop)
- West Chicago, IL – 5.4 mi away (27,221 pop)
- Aurora, IL – 6.0 mi away (201,110 pop)
- Naperville, IL – 10.1 mi away (147,122 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited liberal arts schools are near Batavia, IL?
Our directory has 92 accredited schools offering liberal arts programs near Batavia. The closest is Aurora University in Aurora, IL (6.9 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Elmhurst University (19.0 miles). 0 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying liberal arts roles near Batavia?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying liberal arts-related roles near Batavia are: Management Analyst ($120,140), Technical Writer ($80,240), Human Resources Specialist ($75,610). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Illinois statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Should I look at programs in Geneva instead of Batavia?
Geneva, IL is 2.5 miles from Batavia 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 Batavia an affordable place to study liberal arts?
Batavia’s median household income of $119,167 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Batavia while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Illinois 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 Illinois
- 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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