Best Online Liberal Arts Programs in Belleville, IL (2026)
Belleville, Illinois has a population of about 41,722. The city’s median household income is $60,529 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 28.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 35 accredited schools offering liberal arts programs near Belleville, with tuition ranging from $30,730 to $83,476 per year for indexed programs. In the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area, the top-earning liberal arts-related role is Management Analyst at a median $102,540 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Liberal Arts Schools to Belleville
The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 35 schools in our directory that offer liberal arts programs near Belleville. Distances are calculated from Belleville city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southwestern Illinois College | Belleville, IL | 3.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| McKendree University | Lebanon, IL | 11.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Harris-Stowe State University | Saint Louis, MO | 15.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Saint Louis University | Saint Louis, MO | 15.8 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis | Saint Louis, MO | 17.0 mi | $31,920 - $53,608 | – |
| Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville | Edwardsville, IL | 19.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Washington University in St Louis | Saint Louis, MO | 19.8 mi | $62,982 - $83,476 | – |
| Fontbonne University | Saint Louis, MO | 19.9 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Webster University | Saint Louis, MO | 20.0 mi | $30,730 - $49,218 | – |
| University of Missouri-St Louis | Saint Louis, MO | 22.1 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 Belleville
Belleville is part of the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area (BLS area code 41180). 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 | $64,060 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $67,361 |
| Management Analyst | $102,540 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $107,823 |
| Technical Writer | $83,230 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $87,518 |
| News Analyst, Reporter, or Journalist | $44,520 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $46,814 |
| Editor | $63,130 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $66,383 |
| Training and Development Specialist | $59,430 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $62,492 |
| Human Resources Specialist | $65,180 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $68,538 |
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.
Belleville at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 41,722 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $60,529 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 28.0% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 95.1 (below U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Liberal Arts-related employment in St. Clair County | 86 workers, 17 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other Belleville-Area Cities With Liberal Arts Programs
- O’Fallon, IL – 6.8 mi away (29,031 pop)
- East Saint Louis, IL – 10.4 mi away (26,922 pop)
- Collinsville, IL – 11.2 mi away (24,635 pop)
- Saint Louis, MO – 16.3 mi away (2,096,990 pop)
- Granite City, IL – 16.6 mi away (28,908 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited liberal arts schools are near Belleville, IL?
Our directory has 35 accredited schools offering liberal arts programs near Belleville. The closest is Southwestern Illinois College in Belleville, IL (3.4 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is University of Missouri-St Louis (22.1 miles). 0 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying liberal arts roles near Belleville?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying liberal arts-related roles near Belleville are: Management Analyst ($102,540), Technical Writer ($83,230), Human Resources Specialist ($65,180). 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 O’Fallon instead of Belleville?
O’Fallon, IL is 6.8 miles from Belleville 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 Belleville an affordable place to study liberal arts?
Belleville’s median household income of $60,529 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Belleville 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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