Best Online Liberal Arts Programs in Bloomington, IL (2026)

Bloomington, Illinois has a population of about 78,703. The city’s median household income is $75,449 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 48.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 2 accredited liberal arts programs within 100 miles of Bloomington, with tuition ranging from $3,432 to $34,501 per year. In the Bloomington, IL metro area, the top-earning liberal arts-related role is Management Analyst at a median $107,600 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).

Closest Liberal Arts Schools to Bloomington

The five accredited institutions below are the closest options indexed in our directory that offer liberal arts programs. Distances are calculated from Bloomington city center.

Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Illinois schools on the Illinois liberal arts page.

Liberal Arts Wages Near Bloomington

Bloomington is part of the Bloomington, IL metro area (BLS area code 14010). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Illinois statewide.

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.

Bloomington at a Glance

Other Bloomington-Area Cities With Liberal Arts Programs

• Normal, IL – 3.3 mi away (54,264 pop)
• East Peoria, IL – 33.0 mi away (22,939 pop)
• Pekin, IL – 35.1 mi away (33,038 pop)
• Peoria, IL – 38.9 mi away (265,218 pop)
• Decatur, IL – 42.9 mi away (89,653 pop)

Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited liberal arts programs are near Bloomington, IL?

Our directory lists 2 liberal arts programs within 100 miles of Bloomington. The closest is University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in Champaign, IL (46.5 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Waubonsee Community College (95.0 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.

What are the highest-paying liberal arts roles near Bloomington?

Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying liberal arts-related roles near Bloomington are: Management Analyst ($107,600), Public Relations Specialist ($84,480), Technical Writer ($79,690). 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 Normal instead of Bloomington?

Normal, IL is 3.3 miles from Bloomington 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 Bloomington an affordable place to study liberal arts?

Bloomington’s median household income of $75,449 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Bloomington 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