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

Decatur, Illinois has a population of about 70,368. The city’s median household income is $50,809 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 21.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There is 1 accredited liberal arts program within 100 miles of Decatur, with tuition ranging from $16,004 to $34,501 per year. In the Decatur, IL metro area, the top-earning liberal arts-related role is Management Analyst at a median $92,080 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).

Closest Liberal Arts Schools to Decatur

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

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

Liberal Arts Wages Near Decatur

Decatur is part of the Decatur, IL metro area (BLS area code 19500). 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.

Decatur at a Glance

Other Decatur-Area Cities With Liberal Arts Programs

• Springfield, IL – 38.7 mi away (160,570 pop)
• Champaign, IL – 39.3 mi away (155,368 pop)
• Urbana, IL – 42.8 mi away (42,014 pop)
• Bloomington, IL – 42.9 mi away (135,015 pop)
• Normal, IL – 46.1 mi away (54,264 pop)

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Our directory lists 1 liberal arts programs within 100 miles of Decatur. The closest is University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in Champaign, IL (41.2 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (41.2 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.

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

Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying liberal arts-related roles near Decatur are: Management Analyst ($92,080), Technical Writer ($79,690), Editor ($68,050). 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 Springfield instead of Decatur?

Springfield, IL is 38.7 miles from Decatur 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 Decatur an affordable place to study liberal arts?

Decatur’s median household income of $50,809 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Decatur 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