Best Online Liberal Arts Programs in Granite City, IL (2026)
Granite City, Illinois has a population of about 26,670. The city’s median household income is $60,490 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 16.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 37 accredited schools offering liberal arts programs near Granite City, with tuition ranging from $3,660 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 Granite City
The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 37 schools in our directory that offer liberal arts programs near Granite City. Distances are calculated from Granite City city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville | Edwardsville, IL | 8.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Harris-Stowe State University | Saint Louis, MO | 8.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Saint Louis University | Saint Louis, MO | 8.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis | Saint Louis, MO | 9.7 mi | $31,920 - $53,608 | – |
| University of Missouri-St Louis | Saint Louis, MO | 10.1 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Washington University in St Louis | Saint Louis, MO | 11.4 mi | $62,982 - $83,476 | – |
| Fontbonne University | Saint Louis, MO | 11.8 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Webster University | Saint Louis, MO | 15.3 mi | $30,730 - $49,218 | – |
| Lewis and Clark Community College | Godfrey, IL | 15.8 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Saint Louis Community College | Bridgeton, MO | 16.8 mi | $3,660 - $12,053 | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Illinois schools on the Illinois liberal arts page.
Liberal Arts Wages Near Granite City
Granite City 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.
Granite City at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 26,670 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $60,490 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 16.2% | 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 Madison County | 381 workers, 21 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other Granite City-Area Cities With Liberal Arts Programs
- Collinsville, IL – 7.5 mi away (24,635 pop)
- East Saint Louis, IL – 7.9 mi away (26,922 pop)
- Edwardsville, IL – 8.6 mi away (25,071 pop)
- Saint Louis, MO – 9.1 mi away (2,096,990 pop)
- Ferguson, MO – 9.2 mi away (20,846 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited liberal arts schools are near Granite City, IL?
Our directory has 37 accredited schools offering liberal arts programs near Granite City. The closest is Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville in Edwardsville, IL (8.2 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Saint Louis Community College (16.8 miles). 0 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying liberal arts roles near Granite City?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying liberal arts-related roles near Granite City 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 Collinsville instead of Granite City?
Collinsville, IL is 7.5 miles from Granite City 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 Granite City an affordable place to study liberal arts?
Granite City’s median household income of $60,490 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Granite City 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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