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

Moline, Illinois has a population of about 42,235. The city’s median household income is $63,959 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 29.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 2 accredited liberal arts programs within 100 miles of Moline, with tuition ranging from $10,964 to $48,380 per year. In the Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL metro area, the top-earning liberal arts-related role is Management Analyst at a median $95,700 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).


Closest Liberal Arts Schools to Moline

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

SchoolCityDistanceTuitionOnline
University of IowaIowa City, IA55.2 mi$10,964 - $32,927
Loras CollegeDubuque, IA71.3 mi$38,298 - $48,380

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


Liberal Arts Wages Near Moline

Moline is part of the Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL metro area (BLS area code 19340). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Illinois statewide.

OccupationMedian WageSourceCOL-Adjusted (US=100)
Public Relations Specialist$59,900Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL$67,228
Management Analyst$95,700Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL$107,407
Technical Writer$64,170Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL$72,020
News Analyst, Reporter, or Journalist$47,440Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL$53,244
Editor$58,670Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL$65,847
Training and Development Specialist$62,690Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL$70,359
Human Resources Specialist$76,790Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL$86,184

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.


Moline at a Glance

MetricValueSource
Population42,235Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income$63,959Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+29.1%Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)
Regional Price Parity (US=100)89.1 (below U.S. average)BEA RPP 2024

Other Moline-Area Cities With Liberal Arts Programs


Frequently Asked Questions

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

Our directory lists 2 liberal arts programs within 100 miles of Moline. The closest is University of Iowa in Iowa City, IA (55.2 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Loras College (71.3 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.

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

Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying liberal arts-related roles near Moline are: Management Analyst ($95,700), Human Resources Specialist ($76,790), Technical Writer ($64,170). 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 Rock Island instead of Moline?

Rock Island, IL is 4.8 miles from Moline 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 Moline an affordable place to study liberal arts?

Moline’s median household income of $63,959 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Moline 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.