Best Online Liberal Arts Programs in Oak Forest, IL (2026)
Oak Forest, Illinois has a population of about 26,888. The city’s median household income is $87,941 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 30.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 94 accredited schools offering liberal arts programs near Oak Forest, with tuition ranging from $5,093 to $47,066 per year for indexed programs. In the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, the top-earning liberal arts-related role is Management Analyst at a median $120,140 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Liberal Arts Schools to Oak Forest
The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 94 schools in our directory that offer liberal arts programs near Oak Forest. Distances are calculated from Oak Forest city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trinity Christian College | Palos Heights, IL | 4.6 mi | $20,325 - $47,066 | – |
| South Suburban College | South Holland, IL | 6.9 mi | $5,093 - $12,683 | – |
| Saint Xavier University | Chicago, IL | 7.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Moraine Valley Community College | Palos Hills, IL | 7.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Prairie State College | Chicago Heights, IL | 8.1 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| City Colleges of Chicago-Richard J Daley College | Chicago, IL | 10.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Chicago State University | Chicago, IL | 10.8 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Governors State University | University Park, IL | 11.0 mi | $11,320 - $23,076 | – |
| City Colleges of Chicago-Olive-Harvey College | Chicago, IL | 11.1 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College | Chicago, IL | 13.3 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 Oak Forest
Oak Forest is part of the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area (BLS area code 16980). 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 | $63,910 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $61,689 |
| Management Analyst | $120,140 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $115,965 |
| Technical Writer | $80,240 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $77,452 |
| News Analyst, Reporter, or Journalist | $60,850 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $58,736 |
| Editor | $71,600 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $69,112 |
| Training and Development Specialist | $65,030 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $62,770 |
| Human Resources Specialist | $75,610 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $72,983 |
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.
Oak Forest at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 26,888 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $87,941 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 30.1% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 103.6 (above U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Liberal Arts-related employment in Cook County | 18,707 workers, 1,168 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other Oak Forest-Area Cities With Liberal Arts Programs
- Tinley Park, IL – 3.8 mi away (56,831 pop)
- Blue Island, IL – 5.2 mi away (23,401 pop)
- Harvey, IL – 5.2 mi away (24,947 pop)
- Orland Park, IL – 5.6 mi away (58,862 pop)
- Oak Lawn, IL – 7.5 mi away (56,257 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited liberal arts schools are near Oak Forest, IL?
Our directory has 94 accredited schools offering liberal arts programs near Oak Forest. The closest is Trinity Christian College in Palos Heights, IL (4.6 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College (13.3 miles). 0 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying liberal arts roles near Oak Forest?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying liberal arts-related roles near Oak Forest are: Management Analyst ($120,140), Technical Writer ($80,240), Human Resources Specialist ($75,610). 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 Tinley Park instead of Oak Forest?
Tinley Park, IL is 3.8 miles from Oak Forest 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 Oak Forest an affordable place to study liberal arts?
Oak Forest’s median household income of $87,941 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Oak Forest 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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