Best Online Liberal Arts Programs in Rock Island, IL (2026)

Rock Island, Illinois has a population of about 36,758. The city’s median household income is $57,292 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 22.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 2 accredited liberal arts programs within 100 miles of Rock Island, 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 Rock Island

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

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

Liberal Arts Wages Near Rock Island

Rock Island 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.

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.

Rock Island at a Glance

Other Rock Island-Area Cities With Liberal Arts Programs

• Moline, IL – 4.8 mi away (42,250 pop)
• Davenport, IA – 6.0 mi away (288,233 pop)
• Bettendorf, IA – 8.6 mi away (35,727 pop)
• East Moline, IL – 10.7 mi away (21,135 pop)
• Muscatine, IA – 25.4 mi away (26,481 pop)

Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited liberal arts programs are near Rock Island, IL?

Our directory lists 2 liberal arts programs within 100 miles of Rock Island. The closest is University of Iowa in Iowa City, IA (50.8 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Loras College (71.6 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.

What are the highest-paying liberal arts roles near Rock Island?

Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying liberal arts-related roles near Rock Island 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 Moline instead of Rock Island?

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

Rock Island’s median household income of $57,292 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Rock Island 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