Best Online Liberal Arts Programs in Rolling Meadows, IL (2026)
Rolling Meadows, Illinois has a population of about 23,981. The city’s median household income is $100,424 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 40.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 102 accredited schools offering liberal arts programs near Rolling Meadows, with tuition ranging from $3,822 to $56,447 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 Rolling Meadows
The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 102 schools in our directory that offer liberal arts programs near Rolling Meadows. Distances are calculated from Rolling Meadows city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| William Rainey Harper College | Palatine, IL | 2.5 mi | $3,822 - $12,833 | – |
| Oakton College | Des Plaines, IL | 7.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Trinity International University-Illinois | Deerfield, IL | 11.3 mi | $12,320 - $47,751 | – |
| Elmhurst University | Elmhurst, IL | 12.9 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Judson University | Elgin, IL | 13.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Hebrew Theological College | Skokie, IL | 14.3 mi | $14,700 - $21,742 | – |
| Triton College | River Grove, IL | 14.5 mi | $4,920 - $14,880 | – |
| City Colleges of Chicago-Wilbur Wright College | Chicago, IL | 14.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Wheaton College | Wheaton, IL | 14.6 mi | $43,930 - $56,447 | – |
| Elgin Community College | Elgin, IL | 15.7 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 Rolling Meadows
Rolling Meadows 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.
Rolling Meadows at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 23,981 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $100,424 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 40.5% | 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 Rolling Meadows-Area Cities With Liberal Arts Programs
- Arlington Heights, IL – 2.6 mi away (75,525 pop)
- Palatine, IL – 3.1 mi away (68,766 pop)
- Schaumburg, IL – 4.3 mi away (74,446 pop)
- Mount Prospect, IL – 4.6 mi away (54,171 pop)
- Elk Grove Village, IL – 5.0 mi away (32,931 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited liberal arts schools are near Rolling Meadows, IL?
Our directory has 102 accredited schools offering liberal arts programs near Rolling Meadows. The closest is William Rainey Harper College in Palatine, IL (2.5 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Elgin Community College (15.7 miles). 0 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying liberal arts roles near Rolling Meadows?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying liberal arts-related roles near Rolling Meadows 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 Arlington Heights instead of Rolling Meadows?
Arlington Heights, IL is 2.6 miles from Rolling Meadows 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 Rolling Meadows an affordable place to study liberal arts?
Rolling Meadows’s median household income of $100,424 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Rolling Meadows 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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