Best Online Liberal Arts Programs in Vernon Hills, IL (2026)

Vernon Hills, Illinois has a population of about 26,772. The city’s median household income is $120,625 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 66.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited liberal arts programs within 100 miles of Vernon Hills, with tuition ranging from $34,290 to $46,548 per year. 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 Vernon Hills

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

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

Liberal Arts Wages Near Vernon Hills

Vernon Hills 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.

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.

Vernon Hills at a Glance

Other Vernon Hills-Area Cities With Liberal Arts Programs

• Mundelein, IL – 3.5 mi away (31,475 pop)
• Libertyville, IL – 3.7 mi away (20,405 pop)
• Buffalo Grove, IL – 4.6 mi away (41,346 pop)
• Wheeling, IL – 7.4 mi away (38,315 pop)
• North Chicago, IL – 7.7 mi away (29,951 pop)

Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited liberal arts programs are near Vernon Hills, IL?

Our directory lists 5 liberal arts programs within 100 miles of Vernon Hills. The closest is Lake Forest College in Lake Forest, IL (6.8 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is University of Chicago (35.8 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.

What are the highest-paying liberal arts roles near Vernon Hills?

Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying liberal arts-related roles near Vernon Hills 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 Mundelein instead of Vernon Hills?

Mundelein, IL is 3.5 miles from Vernon Hills 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 Vernon Hills an affordable place to study liberal arts?

Vernon Hills’s median household income of $120,625 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Vernon Hills 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