Loras College
Published tuition$38,298 - $48,380
Online programsYes
Best Online Liberal Arts Programs in Clinton, IA (2026)
Clinton, Iowa has 5 accredited schools offering liberal arts programs, with tuition ranging from $3,432 to $48,380 per year for indexed programs. Clinton has a population of about 24,425. Median household income is $57,493 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 21.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In Iowa, the top-earning liberal arts-related role is Management Analyst at a median $85,530 annually (BLS, May 2025).
Closest Liberal Arts Schools to Clinton
The 5 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 5 schools in our directory that offer liberal arts programs near Clinton. Distances are calculated from Clinton city center.
How We Rank Schools
Every school list on this site is ordered by the BOC Score, computed from the most recent school-level data published by the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard and IPEDS). To qualify, a school must be currently operating and accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Each eligible school is then scored on five measures, percentile-ranked against schools at the same credential level:
- Graduation rate 30%
- Median earnings, 10 years after entry 25%
- Average net price (lower is better) 20%
- Retention rate 15%
- Fully online availability 10%
Schools without enough outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score. On this page, schools are ordered by distance from Clinton. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.
University of Iowa
Published tuition$10,964 - $32,927
Online programsYes
Beloit College
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programs--
Waubonsee Community College
Published tuition$3,432 - $14,661
Online programsYes
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programsYes
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Iowa schools on the Iowa liberal arts page.
Liberal Arts Wages Near Clinton
| Occupation | Median Annual Wage (Iowa, statewide) |
|---|---|
| Public Relations Specialist | $62,970 |
| Management Analyst | $85,530 |
| Technical Writer | $66,520 |
| News Analyst, Reporter, or Journalist | $43,540 |
| Editor | $57,200 |
| Training and Development Specialist | $66,110 |
| Human Resources Specialist | $66,710 |
Source: BLS, May 2025 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.
Clinton at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 24,425 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $57,493 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 21.6% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
Other Clinton-Area Cities With Liberal Arts Programs
- Bettendorf, IA – 22.7 mi away (35,727 pop)
- East Moline, IL – 23.6 mi away (21,135 pop)
- Davenport, IA – 27.4 mi away (288,233 pop)
- Moline, IL – 28.1 mi away (42,250 pop)
- Sterling, IL – 28.3 mi away (27,961 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited liberal arts schools are near Clinton, IA?
Our directory has 5 accredited schools offering liberal arts programs near Clinton. The closest is Loras College in Dubuque, IA (50.9 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is University of Wisconsin-Madison (95.2 miles). 4 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying liberal arts roles in Iowa?
Based on BLS May 2025 state wage data, the top-paying liberal arts-related roles in Iowa are: Management Analyst ($85,530), Human Resources Specialist ($66,710), Technical Writer ($66,520). Wages for Clinton workers will track these statewide medians, adjusted for local cost of living.
Should I look at programs in Bettendorf instead of Clinton?
Bettendorf, IA is 22.7 miles from Clinton 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 Clinton an affordable place to study liberal arts?
Clinton’s median household income of $57,493 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Clinton while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Iowa 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.
Learn More About Liberal Arts Programs
- Liberal Arts accreditation: what to look for
- Liberal Arts concentrations and specializations
- Is a Liberal Arts degree worth it?
- Main Liberal Arts degree guide
- Online Liberal Arts programs in Iowa
- Liberal Arts programs by state
Other Programs Available in Clinton
Compare every accredited online degree program with city-level data for Clinton:
- Criminal Justice programs in Clinton, IA
- Nursing programs in Clinton, IA
- Business Administration programs in Clinton, IA
- Computer Science programs in Clinton, IA
- Psychology programs in Clinton, IA
- Education programs in Clinton, IA
- Engineering programs in Clinton, IA
- Technology programs in Clinton, IA
- Healthcare programs in Clinton, IA
- Cybersecurity programs in Clinton, IA
- Accounting programs in Clinton, IA
- Healthcare Administration programs in Clinton, IA
- Social Work programs in Clinton, IA
- Counseling programs in Clinton, IA
Related from Our Editorial Library
- Best Accredited Online Colleges (2026)
- Best Online Colleges Ranking
- Effective Learning Strategies for Online Students
Data verified: June 11, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; 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.