Best Online Liberal Arts Programs in Emporia, KS (2026)

Emporia, Kansas has 5 accredited schools offering liberal arts programs. Emporia has a population of about 24,098. Median household income is $52,787 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 25.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In Kansas, the top-earning liberal arts-related role is Management Analyst at a median $81,210 annually (BLS, May 2025).


Closest Liberal Arts Schools to Emporia

The accredited institutions listed below are the closest in our directory that offer liberal arts programs near Emporia, ranked by BOC Score and straight-line distance from Emporia city center. The list is rebuilt from federal IPEDS data on every site update.

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 Emporia. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.

#1

Washburn University

Topeka, KS 51.0 miles from Emporia BOC Score 53.8
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 60%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $49,774
Avg net price $15,280/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 69%
  • Programs offered: 44

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#2

Butler Community College

El Dorado, KS 55.0 miles from Emporia BOC Score 44.9
  • 2 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 27%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $41,206
Avg net price $15,724/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 72

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#3

Newman University

Wichita, KS 84.7 miles from Emporia BOC Score 57.6
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 65%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $55,041
Avg net price $19,971/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 70%
  • Programs offered: 23

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#4

Johnson County Community College

Overland Park, KS 86.7 miles from Emporia BOC Score 55.0
  • 2 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 30%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $45,387
Avg net price $14,176/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 66

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#5

Southwestern College

Winfield, KS 90.4 miles from Emporia BOC Score 36.5
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 47%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $55,646
Avg net price $29,824/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 54%
  • Programs offered: 33

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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


Liberal Arts Wages Near Emporia

OccupationMedian Annual Wage (Kansas, statewide)
Public Relations Specialist$64,860
Management Analyst$81,210
Technical Writer$73,550
News Analyst, Reporter, or Journalist$45,870
Editor$61,920
Training and Development Specialist$62,010
Human Resources Specialist$70,870

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.


Emporia at a Glance

MetricValueSource
Population24,098Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income$52,787Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+25.8%Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)

Other Emporia-Area Cities With Liberal Arts Programs


Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited liberal arts schools are near Emporia, KS?

Accredited schools offering liberal arts programs near Emporia are listed on this page, ranked by BOC Score and distance from the city center. The list is rebuilt from federal IPEDS and College Scorecard data on every site update, so it stays current as programs open and close.

What are the highest-paying liberal arts roles in Kansas?

Based on BLS May 2025 state wage data, the top-paying liberal arts-related roles in Kansas are: Management Analyst ($81,210), Technical Writer ($73,550), Human Resources Specialist ($70,870). Wages for Emporia workers will track these statewide medians, adjusted for local cost of living.

Should I look at programs in Topeka instead of Emporia?

Topeka, KS is 51.3 miles from Emporia 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 Emporia an affordable place to study liberal arts?

Emporia’s median household income of $52,787 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Emporia while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Kansas 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

Other Programs Available in Emporia

Compare every accredited online degree program with city-level data for Emporia:

Data verified: July 23, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; Employment Projections 2024โ€“2034) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2023 cohort). The source agency and data year are cited inline with every statistic.