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

Gardner, Kansas has a population of about 24,020. The city’s median household income is $92,579 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 32.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 39 accredited schools offering liberal arts programs near Gardner. In the Kansas City, MO-KS metro area, the top-earning liberal arts-related role is Management Analyst at a median $97,140 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).

Closest Liberal Arts Schools to Gardner

The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 39 schools in our directory that offer liberal arts programs near Gardner. Distances are calculated from Gardner city center.

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

Liberal Arts Wages Near Gardner

Gardner is part of the Kansas City, MO-KS metro area (BLS area code 28140). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Kansas 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.

Gardner at a Glance

Other Gardner-Area Cities With Liberal Arts Programs

• Olathe, KS – 7.6 mi away (135,473 pop)
• Lenexa, KS – 12.1 mi away (52,903 pop)
• Overland Park, KS – 13.9 mi away (188,966 pop)
• Shawnee, KS – 15.3 mi away (65,194 pop)
• Leawood, KS – 17.5 mi away (34,565 pop)

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Our directory has 39 accredited schools offering liberal arts programs near Gardner. The closest is MidAmerica Nazarene University in Olathe, KS (9.0 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is University of Kansas (19.7 miles). 0 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.

What are the highest-paying liberal arts roles near Gardner?

Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying liberal arts-related roles near Gardner are: Management Analyst ($97,140), Human Resources Specialist ($77,880), Technical Writer ($75,180). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Kansas statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.

Should I look at programs in Olathe instead of Gardner?

Olathe, KS is 7.6 miles from Gardner 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 Gardner an affordable place to study liberal arts?

Gardner’s median household income of $92,579 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Gardner 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.

Related Resources

• Online Liberal Arts Programs in Kansas
• 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.