Best Online Liberal Arts Programs in Frederick, MD (2026)

Frederick, Maryland has a population of about 80,617. The city’s median household income is $95,150 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 41.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 96 accredited schools offering liberal arts programs near Frederick, with tuition ranging from $49,647 to $62,974 per year for indexed programs. In the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area, the top-earning liberal arts-related role is Management Analyst at a median $125,820 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).

Closest Liberal Arts Schools to Frederick

The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 96 schools in our directory that offer liberal arts programs near Frederick. Distances are calculated from Frederick city center.

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

Liberal Arts Wages Near Frederick

Frederick is part of the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area (BLS area code 47900). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Maryland 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.

Frederick at a Glance

Other Frederick-Area Cities With Liberal Arts Programs

• Hagerstown, MD – 21.7 mi away (186,377 pop)
• Gaithersburg, MD – 23.3 mi away (67,776 pop)
• Waynesboro, PA – 23.8 mi away (26,593 pop)
• Leesburg, VA – 23.8 mi away (52,607 pop)
• Charles Town, WV – 26.3 mi away (23,759 pop)

Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited liberal arts schools are near Frederick, MD?

Our directory has 96 accredited schools offering liberal arts programs near Frederick. The closest is Hood College in Frederick, MD (0.9 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is American Public University System (25.8 miles). 2 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.

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

Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying liberal arts-related roles near Frederick are: Management Analyst ($125,820), News Analyst, Reporter, or Journalist ($99,730), Technical Writer ($97,810). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Maryland statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.

Should I look at programs in Hagerstown instead of Frederick?

Hagerstown, MD is 21.7 miles from Frederick 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 Frederick an affordable place to study liberal arts?

Frederick’s median household income of $95,150 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Frederick while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Maryland 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 Maryland
• 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.