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

Laurel, Maryland has 5 accredited schools offering liberal arts programs, with tuition ranging from $36,028 to $84,696 per year for indexed programs. Laurel has a population of about 29,594. Median household income is $94,063 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 44.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area, the top-earning liberal arts-related role is Management Analyst at a median $126,830 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Closest Liberal Arts Schools to Laurel

The 5 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 5 schools in our directory that offer liberal arts programs near Laurel. Distances are calculated from Laurel city center.

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

Liberal Arts Wages Near Laurel

Laurel 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 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.

Laurel at a Glance

Other Laurel-Area Cities With Liberal Arts Programs

• Greenbelt, MD – 7.1 mi away (23,909 pop)
• College Park, MD – 7.8 mi away (32,275 pop)
• Bowie, MD – 11.5 mi away (58,393 pop)
• Washington, DC – 15.5 mi away (5,191,844 pop)
• Rockville, MD – 15.7 mi away (66,940 pop)

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Our directory has 5 accredited schools offering liberal arts programs near Laurel. The closest is American University in Washington, DC (16.3 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Shenandoah University (69.7 miles). 5 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.

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

Based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data, the top-paying liberal arts-related roles near Laurel are: Management Analyst ($126,830), Public Relations Specialist ($101,680), News Analyst, Reporter, or Journalist ($101,020). 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 Greenbelt instead of Laurel?

Greenbelt, MD is 7.1 miles from Laurel 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 Laurel an affordable place to study liberal arts?

Laurel’s median household income of $94,063 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Laurel 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.

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 Maryland
• Liberal Arts programs by state

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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.