Best Online Liberal Arts Programs in Laurel, MD (2026)
Laurel, Maryland has a population of about 29,594. The city’s median household income is $94,063 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 44.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 104 accredited schools offering liberal arts programs near Laurel, with tuition ranging from $55,834 to $73,198 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 Laurel
The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 104 schools in our directory that offer liberal arts programs near Laurel. Distances are calculated from Laurel city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capitol Technology University | Laurel, MD | 3.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Bowie State University | Bowie, MD | 7.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Howard Community College | Columbia, MD | 8.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| University of Maryland-College Park | College Park, MD | 8.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Washington Adventist University | Takoma Park, MD | 10.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| University of Maryland Global Campus | Adelphi, MD | 12.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| The Catholic University of America | Washington, DC | 13.3 mi | $55,834 - $73,198 | – |
| University of Maryland-Baltimore County | Baltimore, MD | 13.8 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Trinity Washington University | Washington, DC | 13.9 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Prince George’s Community College | Largo, MD | 14.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
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.
| Occupation | Median Wage | Source | COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public Relations Specialist | $95,370 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $87,576 |
| Management Analyst | $125,820 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $115,537 |
| Technical Writer | $97,810 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $89,816 |
| News Analyst, Reporter, or Journalist | $99,730 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $91,579 |
| Editor | $80,990 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $74,371 |
| Training and Development Specialist | $82,330 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $75,601 |
| Human Resources Specialist | $97,340 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $89,385 |
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.
Laurel at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 29,594 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $94,063 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 44.5% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 108.9 (above U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Liberal Arts-related employment in Prince George’s County | 1,194 workers, 111 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
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 104 accredited schools offering liberal arts programs near Laurel. The closest is Capitol Technology University in Laurel, MD (3.4 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Prince George’s Community College (14.4 miles). 0 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 2024 wage data, the top-paying liberal arts-related roles near Laurel 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 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.
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.
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