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

Rockville, Maryland has a population of about 67,218. The city’s median household income is $122,384 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 64.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited liberal arts programs within 100 miles of Rockville, with tuition ranging from $36,028 to $84,696 per year. 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 Rockville

The five accredited institutions below are the closest options indexed in our directory that offer liberal arts programs. Distances are calculated from Rockville city center.

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

Liberal Arts Wages Near Rockville

Rockville 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.

Rockville at a Glance

Other Rockville-Area Cities With Liberal Arts Programs

• Gaithersburg, MD – 4.7 mi away (67,776 pop)
• College Park, MD – 13.3 mi away (32,275 pop)
• Washington, DC – 14.4 mi away (5,191,844 pop)
• Herndon, VA – 14.7 mi away (24,393 pop)
• Greenbelt, MD – 15.6 mi away (23,909 pop)

Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited liberal arts programs are near Rockville, MD?

Our directory lists 5 liberal arts programs within 100 miles of Rockville. The closest is American University in Washington, DC (10.7 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Shenandoah University (54.1 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.

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

Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying liberal arts-related roles near Rockville 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 Gaithersburg instead of Rockville?

Gaithersburg, MD is 4.7 miles from Rockville 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 Rockville an affordable place to study liberal arts?

Rockville’s median household income of $122,384 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Rockville 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