Best Online Liberal Arts Programs in Boston, MA (2026)
Boston, Massachusetts has a population of about 663,972. The city’s median household income is $94,755 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 54.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited liberal arts programs within 100 miles of Boston, with tuition ranging from $45,380 to $62,822 per year. In the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area, the top-earning liberal arts-related role is Management Analyst at a median $134,580 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Liberal Arts Schools to Boston
The five accredited institutions below are the closest options indexed in our directory that offer liberal arts programs. Distances are calculated from Boston city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Cambridge, MA | 2.8 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Suffolk University | Boston, MA | 2.9 mi | $45,380 - $62,822 | – |
| Bunker Hill Community College | Boston, MA | 4.0 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Harvard University | Cambridge, MA | 4.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Boston College | Chestnut Hill, MA | 4.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Massachusetts schools on the Massachusetts liberal arts page.
Liberal Arts Wages Near Boston
Boston is part of the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area (BLS area code 14460). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Massachusetts statewide.
| Occupation | Median Wage | Source | COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public Relations Specialist | $76,680 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $70,803 |
| Management Analyst | $134,580 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $124,266 |
| Technical Writer | $103,960 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $95,993 |
| News Analyst, Reporter, or Journalist | $61,140 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $56,454 |
| Editor | $79,370 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $73,287 |
| Training and Development Specialist | $77,750 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $71,791 |
| Human Resources Specialist | $83,930 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $77,498 |
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.
Boston at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 663,972 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $94,755 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 54.1% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 108.3 (above U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Liberal Arts-related employment in Suffolk County | 7,994 workers, 208 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other Boston-Area Cities With Liberal Arts Programs
- Cambridge, MA – 4.3 mi away (110,651 pop)
- Somerville, MA – 5.0 mi away (81,322 pop)
- Quincy, MA – 5.7 mi away (93,688 pop)
- Chelsea, MA – 5.9 mi away (39,699 pop)
- Watertown, MA – 5.9 mi away (35,025 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited liberal arts programs are near Boston, MA?
Our directory lists 5 liberal arts programs within 100 miles of Boston. The closest is Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, MA (2.8 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Boston College (4.4 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.
What are the highest-paying liberal arts roles near Boston?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying liberal arts-related roles near Boston are: Management Analyst ($134,580), Technical Writer ($103,960), Human Resources Specialist ($83,930). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Massachusetts statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Should I look at programs in Cambridge instead of Boston?
Cambridge, MA is 4.3 miles from Boston 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 Boston an affordable place to study liberal arts?
Boston’s median household income of $94,755 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Boston while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts
- Main Liberal Arts Degree Guide
- Liberal Arts Programs by State
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