Best Online Liberal Arts Programs in Cambridge, MA (2026)
Cambridge, Massachusetts has a population of about 117,794. The city’s median household income is $126,469 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 80.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 128 accredited schools offering liberal arts programs near Cambridge, with tuition ranging from $54,890 to $84,600 per year for indexed programs. 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 Cambridge
The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 128 schools in our directory that offer liberal arts programs near Cambridge. Distances are calculated from Cambridge city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harvard University | Cambridge, MA | 0.1 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Lesley University | Cambridge, MA | 0.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Cambridge, MA | 1.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Boston University | Boston, MA | 1.8 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Tufts University | Medford, MA | 2.3 mi | $67,844 - $84,600 | – |
| Cambridge College | Boston, MA | 2.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Hult International Business School | Cambridge, MA | 2.5 mi | $54,890 - $74,875 | – |
| Bunker Hill Community College | Boston, MA | 2.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Emmanuel College | Boston, MA | 2.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Boston Graduate School of Psychoanalysis Inc | Brookline, MA | 2.6 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 Cambridge
Cambridge 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.
Cambridge at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 117,794 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $126,469 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 80.2% | 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 Middlesex County | 1,894 workers, 327 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other Cambridge-Area Cities With Liberal Arts Programs
- Somerville, MA – 1.4 mi away (81,322 pop)
- Watertown, MA – 3.0 mi away (35,025 pop)
- Medford, MA – 3.3 mi away (57,213 pop)
- Everett, MA – 3.9 mi away (46,340 pop)
- Boston, MA – 4.3 mi away (4,556,916 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited liberal arts schools are near Cambridge, MA?
Our directory has 128 accredited schools offering liberal arts programs near Cambridge. The closest is Harvard University in Cambridge, MA (0.1 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Boston Graduate School of Psychoanalysis Inc (2.6 miles). 0 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying liberal arts roles near Cambridge?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying liberal arts-related roles near Cambridge 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 Somerville instead of Cambridge?
Somerville, MA is 1.4 miles from Cambridge 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 Cambridge an affordable place to study liberal arts?
Cambridge’s median household income of $126,469 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Cambridge 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
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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