Methuen, Massachusetts has a population of about 49,917. There are 5 accredited liberal arts programs within 100 miles of Methuen, with tuition ranging from $58,150 to $84,600 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).
The five accredited institutions below are the closest options indexed in our directory that offer liberal arts programs. Distances are calculated from Methuen city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salem State University | Salem, MA | 21.9 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Tufts University | Medford, MA | 22.2 mi | $67,844 - $84,600 | – |
| Bentley University | Waltham, MA | 24.3 mi | $58,150 - $77,082 | – |
| Harvard University | Cambridge, MA | 25.1 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Bunker Hill Community College | Boston, MA | 25.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Massachusetts schools on the Massachusetts liberal arts page.
Methuen 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.
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 108.3 (above U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Liberal Arts-related employment in Essex County | 1,263 workers, 149 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Our directory lists 5 liberal arts programs within 100 miles of Methuen. The closest is Salem State University in Salem, MA (21.9 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Bunker Hill Community College (25.5 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying liberal arts-related roles near Methuen 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.
Lawrence, MA is 2.7 miles from Methuen 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.
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.
Return to Best Online Liberal Arts Programs in Massachusetts (2026)