Bay City, Michigan has 5 accredited schools offering liberal arts programs, with tuition ranging from $4,820 to $15,460 per year for indexed programs. Bay City has a population of about 32,445. Median household income is $47,904 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 18.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In the Bay City, MI metro area, the top-earning liberal arts-related role is Management Analyst at a median $114,610 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Closest Liberal Arts Schools to Bay City
The accredited institutions listed below are the closest in our directory that offer liberal arts programs near Bay City, ranked by BOC Score and straight-line distance from Bay City city center. The list is rebuilt from federal IPEDS data on every site update.
How We Rank Schools
Every school list on this site is ordered by the BOC Score, computed from the most
recent school-level data published by the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard and IPEDS).
To qualify, a school must be currently operating and accredited by an agency recognized by the
U.S. Department of Education. Each eligible school is then scored on five measures, percentile-ranked
against schools at the same credential level:
BOCSCORE
- Graduation rate 30%
- Median earnings, 10 years after entry 25%
- Average net price (lower is better) 20%
- Retention rate 15%
- Fully online availability 10%
Schools without enough outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score.
On this page, schools are ordered by distance from Bay City.
Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.
Graduation rate
51%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$51,955
Avg net price
$10,775/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Key stats
- Retention rate: 76%
- Programs offered: 76
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
Graduation rate
50%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$53,230
Avg net price
$7,007/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Key stats
- Retention rate: 77%
- Programs offered: 80
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
Graduation rate
63%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$54,742
Avg net price
$20,694/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Key stats
- Retention rate: 81%
- Programs offered: 40
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
Acceptance rate
82%
Graduation rate
33%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$35,833
Avg net price
$13,157/yr
TuitionIn‑state$13,000
Out‑of‑state$13,000
Key stats
- Retention rate: 69%
- Programs offered: 37
Source:Accreditor: Higher Learning Commission · IPEDS · College Scorecard
Acceptance rate
90%
Graduation rate
60%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$55,874
Avg net price
$17,597/yr
TuitionIn‑state$14,760
Out‑of‑state$14,760
Key stats
- Retention rate: 75%
- Programs offered: 183
Source:Accreditor: Higher Learning Commission · IPEDS · College Scorecard
Graduation rate
82%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$67,253
Avg net price
$19,680/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Key stats
- Retention rate: 91%
- Programs offered: 230
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
Graduation rate
34%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$31,053
Avg net price
$15,524/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Key stats
- Retention rate: 51%
- Programs offered: 10
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
Graduation rate
61%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$58,612
Avg net price
$9,120/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Key stats
- Retention rate: 77%
- Programs offered: 133
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Michigan schools on the Michigan liberal arts page.
Liberal Arts Wages Near Bay City
Bay City is part of the Bay City, MI metro area (BLS area code 13020). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Michigan statewide.
| Occupation |
Median Wage |
Source |
COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
| Public Relations Specialist |
$62,610 |
Bay City, MI |
$68,128 |
| Management Analyst |
$114,610 |
Bay City, MI |
$124,712 |
| Technical Writer |
$85,270 |
MI statewide |
$92,786 |
| News Analyst, Reporter, or Journalist |
$62,760 |
MI statewide |
$68,292 |
| Editor |
$63,090 |
MI statewide |
$68,651 |
| Training and Development Specialist |
$60,270 |
Bay City, MI |
$65,582 |
| Human Resources Specialist |
$63,200 |
Bay City, MI |
$68,770 |
Source: BLS, May 2025 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.
Bay City at a Glance
| Metric |
Value |
Source |
| Population |
32,445 |
Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income |
$47,904 |
Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ |
18.2% |
Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) |
91.9 (below U.S. average) |
BEA RPP 2024 |
Other Bay City-Area Cities With Liberal Arts Programs
- Saginaw, MI – 12.2 mi away (120,088 pop)
- Midland, MI – 17.3 mi away (59,343 pop)
- Flint, MI – 40.4 mi away (338,616 pop)
- Burton, MI – 43.2 mi away (28,648 pop)
- Owosso, MI – 43.6 mi away (21,653 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited liberal arts schools are near Bay City, MI?
Our directory has 5 accredited schools offering liberal arts programs near Bay City. The closest is Delta College in University Center, MI (5.3 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Alma College (41.9 miles). 4 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying liberal arts roles near Bay City?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data, the top-paying liberal arts-related roles near Bay City are: Management Analyst ($114,610), Technical Writer ($85,270), Human Resources Specialist ($63,200). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Michigan statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Should I look at programs in Saginaw instead of Bay City?
Saginaw, MI is 12.2 miles from Bay City 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 Bay City an affordable place to study liberal arts?
Bay City’s median household income of $47,904 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Bay City while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Michigan 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.
Learn More About Liberal Arts Programs
Other Programs Available in Bay City
Compare every accredited online degree program with city-level data for Bay City:
- History programs in Bay City, MI
- English programs in Bay City, MI
- Sociology programs in Bay City, MI
- Anthropology programs in Bay City, MI
- Political Science programs in Bay City, MI
- Philosophy programs in Bay City, MI
- Mathematics programs in Bay City, MI
- General Studies programs in Bay City, MI
- Forensic Psychology programs in Bay City, MI
- Child Development programs in Bay City, MI
- Data Science programs in Bay City, MI
- Electrical Engineering programs in Bay City, MI
- Software Engineering programs in Bay City, MI
- Engineering Management programs in Bay City, MI
- Geography programs in Bay City, MI
- Aviation Management programs in Bay City, MI
- Public Policy programs in Bay City, MI
- International Relations programs in Bay City, MI
- Chemistry programs in Bay City, MI
- Physics programs in Bay City, MI
- Neuroscience programs in Bay City, MI
- Spanish programs in Bay City, MI
- Film programs in Bay City, MI
- Fashion programs in Bay City, MI
- Architecture programs in Bay City, MI
- Urban Planning programs in Bay City, MI
- Industrial Design programs in Bay City, MI
- Game Design programs in Bay City, MI
- Instructional Design programs in Bay City, MI
- Higher Education Administration programs in Bay City, MI
- Global Health programs in Bay City, MI
- Art History programs in Bay City, MI
- Creative Writing programs in Bay City, MI
- Environmental Science programs in Bay City, MI
- Nutrition programs in Bay City, MI
- Theology programs in Bay City, MI
- Library Science programs in Bay City, MI
- Applied Behavior Analysis programs in Bay City, MI
- Medical Billing and Coding programs in Bay City, MI
- Medical Assistant programs in Bay City, MI
- Pharmacy Technician programs in Bay City, MI
- Health Science programs in Bay City, MI
- Occupational Safety and Health programs in Bay City, MI
- Entrepreneurship programs in Bay City, MI
- Interior Design programs in Bay City, MI
- Photography programs in Bay City, MI
- Sustainability Management programs in Bay City, MI
- Behavioral Health Science programs in Bay City, MI
- Mental Health Counseling programs in Bay City, MI
- Substance Abuse Counseling programs in Bay City, MI
- Journalism programs in Bay City, MI
- Public Relations programs in Bay City, MI
- Communication Disorders programs in Bay City, MI
- Speech Pathology programs in Bay City, MI
- Technical Communication programs in Bay City, MI
- Professional Writing programs in Bay City, MI
- Strategic Communications programs in Bay City, MI
- Business Development programs in Bay City, MI
- Construction Management programs in Bay City, MI
- Economics programs in Bay City, MI
- Financial Technology programs in Bay City, MI
- Forensic Accounting programs in Bay City, MI
- Health Information Management programs in Bay City, MI
- Hospitality Management programs in Bay City, MI
- International Business programs in Bay City, MI
- Organizational Leadership programs in Bay City, MI
- Management Information Systems programs in Bay City, MI
- Nonprofit Management programs in Bay City, MI
- Operations Management programs in Bay City, MI
- Public Administration programs in Bay City, MI
- Real Estate programs in Bay City, MI
- Recreation Management programs in Bay City, MI
- Retail Management programs in Bay City, MI
- Risk Management programs in Bay City, MI
- Statistics programs in Bay City, MI
- Taxation programs in Bay City, MI
- Corrections programs in Bay City, MI
- Crime Analysis programs in Bay City, MI
- Criminal Justice Administration programs in Bay City, MI
- Criminology programs in Bay City, MI
- Cybercrime programs in Bay City, MI
- Emergency Management programs in Bay City, MI
- Fire Science programs in Bay City, MI
- Forensic Science programs in Bay City, MI
- Legal Services programs in Bay City, MI
- Legal Studies programs in Bay City, MI
- Paralegal programs in Bay City, MI
- Security Management programs in Bay City, MI
- Cloud Computing programs in Bay City, MI
- Computer Engineering programs in Bay City, MI
- Innovation programs in Bay City, MI
- Mobile App Development programs in Bay City, MI
- Software Development programs in Bay City, MI
- User Experience programs in Bay City, MI
- Web Development programs in Bay City, MI
- Artificial Intelligence programs in Bay City, MI
- Machine Learning programs in Bay City, MI
- Supply Chain Management programs in Bay City, MI
- Data Analytics programs in Bay City, MI
- Public Health programs in Bay City, MI
- Human Resources programs in Bay City, MI
- Project Management programs in Bay City, MI
- Special Education programs in Bay City, MI
- Homeland Security programs in Bay City, MI
- Marketing programs in Bay City, MI
- Finance programs in Bay City, MI
- Kinesiology programs in Bay City, MI
- Sports Management programs in Bay City, MI
- Early Childhood Education programs in Bay City, MI
- Elementary Education programs in Bay City, MI
- Biology programs in Bay City, MI
- Communications programs in Bay City, MI
- Graphic Design programs in Bay City, MI
- Human Services programs in Bay City, MI
- MBA programs in Bay City, MI
- Criminal Justice programs in Bay City, MI
- Nursing programs in Bay City, MI
- Business Administration programs in Bay City, MI
- Computer Science programs in Bay City, MI
- Psychology programs in Bay City, MI
- Education programs in Bay City, MI
- Engineering programs in Bay City, MI
- Technology programs in Bay City, MI
- Healthcare programs in Bay City, MI
- Cybersecurity programs in Bay City, MI
- Accounting programs in Bay City, MI
- Healthcare Administration programs in Bay City, MI
- Social Work programs in Bay City, MI
- Counseling programs in Bay City, MI
Data verified: September 6, 2026.
Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; 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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