Ferris State University
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programsYes
Best Online Liberal Arts Programs in Traverse City, MI (2026)
Traverse City, Michigan has 2 accredited schools offering liberal arts programs. Traverse City has a population of about 15,491. Median household income is $71,731 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 47.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In the Traverse City, MI metro area, the top-earning liberal arts-related role is Management Analyst at a median $94,690 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Closest Liberal Arts Schools to Traverse City
The 2 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 2 schools in our directory that offer liberal arts programs near Traverse City. Distances are calculated from Traverse City city center.
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:
- 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 Traverse City. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.
Central Michigan University
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programsYes
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Michigan schools on the Michigan liberal arts page.
Liberal Arts Wages Near Traverse City
Traverse City is part of the Traverse City, MI metro area (BLS area code 45900). 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 | $61,760 | Traverse City, MI | $66,124 |
| Management Analyst | $94,690 | Traverse City, MI | $101,381 |
| Technical Writer | $85,270 | MI statewide | $91,296 |
| News Analyst, Reporter, or Journalist | $62,760 | MI statewide | $67,195 |
| Editor | $57,200 | Traverse City, MI | $61,242 |
| Training and Development Specialist | $61,280 | Traverse City, MI | $65,610 |
| Human Resources Specialist | $64,480 | Traverse City, MI | $69,036 |
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.
Traverse City at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 15,491 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $71,731 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 47.0% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 93.4 (below U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
Other Traverse City-Area Cities With Liberal Arts Programs
- Mount Pleasant, MI – 89.9 mi away (37,877 pop)
- Escanaba, MI – 99.7 mi away (20,370 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited liberal arts schools are near Traverse City, MI?
Our directory has 2 accredited schools offering liberal arts programs near Traverse City. The closest is Ferris State University in Big Rapids, MI (74.3 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Central Michigan University (90.7 miles). 2 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying liberal arts roles near Traverse City?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data, the top-paying liberal arts-related roles near Traverse City are: Management Analyst ($94,690), Technical Writer ($85,270), Human Resources Specialist ($64,480). 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 Mount Pleasant instead of Traverse City?
Mount Pleasant, MI is 89.9 miles from Traverse 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 Traverse City an affordable place to study liberal arts?
Traverse City’s median household income of $71,731 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Traverse 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
- Liberal Arts accreditation: what to look for
- Liberal Arts concentrations and specializations
- Is a Liberal Arts degree worth it?
- Main Liberal Arts degree guide
- Online Liberal Arts programs in Michigan
- Liberal Arts programs by state
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Data verified: June 11, 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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