Best Online Liberal Arts Programs in Hastings, MN (2026)

Hastings, Minnesota has a population of about 22,050. The city’s median household income is $92,940 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 28.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited liberal arts programs within 100 miles of Hastings. In the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro area, the top-earning liberal arts-related role is Management Analyst at a median $97,390 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).

Closest Liberal Arts Schools to Hastings

The five accredited institutions below are the closest options indexed in our directory that offer liberal arts programs. Distances are calculated from Hastings city center.

Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Minnesota schools on the Minnesota liberal arts page.

Liberal Arts Wages Near Hastings

Hastings is part of the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro area (BLS area code 33460). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Minnesota statewide.

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.

Hastings at a Glance

Other Hastings-Area Cities With Liberal Arts Programs

• Cottage Grove, MN – 6.9 mi away (36,029 pop)
• Rosemount, MN – 10.5 mi away (23,911 pop)
• Inver Grove Heights, MN – 12.0 mi away (35,077 pop)
• Woodbury, MN – 12.5 mi away (68,820 pop)
• South Saint Paul, MN – 14.1 mi away (20,217 pop)

Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited liberal arts programs are near Hastings, MN?

Our directory lists 5 liberal arts programs within 100 miles of Hastings. The closest is Inver Hills Community College in Inver Grove Heights, MN (11.9 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is University of Minnesota-Twin Cities (25.1 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.

What are the highest-paying liberal arts roles near Hastings?

Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying liberal arts-related roles near Hastings are: Management Analyst ($97,390), Human Resources Specialist ($78,960), Training and Development Specialist ($78,760). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Minnesota statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.

Should I look at programs in Cottage Grove instead of Hastings?

Cottage Grove, MN is 6.9 miles from Hastings 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 Hastings an affordable place to study liberal arts?

Hastings’s median household income of $92,940 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Hastings while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Minnesota 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 Minnesota
• Main Liberal Arts Degree Guide
• Liberal Arts Programs by State