Best Online Liberal Arts Programs in Saint Joseph, MO (2026)

Saint Joseph, Missouri has a population of about 71,542. The city’s median household income is $55,578 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 22.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 33 accredited schools offering liberal arts programs near Saint Joseph, with tuition ranging from $19,890 to $34,291 per year for indexed programs. In Missouri, the top-earning liberal arts-related role is Technical Writer at a median $81,150 annually (BLS, May 2024).

Closest Liberal Arts Schools to Saint Joseph

The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 33 schools in our directory that offer liberal arts programs near Saint Joseph. Distances are calculated from Saint Joseph city center.

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

Liberal Arts Wages Near Saint Joseph

Saint Joseph is part of the St. Joseph, MO-KS metro area (BLS area code 41140). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Missouri 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.

Saint Joseph at a Glance

Other Saint Joseph-Area Cities With Liberal Arts Programs

• Leavenworth, KS – 30.7 mi away (46,445 pop)
• Gladstone, MO – 40.2 mi away (27,114 pop)
• Liberty, MO – 41.9 mi away (30,614 pop)
• Kansas City, KS – 44.2 mi away (151,709 pop)
• Kansas City, MO – 46.2 mi away (1,590,762 pop)

Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited liberal arts schools are near Saint Joseph, MO?

Our directory has 33 accredited schools offering liberal arts programs near Saint Joseph. The closest is Missouri Western State University in Saint Joseph, MO (1.9 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Donnelly College (45.7 miles). 0 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.

What are the highest-paying liberal arts roles near Saint Joseph?

Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying liberal arts-related roles near Saint Joseph are: Technical Writer ($81,150), Management Analyst ($79,260), Human Resources Specialist ($60,970). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Missouri statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.

Should I look at programs in Leavenworth instead of Saint Joseph?

Leavenworth, KS is 30.7 miles from Saint Joseph 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 Saint Joseph an affordable place to study liberal arts?

Saint Joseph’s median household income of $55,578 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Saint Joseph while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Missouri 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 Missouri
• 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.