Best Online Liberal Arts Programs in Omaha, NE (2026)

Omaha, Nebraska has a population of about 488,197. The city’s median household income is $72,708 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 40.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 3 accredited liberal arts programs within 100 miles of Omaha. In the Omaha, NE-IA metro area, the top-earning liberal arts-related role is Management Analyst at a median $85,970 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).


Closest Liberal Arts Schools to Omaha

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

SchoolCityDistanceTuitionOnline
College of Saint MaryOmaha, NE2.0 miContact school for pricing
Metropolitan Community College AreaOmaha, NE5.6 miContact school for pricing
Nebraska Wesleyan UniversityLincoln, NE43.0 miContact school for pricing

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


Liberal Arts Wages Near Omaha

Omaha is part of the Omaha, NE-IA metro area (BLS area code 36540). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Nebraska statewide.

OccupationMedian WageSourceCOL-Adjusted (US=100)
Public Relations Specialist$60,120Omaha, NE-IA$65,419
Management Analyst$85,970Omaha, NE-IA$93,547
Technical Writer$71,180Omaha, NE-IA$77,454
News Analyst, Reporter, or Journalist$46,420Omaha, NE-IA$50,511
Editor$46,240Omaha, NE-IA$50,316
Training and Development Specialist$64,260Omaha, NE-IA$69,924
Human Resources Specialist$59,350Omaha, NE-IA$64,581

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.


Omaha at a Glance

MetricValueSource
Population488,197Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income$72,708Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+40.3%Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)
Regional Price Parity (US=100)91.9 (below U.S. average)BEA RPP 2024
Liberal Arts-related employment in Douglas County2,565 workers, 108 establishmentsBLS QCEW 2024 annual

Other Omaha-Area Cities With Liberal Arts Programs


Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited liberal arts programs are near Omaha, NE?

Our directory lists 3 liberal arts programs within 100 miles of Omaha. The closest is College of Saint Mary in Omaha, NE (2.0 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Nebraska Wesleyan University (43.0 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.

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

Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying liberal arts-related roles near Omaha are: Management Analyst ($85,970), Technical Writer ($71,180), Training and Development Specialist ($64,260). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Nebraska statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.

Should I look at programs in Bellevue instead of Omaha?

Bellevue, NE is 9.5 miles from Omaha 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 Omaha an affordable place to study liberal arts?

Omaha’s median household income of $72,708 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Omaha while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Nebraska 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.