Best Online Liberal Arts Programs in Portsmouth, NH (2026)
Portsmouth, New Hampshire has a population of about 22,332. The city’s median household income is $105,756 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 63.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 105 accredited schools offering liberal arts programs near Portsmouth, with tuition ranging from $7,200 to $22,016 per year for indexed programs. In the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area, the top-earning liberal arts-related role is Management Analyst at a median $134,580 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Liberal Arts Schools to Portsmouth
The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 105 schools in our directory that offer liberal arts programs near Portsmouth. Distances are calculated from Portsmouth city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Great Bay Community College | Portsmouth, NH | 1.3 mi | $7,200 - $22,016 | – |
| University of New Hampshire-Main Campus | Durham, NH | 9.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| York County Community College | Wells, ME | 19.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Northern Essex Community College | Haverhill, MA | 22.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Merrimack College | North Andover, MA | 32.0 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Gordon College | Wenham, MA | 32.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| North Shore Community College | Danvers, MA | 33.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Southern New Hampshire University | Manchester, NH | 33.8 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| University of New England | Biddeford, ME | 34.1 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Endicott College | Beverly, MA | 35.0 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all New Hampshire schools on the New Hampshire liberal arts page.
Liberal Arts Wages Near Portsmouth
Portsmouth is part of the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area (BLS area code 14460). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to New Hampshire statewide.
| Occupation | Median Wage | Source | COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public Relations Specialist | $76,680 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $70,803 |
| Management Analyst | $134,580 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $124,266 |
| Technical Writer | $103,960 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $95,993 |
| News Analyst, Reporter, or Journalist | $61,140 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $56,454 |
| Editor | $79,370 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $73,287 |
| Training and Development Specialist | $77,750 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $71,791 |
| Human Resources Specialist | $83,930 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $77,498 |
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.
Portsmouth at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 22,332 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $105,756 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 63.4% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 108.3 (above U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Liberal Arts-related employment in Rockingham County | 629 workers, 72 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other Portsmouth-Area Cities With Liberal Arts Programs
- Dover, NH – 10.4 mi away (91,514 pop)
- Rochester, NH – 19.4 mi away (30,345 pop)
- Haverhill, MA – 24.4 mi away (62,873 pop)
- Sanford, ME – 25.3 mi away (29,139 pop)
- Gloucester, MA – 30.2 mi away (29,798 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited liberal arts schools are near Portsmouth, NH?
Our directory has 105 accredited schools offering liberal arts programs near Portsmouth. The closest is Great Bay Community College in Portsmouth, NH (1.3 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Endicott College (35.0 miles). 0 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying liberal arts roles near Portsmouth?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying liberal arts-related roles near Portsmouth are: Management Analyst ($134,580), Technical Writer ($103,960), Human Resources Specialist ($83,930). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with New Hampshire statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Should I look at programs in Dover instead of Portsmouth?
Dover, NH is 10.4 miles from Portsmouth 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 Portsmouth an affordable place to study liberal arts?
Portsmouth’s median household income of $105,756 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Portsmouth while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and New Hampshire 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 New Hampshire
- 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.
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