Best Online Liberal Arts Programs in Plainfield, NJ (2026)

Plainfield, New Jersey has a population of about 54,515. The city’s median household income is $80,334 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 22.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 208 accredited schools offering liberal arts programs near Plainfield. In the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro area, the top-earning liberal arts-related role is Management Analyst at a median $110,950 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).

Closest Liberal Arts Schools to Plainfield

The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 208 schools in our directory that offer liberal arts programs near Plainfield. Distances are calculated from Plainfield city center.

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

Liberal Arts Wages Near Plainfield

Plainfield is part of the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro area (BLS area code 35620). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to New Jersey 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.

Plainfield at a Glance

Other Plainfield-Area Cities With Liberal Arts Programs

• North Plainfield, NJ – 1.2 mi away (22,073 pop)
• South Plainfield, NJ – 2.8 mi away (24,221 pop)
• Westfield, NJ – 4.6 mi away (30,206 pop)
• Rahway, NJ – 7.1 mi away (29,451 pop)
• Summit, NJ – 7.4 mi away (22,019 pop)

Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited liberal arts schools are near Plainfield, NJ?

Our directory has 208 accredited schools offering liberal arts programs near Plainfield. The closest is UCNJ Union College of Union County, NJ in Cranford, NJ (6.3 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Raritan Valley Community College (14.3 miles). 0 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.

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

Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying liberal arts-related roles near Plainfield are: Management Analyst ($110,950), News Analyst, Reporter, or Journalist ($104,270), Editor ($99,220). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with New Jersey statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.

Should I look at programs in North Plainfield instead of Plainfield?

North Plainfield, NJ is 1.2 miles from Plainfield 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 Plainfield an affordable place to study liberal arts?

Plainfield’s median household income of $80,334 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Plainfield while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and New Jersey 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 Jersey
• 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.