Best Online Liberal Arts Programs in Ithaca, NY (2026)

Ithaca, New York has a population of about 31,792. The city’s median household income is $48,617 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 70.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 54 accredited schools offering liberal arts programs near Ithaca, with tuition ranging from $37,932 to $50,783 per year for indexed programs. In New York, the top-earning liberal arts-related role is News Analyst, Reporter, or Journalist at a median $103,810 annually (BLS, May 2024).

Closest Liberal Arts Schools to Ithaca

The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 54 schools in our directory that offer liberal arts programs near Ithaca. Distances are calculated from Ithaca city center.

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

Liberal Arts Wages Near Ithaca

Ithaca is part of the Ithaca, NY metro area (BLS area code 27060). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to New York 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.

Ithaca at a Glance

Other Ithaca-Area Cities With Liberal Arts Programs

• Cortland, NY – 19.7 mi away (26,907 pop)
• Elmira, NY – 28.8 mi away (65,104 pop)
• Auburn, NY – 34.0 mi away (31,263 pop)
• Geneva, NY – 37.9 mi away (29,371 pop)
• Binghamton, NY – 38.5 mi away (152,392 pop)

Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited liberal arts schools are near Ithaca, NY?

Our directory has 54 accredited schools offering liberal arts programs near Ithaca. The closest is Cornell University in Ithaca, NY (1.0 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Binghamton University (36.9 miles). 0 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.

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

Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying liberal arts-related roles near Ithaca are: News Analyst, Reporter, or Journalist ($103,810), Editor ($98,620), Technical Writer ($82,980). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with New York statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.

Should I look at programs in Cortland instead of Ithaca?

Cortland, NY is 19.7 miles from Ithaca 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 Ithaca an affordable place to study liberal arts?

Ithaca’s median household income of $48,617 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Ithaca while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and New York 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 York
• 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.