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

Ithaca, New York has 5 accredited schools offering liberal arts programs. Ithaca has a population of about 31,792. Median household income is $48,617 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 70.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In New York, the top-earning liberal arts-related role is Editor at a median $101,480 annually (BLS, May 2025).

Closest Liberal Arts Schools to Ithaca

The 5 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 5 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 2025 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 5 accredited schools offering liberal arts programs near Ithaca. The closest is Cornell University in Ithaca, NY (1.3 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Keystone College (71.7 miles). 3 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 2025 wage data, the top-paying liberal arts-related roles near Ithaca are: Editor ($101,480), News Analyst, Reporter, or Journalist ($100,770), Technical Writer ($98,310). 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.

Learn More About Liberal Arts Programs

• Liberal Arts accreditation: what to look for
• Liberal Arts concentrations and specializations
• Is a Liberal Arts degree worth it?
• Main Liberal Arts degree guide
• Online Liberal Arts programs in New York
• Liberal Arts programs by state

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Data verified: June 11, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; 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.