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

Syracuse, New York has a population of about 146,211. The city’s median household income is $45,845 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 30.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 41 accredited schools offering liberal arts programs near Syracuse. In the Syracuse, NY metro area, the top-earning liberal arts-related role is Management Analyst at a median $95,460 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).

Closest Liberal Arts Schools to Syracuse

The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 41 schools in our directory that offer liberal arts programs near Syracuse. Distances are calculated from Syracuse city center.

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

Liberal Arts Wages Near Syracuse

Syracuse is part of the Syracuse, NY metro area (BLS area code 45060). 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.

Syracuse at a Glance

Other Syracuse-Area Cities With Liberal Arts Programs

• Auburn, NY – 22.7 mi away (31,263 pop)
• Oneida, NY – 24.4 mi away (21,184 pop)
• Cortland, NY – 30.5 mi away (26,907 pop)
• Oswego, NY – 33.6 mi away (38,208 pop)
• Rome, NY – 35.3 mi away (32,128 pop)

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Our directory has 41 accredited schools offering liberal arts programs near Syracuse. The closest is SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry in Syracuse, NY (0.5 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is State University of New York at Oswego (34.9 miles). 0 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.

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

Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying liberal arts-related roles near Syracuse are: Management Analyst ($95,460), Technical Writer ($80,550), Human Resources Specialist ($74,230). 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 Auburn instead of Syracuse?

Auburn, NY is 22.7 miles from Syracuse 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 Syracuse an affordable place to study liberal arts?

Syracuse’s median household income of $45,845 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Syracuse 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.