Best Online Liberal Arts Programs in Chapel Hill, NC (2026)
Chapel Hill, North Carolina has a population of about 59,889. The city’s median household income is $85,825 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 77.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 75 accredited schools offering liberal arts programs near Chapel Hill, with tuition ranging from $2,528 to $22,570 per year for indexed programs. In the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area, the top-earning liberal arts-related role is Management Analyst at a median $101,810 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Liberal Arts Schools to Chapel Hill
The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 75 schools in our directory that offer liberal arts programs near Chapel Hill. Distances are calculated from Chapel Hill city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | Chapel Hill, NC | 1.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Duke University | Durham, NC | 7.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| North Carolina Central University | Durham, NC | 8.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Durham Technical Community College | Durham, NC | 9.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Alamance Community College | Graham, NC | 20.3 mi | $2,528 - $22,570 | – |
| Meredith College | Raleigh, NC | 21.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| North Carolina State University at Raleigh | Raleigh, NC | 22.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| William Peace University | Raleigh, NC | 24.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Shaw University | Raleigh, NC | 24.9 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Saint Augustine’s University | Raleigh, NC | 25.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all North Carolina schools on the North Carolina liberal arts page.
Liberal Arts Wages Near Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill is part of the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area (BLS area code 20500). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to North Carolina statewide.
| Occupation | Median Wage | Source | COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public Relations Specialist | $65,860 | Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $67,480 |
| Management Analyst | $101,810 | Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $104,314 |
| Technical Writer | $100,660 | Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $103,135 |
| News Analyst, Reporter, or Journalist | $52,430 | NC statewide | $53,719 |
| Editor | $80,820 | Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $82,807 |
| Training and Development Specialist | $69,750 | Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $71,465 |
| Human Resources Specialist | $79,120 | Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $81,066 |
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.
Chapel Hill at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 59,889 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $85,825 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 77.2% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 97.6 (below U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Liberal Arts-related employment in Orange County | 196 workers, 57 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other Chapel Hill-Area Cities With Liberal Arts Programs
- Carrboro, NC – 2.7 mi away (21,265 pop)
- Durham, NC – 8.4 mi away (400,379 pop)
- Morrisville, NC – 13.0 mi away (24,732 pop)
- Cary, NC – 16.0 mi away (162,320 pop)
- Apex, NC – 17.0 mi away (47,349 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited liberal arts schools are near Chapel Hill, NC?
Our directory has 75 accredited schools offering liberal arts programs near Chapel Hill. The closest is University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in Chapel Hill, NC (1.3 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Saint Augustine’s University (25.3 miles). 0 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying liberal arts roles near Chapel Hill?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying liberal arts-related roles near Chapel Hill are: Management Analyst ($101,810), Technical Writer ($100,660), Editor ($80,820). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with North Carolina statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Should I look at programs in Carrboro instead of Chapel Hill?
Carrboro, NC is 2.7 miles from Chapel Hill 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 Chapel Hill an affordable place to study liberal arts?
Chapel Hill’s median household income of $85,825 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Chapel Hill while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and North Carolina 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 North Carolina
- 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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