Best Online Liberal Arts Programs in Concord, NC (2026)
Concord, North Carolina has a population of about 106,518. The city’s median household income is $84,752 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 41.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 79 accredited schools offering liberal arts programs near Concord, with tuition ranging from $2,792 to $24,764 per year for indexed programs. In the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area, the top-earning liberal arts-related role is Management Analyst at a median $104,760 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Liberal Arts Schools to Concord
The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 79 schools in our directory that offer liberal arts programs near Concord. Distances are calculated from Concord city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cabarrus College of Health Sciences | Concord, NC | 3.7 mi | $16,070 - $24,764 | – |
| University of North Carolina at Charlotte | Charlotte, NC | 8.1 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Davidson College | Davidson, NC | 13.8 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Johnson C Smith University | Charlotte, NC | 16.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Central Piedmont Community College | Charlotte, NC | 16.4 mi | $2,792 - $10,951 | – |
| Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte | Charlotte, NC | 16.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Queens University of Charlotte | Charlotte, NC | 18.0 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Rowan-Cabarrus Community College | Salisbury, NC | 19.0 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Pfeiffer University | Misenheimer, NC | 20.8 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Livingstone College | Salisbury, NC | 21.0 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 Concord
Concord is part of the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area (BLS area code 16740). 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 | $69,410 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $71,336 |
| Management Analyst | $104,760 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $107,667 |
| Technical Writer | $82,990 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $85,293 |
| News Analyst, Reporter, or Journalist | $59,430 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $61,079 |
| Editor | $64,990 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $66,793 |
| Training and Development Specialist | $65,060 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $66,865 |
| Human Resources Specialist | $74,030 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $76,084 |
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.
Concord at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 106,518 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $84,752 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 41.7% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 97.3 (below U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Liberal Arts-related employment in Cabarrus County | 2,623 workers, 74 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other Concord-Area Cities With Liberal Arts Programs
- Kannapolis, NC – 5.7 mi away (47,839 pop)
- Huntersville, NC – 13.4 mi away (54,839 pop)
- Mint Hill, NC – 14.9 mi away (26,236 pop)
- Cornelius, NC – 15.0 mi away (28,515 pop)
- Mooresville, NC – 16.9 mi away (36,543 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited liberal arts schools are near Concord, NC?
Our directory has 79 accredited schools offering liberal arts programs near Concord. The closest is Cabarrus College of Health Sciences in Concord, NC (3.7 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Livingstone College (21.0 miles). 0 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying liberal arts roles near Concord?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying liberal arts-related roles near Concord are: Management Analyst ($104,760), Technical Writer ($82,990), Human Resources Specialist ($74,030). 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 Kannapolis instead of Concord?
Kannapolis, NC is 5.7 miles from Concord 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 Concord an affordable place to study liberal arts?
Concord’s median household income of $84,752 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Concord 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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