Ohio University-Main Campus
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programsYes
Best Online Liberal Arts Programs in Portsmouth, OH (2026)
Portsmouth, Ohio has 5 accredited schools offering liberal arts programs. Portsmouth has a population of about 17,919. Median household income is $35,319 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 18.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In Ohio, the top-earning liberal arts-related role is Management Analyst at a median $94,270 annually (BLS, May 2025).
Closest Liberal Arts Schools to Portsmouth
The 5 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 5 schools in our directory that offer liberal arts programs near Portsmouth. Distances are calculated from Portsmouth city center.
How We Rank Schools
Every school list on this site is ordered by the BOC Score, computed from the most recent school-level data published by the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard and IPEDS). To qualify, a school must be currently operating and accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Each eligible school is then scored on five measures, percentile-ranked against schools at the same credential level:
- Graduation rate 30%
- Median earnings, 10 years after entry 25%
- Average net price (lower is better) 20%
- Retention rate 15%
- Fully online availability 10%
Schools without enough outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score. On this page, schools are ordered by distance from Portsmouth. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.
Franklin University
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programsYes
Ohio State University-Main Campus
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programsYes
University of Cincinnati-Main Campus
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programsYes
Air Force Institute of Technology-Graduate School of Engineering & Management
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programsYes
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Ohio schools on the Ohio liberal arts page.
Liberal Arts Wages Near Portsmouth
| Occupation | Median Annual Wage (Ohio, statewide) |
|---|---|
| Public Relations Specialist | $64,840 |
| Management Analyst | $94,270 |
| Technical Writer | $76,480 |
| News Analyst, Reporter, or Journalist | $47,880 |
| Editor | $72,160 |
| Training and Development Specialist | $64,780 |
| Human Resources Specialist | $70,180 |
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.
Portsmouth at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 17,919 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $35,319 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 18.0% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
Other Portsmouth-Area Cities With Liberal Arts Programs
- Ashland, KY – 26.0 mi away (21,038 pop)
- Huntington, WV – 36.3 mi away (198,419 pop)
- Chillicothe, OH – 40.5 mi away (32,004 pop)
- Athens, OH – 60.2 mi away (30,077 pop)
- Lancaster, OH – 69.5 mi away (43,726 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited liberal arts schools are near Portsmouth, OH?
Our directory has 5 accredited schools offering liberal arts programs near Portsmouth. The closest is Ohio University-Main Campus in Athens, OH (60.2 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Air Force Institute of Technology-Graduate School of Engineering & Management (94.5 miles). 5 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying liberal arts roles in Ohio?
Based on BLS May 2025 state wage data, the top-paying liberal arts-related roles in Ohio are: Management Analyst ($94,270), Technical Writer ($76,480), Editor ($72,160). Wages for Portsmouth workers will track these statewide medians, adjusted for local cost of living.
Should I look at programs in Ashland instead of Portsmouth?
Ashland, KY is 26.0 miles from Portsmouth 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 Portsmouth an affordable place to study liberal arts?
Portsmouth’s median household income of $35,319 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Portsmouth while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Ohio 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 Ohio
- 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.