Best Online Liberal Arts Programs in Hillsboro, OR (2026)

Hillsboro, Oregon has a population of about 107,050. The city’s median household income is $103,207 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 42.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 2 accredited liberal arts programs within 100 miles of Hillsboro, with tuition ranging from $48,268 to $62,112 per year. In the Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metro area, the top-earning liberal arts-related role is Management Analyst at a median $105,380 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).


Closest Liberal Arts Schools to Hillsboro

The five accredited institutions below are the closest options indexed in our directory that offer liberal arts programs. Distances are calculated from Hillsboro city center.

SchoolCityDistanceTuitionOnline
George Fox UniversityNewberg, OR15.6 miContact school for pricing
Willamette UniversitySalem, OR41.2 mi$48,268 - $62,112

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


Liberal Arts Wages Near Hillsboro

Hillsboro is part of the Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metro area (BLS area code 38900). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Oregon statewide.

OccupationMedian WageSourceCOL-Adjusted (US=100)
Public Relations Specialist$75,840Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA$71,954
Management Analyst$105,380Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA$99,981
Technical Writer$83,440Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA$79,165
News Analyst, Reporter, or Journalist$62,590Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA$59,383
Editor$74,020Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA$70,228
Training and Development Specialist$70,140Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA$66,546
Human Resources Specialist$77,860Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA$73,871

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.


Hillsboro at a Glance

MetricValueSource
Population107,050Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income$103,207Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+42.0%Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)
Regional Price Parity (US=100)105.4 (above U.S. average)BEA RPP 2024
Liberal Arts-related employment in Washington County531 workers, 104 establishmentsBLS QCEW 2024 annual

Other Hillsboro-Area Cities With Liberal Arts Programs


Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited liberal arts programs are near Hillsboro, OR?

Our directory lists 2 liberal arts programs within 100 miles of Hillsboro. The closest is George Fox University in Newberg, OR (15.6 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Willamette University (41.2 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.

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

Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying liberal arts-related roles near Hillsboro are: Management Analyst ($105,380), Technical Writer ($83,440), Human Resources Specialist ($77,860). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Oregon statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.

Should I look at programs in Beaverton instead of Hillsboro?

Beaverton, OR is 6.8 miles from Hillsboro 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 Hillsboro an affordable place to study liberal arts?

Hillsboro’s median household income of $103,207 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Hillsboro while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Oregon 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.