Best Online Liberal Arts Programs in Scranton, PA (2026)

Scranton, Pennsylvania has a population of about 76,074. The city’s median household income is $49,531 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 22.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 156 accredited schools offering liberal arts programs near Scranton, with tuition ranging from $39,570 to $52,673 per year for indexed programs. In the Scranton–Wilkes-Barre, PA metro area, the top-earning liberal arts-related role is Management Analyst at a median $89,860 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).

Closest Liberal Arts Schools to Scranton

The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 156 schools in our directory that offer liberal arts programs near Scranton. Distances are calculated from Scranton city center.

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

Liberal Arts Wages Near Scranton

Scranton is part of the Scranton–Wilkes-Barre, PA metro area (BLS area code 42540). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Pennsylvania 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.

Scranton at a Glance

Other Scranton-Area Cities With Liberal Arts Programs

• Wilkes-Barre, PA – 15.4 mi away (40,569 pop)
• Mount Pocono, PA – 25.2 mi away (23,308 pop)
• Hazleton, PA – 35.2 mi away (55,301 pop)
• East Stroudsburg, PA – 37.6 mi away (56,230 pop)
• Bloomsburg, PA – 49.6 mi away (52,637 pop)

Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited liberal arts schools are near Scranton, PA?

Our directory has 156 accredited schools offering liberal arts programs near Scranton. The closest is University of Scranton in Scranton, PA (0.4 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Wilkes-Barre (19.5 miles). 0 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.

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

Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying liberal arts-related roles near Scranton are: Management Analyst ($89,860), Technical Writer ($64,380), Human Resources Specialist ($60,340). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Pennsylvania statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.

Should I look at programs in Wilkes-Barre instead of Scranton?

Wilkes-Barre, PA is 15.4 miles from Scranton 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 Scranton an affordable place to study liberal arts?

Scranton’s median household income of $49,531 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Scranton while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania
• 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.