Best Online Liberal Arts Programs in Sumter, SC (2026)

Sumter, South Carolina has 3 accredited schools offering liberal arts programs, with tuition ranging from $19,500 to $32,494 per year for indexed programs. Sumter has a population of about 43,065. Median household income is $53,071 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 28.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In the Sumter, SC metro area, the top-earning liberal arts-related role is Management Analyst at a median $95,150 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Closest Liberal Arts Schools to Sumter

The 3 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 3 schools in our directory that offer liberal arts programs near Sumter. Distances are calculated from Sumter city center.

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

Liberal Arts Wages Near Sumter

Sumter is part of the Sumter, SC metro area (BLS area code 44940). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to South Carolina statewide.

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.

Sumter at a Glance

Other Sumter-Area Cities With Liberal Arts Programs

• Columbia, SC – 30.1 mi away (571,249 pop)
• Florence, SC – 38.5 mi away (92,614 pop)
• Orangeburg, SC – 41.2 mi away (31,666 pop)
• Lexington, SC – 47.5 mi away (20,988 pop)
• Lancaster, SC – 58.6 mi away (25,691 pop)

Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited liberal arts schools are near Sumter, SC?

Our directory has 3 accredited schools offering liberal arts programs near Sumter. The closest is Queens University of Charlotte in Charlotte, NC (89.9 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Belmont Abbey College (98.4 miles). 3 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.

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

Based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data, the top-paying liberal arts-related roles near Sumter are: Management Analyst ($95,150), Technical Writer ($82,540), Human Resources Specialist ($69,990). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with South Carolina statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.

Should I look at programs in Columbia instead of Sumter?

Columbia, SC is 30.1 miles from Sumter 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 Sumter an affordable place to study liberal arts?

Sumter’s median household income of $53,071 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Sumter while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and South 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.

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 South Carolina
• 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.