Best Online Liberal Arts Programs in Memphis, TN (2026)

Memphis, Tennessee has a population of about 629,063. The city’s median household income is $51,211 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 28.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 26 accredited schools offering liberal arts programs near Memphis, with tuition ranging from $3,660 to $68,055 per year for indexed programs. In the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area, the top-earning liberal arts-related role is Management Analyst at a median $86,940 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).

Closest Liberal Arts Schools to Memphis

The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 26 schools in our directory that offer liberal arts programs near Memphis. Distances are calculated from Memphis city center.

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

Liberal Arts Wages Near Memphis

Memphis is part of the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area (BLS area code 32820). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Tennessee 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.

Memphis at a Glance

Other Memphis-Area Cities With Liberal Arts Programs

• Southaven, MS – 10.6 mi away (53,214 pop)
• Germantown, TN – 11.1 mi away (39,056 pop)
• Horn Lake, MS – 11.4 mi away (27,042 pop)
• Olive Branch, MS – 12.4 mi away (36,699 pop)
• Bartlett, TN – 12.6 mi away (58,622 pop)

Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited liberal arts schools are near Memphis, TN?

Our directory has 26 accredited schools offering liberal arts programs near Memphis. The closest is Christian Brothers University in Memphis, TN (1.6 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas (53.0 miles). 0 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.

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

Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying liberal arts-related roles near Memphis are: Management Analyst ($86,940), Technical Writer ($86,340), Human Resources Specialist ($64,130). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Tennessee statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.

Should I look at programs in Southaven instead of Memphis?

Southaven, MS is 10.6 miles from Memphis 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 Memphis an affordable place to study liberal arts?

Memphis’s median household income of $51,211 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Memphis while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Tennessee 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 Tennessee
• 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.