Best Online Liberal Arts Programs in Pasadena, TX (2026)
Pasadena, Texas has a population of about 149,345. The city’s median household income is $64,270 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 16.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 28 accredited schools offering liberal arts programs near Pasadena, with tuition ranging from $2,166 to $12,050 per year for indexed programs. In the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area, the top-earning liberal arts-related role is Management Analyst at a median $98,620 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Liberal Arts Schools to Pasadena
The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 28 schools in our directory that offer liberal arts programs near Pasadena. Distances are calculated from Pasadena city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jacinto Community College | Pasadena, TX | 2.1 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| University of Houston-Clear Lake | Houston, TX | 6.1 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Lee College | Baytown, TX | 11.5 mi | $2,166 - $12,050 | – |
| University of Houston | Houston, TX | 12.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Texas Southern University | Houston, TX | 13.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| University of Houston-Downtown | Houston, TX | 14.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Houston Community College | Houston, TX | 14.8 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Baylor College of Medicine | Houston, TX | 15.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston | Houston, TX | 15.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| University of St Thomas | Houston, TX | 15.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Texas schools on the Texas liberal arts page.
Liberal Arts Wages Near Pasadena
Pasadena is part of the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area (BLS area code 26420). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Texas statewide.
| Occupation | Median Wage | Source | COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public Relations Specialist | $62,580 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $63,469 |
| Management Analyst | $98,620 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $100,020 |
| Technical Writer | $79,060 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $80,183 |
| News Analyst, Reporter, or Journalist | $60,350 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $61,207 |
| Editor | $28,860 | TX statewide | $29,270 |
| Training and Development Specialist | $64,600 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $65,517 |
| Human Resources Specialist | $69,530 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $70,517 |
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.
Pasadena at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 149,345 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $64,270 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 16.1% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 98.6 (below U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Liberal Arts-related employment in Harris County | 9,420 workers, 427 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other Pasadena-Area Cities With Liberal Arts Programs
- Deer Park, TX – 3.0 mi away (33,782 pop)
- La Porte, TX – 6.1 mi away (35,086 pop)
- Friendswood, TX – 10.6 mi away (39,396 pop)
- League City, TX – 12.1 mi away (102,010 pop)
- Pearland, TX – 12.3 mi away (113,570 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited liberal arts schools are near Pasadena, TX?
Our directory has 28 accredited schools offering liberal arts programs near Pasadena. The closest is San Jacinto Community College in Pasadena, TX (2.1 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is University of St Thomas (15.6 miles). 0 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying liberal arts roles near Pasadena?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying liberal arts-related roles near Pasadena are: Management Analyst ($98,620), Technical Writer ($79,060), Human Resources Specialist ($69,530). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Texas statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Should I look at programs in Deer Park instead of Pasadena?
Deer Park, TX is 3.0 miles from Pasadena 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 Pasadena an affordable place to study liberal arts?
Pasadena’s median household income of $64,270 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Pasadena while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Texas 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
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.