University of Mary Hardin-Baylor
Published tuition$33,150 - $45,235
Online programsYes
Best Online Liberal Arts Programs in Waco, TX (2026)
Waco, Texas has 5 accredited schools offering liberal arts programs, with tuition ranging from $33,150 to $45,235 per year for indexed programs. Waco has a population of about 141,925. Median household income is $51,468 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 28.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In the Waco, TX metro area, the top-earning liberal arts-related role is Management Analyst at a median $88,100 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Closest Liberal Arts Schools to Waco
The 5 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 5 schools in our directory that offer liberal arts programs near Waco. Distances are calculated from Waco city center.
How We Rank Schools
Every school list on this site is ordered by the BOC Score, computed from the most recent school-level data published by the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard and IPEDS). To qualify, a school must be currently operating and accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Each eligible school is then scored on five measures, percentile-ranked against schools at the same credential level:
- Graduation rate 30%
- Median earnings, 10 years after entry 25%
- Average net price (lower is better) 20%
- Retention rate 15%
- Fully online availability 10%
Schools without enough outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score. On this page, schools are ordered by distance from Waco. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.
The University of Texas at Arlington
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programsYes
Texas A & M University-College Station
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programsYes
The University of Texas at Austin
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programsYes
Saint Edward's University
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programsYes
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Texas schools on the Texas liberal arts page.
Liberal Arts Wages Near Waco
Waco is part of the Waco, TX metro area (BLS area code 47380). 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 | $56,440 | Waco, TX | $61,016 |
| Management Analyst | $88,100 | Waco, TX | $95,243 |
| Technical Writer | $82,750 | TX statewide | $89,459 |
| News Analyst, Reporter, or Journalist | $47,520 | Waco, TX | $51,373 |
| Editor | $62,890 | Waco, TX | $67,989 |
| Training and Development Specialist | $64,040 | Waco, TX | $69,232 |
| Human Resources Specialist | $63,320 | Waco, TX | $68,454 |
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.
Waco at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 141,925 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $51,468 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 28.6% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 92.5 (below U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Liberal Arts-related employment in McLennan County | 128 workers, 18 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other Waco-Area Cities With Liberal Arts Programs
- Temple, TX – 33.4 mi away (100,641 pop)
- Belton, TX – 38.8 mi away (20,873 pop)
- Harker Heights, TX – 43.9 mi away (29,757 pop)
- Killeen, TX – 46.2 mi away (243,947 pop)
- Copperas Cove, TX – 52.6 mi away (32,808 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited liberal arts schools are near Waco, TX?
Our directory has 5 accredited schools offering liberal arts programs near Waco. The closest is University of Mary Hardin-Baylor in Belton, TX (37.7 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Saint Edward’s University (97.8 miles). 5 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying liberal arts roles near Waco?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data, the top-paying liberal arts-related roles near Waco are: Management Analyst ($88,100), Technical Writer ($82,750), Training and Development Specialist ($64,040). 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 Temple instead of Waco?
Temple, TX is 33.4 miles from Waco 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 Waco an affordable place to study liberal arts?
Waco’s median household income of $51,468 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Waco 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.
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 Texas
- 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.