Best Online Liberal Arts Programs in Orem, UT (2026)
Orem, Utah has a population of about 97,048. The city’s median household income is $81,292 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 42.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 9 accredited schools offering liberal arts programs near Orem, with tuition ranging from $6,496 to $20,879 per year for indexed programs. In the Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT metro area, the top-earning liberal arts-related role is Technical Writer at a median $75,770 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Liberal Arts Schools to Orem
The 9 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 9 schools in our directory that offer liberal arts programs near Orem. Distances are calculated from Orem city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Utah Valley University | Orem, UT | 1.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Brigham Young University | Provo, UT | 4.2 mi | $6,496 - $20,879 | – |
| Salt Lake Community College | Salt Lake City, UT | 28.8 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Westminster University | Salt Lake City, UT | 31.0 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| University of Utah | Salt Lake City, UT | 33.0 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Ensign College | Salt Lake City, UT | 34.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Weber State University | Ogden, UT | 63.1 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Snow College | Ephraim, UT | 65.1 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Utah State University | Logan, UT | 99.8 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Utah schools on the Utah liberal arts page.
Liberal Arts Wages Near Orem
Orem is part of the Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT metro area (BLS area code 39340). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Utah statewide.
| Occupation | Median Wage | Source | COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public Relations Specialist | $54,590 | Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT | $55,591 |
| Management Analyst | $60,470 | Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT | $61,578 |
| Technical Writer | $75,770 | Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT | $77,159 |
| News Analyst, Reporter, or Journalist | $53,630 | UT statewide | $54,613 |
| Editor | $58,390 | Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT | $59,460 |
| Training and Development Specialist | $61,740 | Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT | $62,872 |
| Human Resources Specialist | $69,990 | Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT | $71,273 |
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.
Orem at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 97,048 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $81,292 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 42.5% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 98.2 (below U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
Other Orem-Area Cities With Liberal Arts Programs
- Provo, UT – 4.6 mi away (501,690 pop)
- Pleasant Grove, UT – 5.5 mi away (38,756 pop)
- American Fork, UT – 7.6 mi away (28,770 pop)
- Springville, UT – 10.2 mi away (33,044 pop)
- Saratoga Springs, UT – 11.7 mi away (26,887 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited liberal arts schools are near Orem, UT?
Our directory has 9 accredited schools offering liberal arts programs near Orem. The closest is Utah Valley University in Orem, UT (1.5 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Utah State University (99.8 miles). 0 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying liberal arts roles near Orem?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying liberal arts-related roles near Orem are: Technical Writer ($75,770), Human Resources Specialist ($69,990), Training and Development Specialist ($61,740). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Utah statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Should I look at programs in Provo instead of Orem?
Provo, UT is 4.6 miles from Orem 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 Orem an affordable place to study liberal arts?
Orem’s median household income of $81,292 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Orem while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Utah 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.