Best Online Liberal Arts Programs in Alexandria, VA (2026)
Alexandria, Virginia has a population of about 156,788. The city’s median household income is $113,638 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 65.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 94 accredited schools offering liberal arts programs near Alexandria, with tuition ranging from $9,450 to $84,696 per year for indexed programs. In the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area, the top-earning liberal arts-related role is Management Analyst at a median $125,820 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Liberal Arts Schools to Alexandria
The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 94 schools in our directory that offer liberal arts programs near Alexandria. Distances are calculated from Alexandria city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Management and Technology | Arlington, VA | 5.5 mi | $9,450 | – |
| George Washington University | Washington, DC | 5.9 mi | $64,990 - $80,727 | – |
| Georgetown University | Washington, DC | 6.3 mi | $65,081 - $84,696 | – |
| University of the Potomac-Washington DC Campus | Washington, DC | 6.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Marymount University | Arlington, VA | 6.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| NewU University | Washington, DC | 6.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Gallaudet University | Washington, DC | 7.9 mi | $18,382 - $39,416 | – |
| Howard University | Washington, DC | 8.0 mi | $33,344 - $51,450 | – |
| American University | Washington, DC | 8.1 mi | $56,543 - $71,549 | – |
| Northern Virginia Community College | Annandale, VA | 8.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Virginia schools on the Virginia liberal arts page.
Liberal Arts Wages Near Alexandria
Alexandria is part of the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area (BLS area code 47900). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Virginia statewide.
| Occupation | Median Wage | Source | COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public Relations Specialist | $95,370 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $87,576 |
| Management Analyst | $125,820 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $115,537 |
| Technical Writer | $97,810 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $89,816 |
| News Analyst, Reporter, or Journalist | $99,730 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $91,579 |
| Editor | $80,990 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $74,371 |
| Training and Development Specialist | $82,330 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $75,601 |
| Human Resources Specialist | $97,340 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $89,385 |
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.
Alexandria at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 156,788 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $113,638 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 65.8% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 108.9 (above U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Liberal Arts-related employment in Alexandria (city) County | 118 workers, 34 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other Alexandria-Area Cities With Liberal Arts Programs
- Washington, DC – 7.0 mi away (5,191,844 pop)
- Fairfax, VA – 11.7 mi away (24,164 pop)
- College Park, MD – 14.8 mi away (32,275 pop)
- Greenbelt, MD – 16.2 mi away (23,909 pop)
- Rockville, MD – 18.7 mi away (66,940 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited liberal arts schools are near Alexandria, VA?
Our directory has 94 accredited schools offering liberal arts programs near Alexandria. The closest is University of Management and Technology in Arlington, VA (5.5 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Northern Virginia Community College (8.2 miles). 0 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying liberal arts roles near Alexandria?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying liberal arts-related roles near Alexandria are: Management Analyst ($125,820), News Analyst, Reporter, or Journalist ($99,730), Technical Writer ($97,810). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Virginia statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Should I look at programs in Washington instead of Alexandria?
Washington, DC is 7.0 miles from Alexandria 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 Alexandria an affordable place to study liberal arts?
Alexandria’s median household income of $113,638 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Alexandria while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Virginia 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 Virginia
- 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.
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