Best Online Liberal Arts Programs in Chesapeake, VA (2026)

Chesapeake, Virginia has a population of about 251,153. The city’s median household income is $94,189 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 36.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 33 accredited schools offering liberal arts programs near Chesapeake. In the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area, the top-earning liberal arts-related role is Management Analyst at a median $98,690 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).

Closest Liberal Arts Schools to Chesapeake

The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 33 schools in our directory that offer liberal arts programs near Chesapeake. Distances are calculated from Chesapeake city center.

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

Liberal Arts Wages Near Chesapeake

Chesapeake is part of the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area (BLS area code 47260). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Virginia 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.

Chesapeake at a Glance

Other Chesapeake-Area Cities With Liberal Arts Programs

• Portsmouth, VA – 12.0 mi away (95,252 pop)
• Virginia Beach, VA – 14.8 mi away (1,487,505 pop)
• Norfolk, VA – 15.2 mi away (245,115 pop)
• Suffolk, VA – 18.7 mi away (89,273 pop)
• Hampton, VA – 26.3 mi away (135,410 pop)

Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited liberal arts schools are near Chesapeake, VA?

Our directory has 33 accredited schools offering liberal arts programs near Chesapeake. The closest is Regent University in Virginia Beach, VA (10.4 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Elizabeth City State University (28.1 miles). 0 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.

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

Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying liberal arts-related roles near Chesapeake are: Management Analyst ($98,690), Technical Writer ($76,990), Training and Development Specialist ($74,080). 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 Portsmouth instead of Chesapeake?

Portsmouth, VA is 12.0 miles from Chesapeake 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 Chesapeake an affordable place to study liberal arts?

Chesapeake’s median household income of $94,189 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Chesapeake 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.