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

Manassas, Virginia has a population of about 42,674. The city’s median household income is $117,919 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 33.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited liberal arts programs within 100 miles of Manassas, with tuition ranging from $36,028 to $84,696 per year. 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 Manassas

The five accredited institutions below are the closest options indexed in our directory that offer liberal arts programs. Distances are calculated from Manassas city center.

SchoolCityDistanceTuitionOnline
George Mason UniversityFairfax, VA11.1 miContact school for pricing
Georgetown UniversityWashington, DC24.8 mi$65,081 - $84,696
American UniversityWashington, DC25.0 mi$56,543 - $71,549
Shenandoah UniversityWinchester, VA46.4 mi$36,028 - $50,500
Johns Hopkins UniversityBaltimore, MD61.0 miContact school for pricing

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


Liberal Arts Wages Near Manassas

Manassas 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.

OccupationMedian WageSourceCOL-Adjusted (US=100)
Public Relations Specialist$95,370Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV$87,576
Management Analyst$125,820Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV$115,537
Technical Writer$97,810Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV$89,816
News Analyst, Reporter, or Journalist$99,730Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV$91,579
Editor$80,990Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV$74,371
Training and Development Specialist$82,330Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV$75,601
Human Resources Specialist$97,340Washington-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.


Manassas at a Glance

MetricValueSource
Population42,674Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income$117,919Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+33.2%Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)
Regional Price Parity (US=100)108.9 (above U.S. average)BEA RPP 2024

Other Manassas-Area Cities With Liberal Arts Programs


Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited liberal arts programs are near Manassas, VA?

Our directory lists 5 liberal arts programs within 100 miles of Manassas. The closest is George Mason University in Fairfax, VA (11.1 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Johns Hopkins University (61.0 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.

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

Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying liberal arts-related roles near Manassas 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 Fairfax instead of Manassas?

Fairfax, VA is 12.3 miles from Manassas 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 Manassas an affordable place to study liberal arts?

Manassas’s median household income of $117,919 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Manassas 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.