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

Norfolk, Virginia has a population of about 235,037. The city’s median household income is $64,017 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 32.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 2 accredited liberal arts programs within 100 miles of Norfolk, with tuition ranging from $62,600 to $77,290 per year. 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 Norfolk

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

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

Liberal Arts Wages Near Norfolk

Norfolk 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.

Norfolk at a Glance

Other Norfolk-Area Cities With Liberal Arts Programs

• Portsmouth, VA – 6.2 mi away (95,252 pop)
• Hampton, VA – 12.5 mi away (135,410 pop)
• Chesapeake, VA – 15.2 mi away (237,940 pop)
• Virginia Beach, VA – 16.3 mi away (1,487,505 pop)
• Newport News, VA – 20.4 mi away (181,825 pop)

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Our directory lists 2 liberal arts programs within 100 miles of Norfolk. The closest is Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, VA (79.8 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is University of Richmond (84.8 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.

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

Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying liberal arts-related roles near Norfolk 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 Norfolk?

Portsmouth, VA is 6.2 miles from Norfolk 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 Norfolk an affordable place to study liberal arts?

Norfolk’s median household income of $64,017 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Norfolk 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