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

Petersburg, Virginia has a population of about 33,365. The city’s median household income is $50,741 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 25.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 2 accredited liberal arts programs within 100 miles of Petersburg, with tuition ranging from $62,600 to $77,290 per year. In the Richmond, VA metro area, the top-earning liberal arts-related role is Management Analyst at a median $93,950 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).

Closest Liberal Arts Schools to Petersburg

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

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

Liberal Arts Wages Near Petersburg

Petersburg is part of the Richmond, VA metro area (BLS area code 40060). 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.

Petersburg at a Glance

Other Petersburg-Area Cities With Liberal Arts Programs

• Hopewell, VA – 7.9 mi away (22,735 pop)
• Richmond, VA – 22.9 mi away (1,041,877 pop)
• Williamsburg, VA – 37.9 mi away (81,840 pop)
• Newport News, VA – 48.6 mi away (181,825 pop)
• Roanoke Rapids, NC – 54.3 mi away (23,546 pop)

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Our directory lists 2 liberal arts programs within 100 miles of Petersburg. The closest is Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, VA (24.1 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is University of Richmond (27.0 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.

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

Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying liberal arts-related roles near Petersburg are: Management Analyst ($93,950), Technical Writer ($76,850), Human Resources Specialist ($74,990). 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 Hopewell instead of Petersburg?

Hopewell, VA is 7.9 miles from Petersburg 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 Petersburg an affordable place to study liberal arts?

Petersburg’s median household income of $50,741 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Petersburg 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