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

Portsmouth, Virginia has a population of about 97,299. The city’s median household income is $58,972 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 23.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 3 accredited liberal arts programs within 100 miles of Portsmouth, with tuition ranging from $2,540 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 Portsmouth

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

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

Liberal Arts Wages Near Portsmouth

Portsmouth 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.

Portsmouth at a Glance

Other Portsmouth-Area Cities With Liberal Arts Programs

• Norfolk, VA – 6.2 mi away (245,115 pop)
• Chesapeake, VA – 12.0 mi away (237,940 pop)
• Hampton, VA – 14.4 mi away (135,410 pop)
• Virginia Beach, VA – 18.9 mi away (1,487,505 pop)
• Suffolk, VA – 19.0 mi away (89,273 pop)

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Our directory lists 3 liberal arts programs within 100 miles of Portsmouth. The closest is Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, VA (77.6 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Beaufort County Community College (96.9 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.

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

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

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

Portsmouth’s median household income of $58,972 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Portsmouth 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