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

Staunton, Virginia has a population of about 25,765. The city’s median household income is $62,586 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 35.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 37 accredited schools offering liberal arts programs near Staunton, with tuition ranging from $20,040 to $33,066 per year for indexed programs. In the Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA metro area, the top-earning liberal arts-related role is Management Analyst at a median $84,270 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).

Closest Liberal Arts Schools to Staunton

The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 37 schools in our directory that offer liberal arts programs near Staunton. Distances are calculated from Staunton city center.

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

Liberal Arts Wages Near Staunton

Staunton is part of the Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA metro area (BLS area code 44420). 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.

Staunton at a Glance

Other Staunton-Area Cities With Liberal Arts Programs

• Waynesboro, VA – 10.8 mi away (21,887 pop)
• Harrisonburg, VA – 21.7 mi away (72,470 pop)
• Charlottesville, VA – 32.4 mi away (99,664 pop)
• Lynchburg, VA – 52.9 mi away (123,795 pop)
• Roanoke, VA – 78.2 mi away (215,793 pop)

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Our directory has 37 accredited schools offering liberal arts programs near Staunton. The closest is Mary Baldwin University in Staunton, VA (0.6 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Piedmont Virginia Community College (33.1 miles). 0 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.

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

Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying liberal arts-related roles near Staunton are: Management Analyst ($84,270), Technical Writer ($84,000), Editor ($79,080). 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 Waynesboro instead of Staunton?

Waynesboro, VA is 10.8 miles from Staunton 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 Staunton an affordable place to study liberal arts?

Staunton’s median household income of $62,586 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Staunton 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.