Best Online Liberal Arts Programs in Tumwater, WA (2026)
Tumwater, Washington has a population of about 26,519. The city’s median household income is $93,635 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 41.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 40 accredited schools offering liberal arts programs near Tumwater. In the Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA metro area, the top-earning liberal arts-related role is Management Analyst at a median $86,200 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Liberal Arts Schools to Tumwater
The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 40 schools in our directory that offer liberal arts programs near Tumwater. Distances are calculated from Tumwater city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Puget Sound Community College | Olympia, WA | 2.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Saint Martin’s University | Lacey, WA | 6.0 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| The Evergreen State College | Olympia, WA | 6.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Centralia College | Centralia, WA | 19.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Pierce College District | Lakewood, WA | 20.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Clover Park Technical College | Lakewood, WA | 23.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Pacific Lutheran University | Tacoma, WA | 25.0 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Tacoma Community College | Tacoma, WA | 25.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| University of Puget Sound | Tacoma, WA | 28.0 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Bates Technical College | Tacoma, WA | 28.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Washington schools on the Washington liberal arts page.
Liberal Arts Wages Near Tumwater
Tumwater is part of the Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA metro area (BLS area code 36500). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Washington statewide.
| Occupation | Median Wage | Source | COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public Relations Specialist | $78,110 | Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $75,323 |
| Management Analyst | $86,200 | Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $83,124 |
| Technical Writer | $80,360 | Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $77,493 |
| News Analyst, Reporter, or Journalist | $57,040 | WA statewide | $55,005 |
| Editor | $80,080 | Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $77,223 |
| Training and Development Specialist | $82,360 | Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $79,421 |
| Human Resources Specialist | $84,180 | Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $81,176 |
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.
Tumwater at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 26,519 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $93,635 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 41.6% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 103.7 (above U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Liberal Arts-related employment in Thurston County | 335 workers, 35 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other Tumwater-Area Cities With Liberal Arts Programs
- Olympia, WA – 3.6 mi away (194,532 pop)
- Lacey, WA – 7.1 mi away (47,688 pop)
- Centralia, WA – 18.8 mi away (41,077 pop)
- Lakewood, WA – 21.9 mi away (60,665 pop)
- University Place, WA – 23.4 mi away (33,288 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited liberal arts schools are near Tumwater, WA?
Our directory has 40 accredited schools offering liberal arts programs near Tumwater. The closest is South Puget Sound Community College in Olympia, WA (2.2 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Bates Technical College (28.7 miles). 0 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying liberal arts roles near Tumwater?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying liberal arts-related roles near Tumwater are: Management Analyst ($86,200), Human Resources Specialist ($84,180), Training and Development Specialist ($82,360). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Washington statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Should I look at programs in Olympia instead of Tumwater?
Olympia, WA is 3.6 miles from Tumwater 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 Tumwater an affordable place to study liberal arts?
Tumwater’s median household income of $93,635 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Tumwater while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Washington 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 Washington
- 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.
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