Best Online Liberal Arts Programs in Parkersburg, WV (2026)

Parkersburg, West Virginia has 3 accredited schools offering liberal arts programs. Parkersburg has a population of about 29,461. Median household income is $44,675 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 18.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In the Parkersburg-Vienna, WV metro area, the top-earning liberal arts-related role is Management Analyst at a median $108,890 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Closest Liberal Arts Schools to Parkersburg

The 3 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 3 schools in our directory that offer liberal arts programs near Parkersburg. Distances are calculated from Parkersburg city center.

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

Liberal Arts Wages Near Parkersburg

Parkersburg is part of the Parkersburg-Vienna, WV metro area (BLS area code 37620). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to West Virginia statewide.

Source: BLS, May 2025 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.

Parkersburg at a Glance

Other Parkersburg-Area Cities With Liberal Arts Programs

• Marietta, OH – 12.3 mi away (21,735 pop)
• Athens, OH – 30.1 mi away (30,077 pop)
• Zanesville, OH – 54.1 mi away (42,097 pop)
• Charleston, WV – 63.3 mi away (146,462 pop)
• Lancaster, OH – 65.1 mi away (43,726 pop)

Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited liberal arts schools are near Parkersburg, WV?

Our directory has 3 accredited schools offering liberal arts programs near Parkersburg. The closest is Ohio University-Main Campus in Athens, OH (30.3 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Ohio State University-Main Campus (93.2 miles). 3 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.

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

Based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data, the top-paying liberal arts-related roles near Parkersburg are: Management Analyst ($108,890), Human Resources Specialist ($94,520), Training and Development Specialist ($79,290). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with West Virginia statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.

Should I look at programs in Marietta instead of Parkersburg?

Marietta, OH is 12.3 miles from Parkersburg 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 Parkersburg an affordable place to study liberal arts?

Parkersburg’s median household income of $44,675 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Parkersburg while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and West 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.

Learn More About Liberal Arts Programs

• Liberal Arts accreditation: what to look for
• Liberal Arts concentrations and specializations
• Is a Liberal Arts degree worth it?
• Main Liberal Arts degree guide
• Online Liberal Arts programs in West Virginia
• Liberal Arts programs by state

Other Programs Available in Parkersburg

Compare every accredited online degree program with city-level data for Parkersburg:

• Criminal Justice programs in Parkersburg, WV
• Nursing programs in Parkersburg, WV
• Business Administration programs in Parkersburg, WV
• Computer Science programs in Parkersburg, WV
• Psychology programs in Parkersburg, WV
• Education programs in Parkersburg, WV
• Engineering programs in Parkersburg, WV
• Technology programs in Parkersburg, WV
• Healthcare programs in Parkersburg, WV
• Cybersecurity programs in Parkersburg, WV
• Accounting programs in Parkersburg, WV
• Healthcare Administration programs in Parkersburg, WV
• Social Work programs in Parkersburg, WV
• Counseling programs in Parkersburg, WV

Related from Our Editorial Library

• Best Accredited Online Colleges (2026)
• Best Online Colleges Ranking
• Effective Learning Strategies for Online Students

Data verified: June 11, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; 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.