Best Online Liberal Arts Degrees

Alison Plaut
by
Updated February 18, 2025
Find possible career paths and explore online colleges that offer some of the best online bachelor's in liberal arts programs to take the next career step.

Are you ready to discover your college program?

Best Online Liberal Arts Programs

If you aren’t sure about your career path, and are interested in a variety of subjects and fields, an online liberal arts degree may be a good fit for you. This bachelor’s degree program provides an overview of many disciplines across the arts and sciences. By choosing a general liberal arts major, you’ll get exposed to a variety of subjects and enjoy the flexibility of multiple career options.

According to the Condition of Education report, liberal arts majors between the ages of 25 and 29 earn a median annual salary of $$40,300. An online liberal arts degree can let you explore different professional or academic passions to discover a rewarding career.

The Best Online Bachelor’s in Liberal Arts Programs

#1 Best Online Liberal Arts Degrees

University of Wisconsin Whitewater

  • Location-markerWhitewater, WI
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Average Tuition
  • In-State$6,519
  • Out-of-state$15,240
  • Retention Rate80%
  • Acceptance Rate79%
  • Students Enrolled12,452
  • Institution TypePublic
  • Percent Online Enrollment38%
  • AccreditationYes
#2 Best Online Liberal Arts Degrees

Arizona State University

  • Location-markerScottsdale, AZ
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Average Tuition
  • In-State$8,867
  • Out-of-state$19,282
  • Retention Rate74%
  • Acceptance Rate64%
  • Students Enrolled45,073
  • Institution TypePublic
  • Percent Online Enrollment98%
  • AccreditationYes
#3 Best Online Liberal Arts Degrees

University of North Carolina at Greensboro

  • Location-markerGreensboro, NC
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Average Tuition
  • In-State$4,422
  • Out-of-state$19,581
  • Retention Rate75%
  • Acceptance Rate82%
  • Students Enrolled20,196
  • Institution TypePublic
  • Percent Online Enrollment51%
  • AccreditationYes
#4 Best Online Liberal Arts Degrees

Utah State University

  • Location-markerLogan, UT
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Average Tuition
  • In-State$6,549
  • Out-of-state$21,087
  • Retention Rate74%
  • Acceptance Rate91%
  • Students Enrolled27,810
  • Institution TypePublic
  • Percent Online Enrollment50%
  • AccreditationYes
#5 Best Online Liberal Arts Degrees

University of Wisconsin Oshkosh

  • Location-markerOshkosh, WI
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Average Tuition
  • In-State$6,422
  • Out-of-state$13,955
  • Retention Rate74%
  • Acceptance Rate76%
  • Students Enrolled15,521
  • Institution TypePublic
  • Percent Online Enrollment10%
  • AccreditationYes
#6 Best Online Liberal Arts Degrees

University of Northern Iowa

  • Location-markerCedar Falls, IA
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Average Tuition
  • In-State$7,665
  • Out-of-state$19,949
  • Retention Rate83%
  • Acceptance Rate79%
  • Students Enrolled10,477
  • Institution TypePublic
  • Percent Online Enrollment26%
  • AccreditationYes
#7 Best Online Liberal Arts Degrees

Northwestern State University of Louisiana

  • Location-markerNatchitoches, LA
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Average Tuition
  • In-State$5,180
  • Out-of-state$15,968
  • Retention Rate70%
  • Acceptance Rate82%
  • Students Enrolled10,900
  • Institution TypePublic
  • Percent Online Enrollment82%
  • AccreditationYes
#8 Best Online Liberal Arts Degrees

Oregon State University

  • Location-markerCorvallis, OR
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Average Tuition
  • In-State$9,846
  • Out-of-state$29,445
  • Retention Rate85%
  • Acceptance Rate82%
  • Students Enrolled31,719
  • Institution TypePublic
  • Percent Online Enrollment47%
  • AccreditationYes
#9 Best Online Liberal Arts Degrees

Iowa State University

  • Location-markerAmes, IA
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Average Tuition
  • In-State$8,042
  • Out-of-state$23,230
  • Retention Rate87%
  • Acceptance Rate92%
  • Students Enrolled33,372
  • Institution TypePublic
  • Percent Online Enrollment23%
  • AccreditationYes
#10 Best Online Liberal Arts Degrees

University of Kansas

  • Location-markerLawrence, KS
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Average Tuition
  • In-State$10,092
  • Out-of-state$26,960
  • Retention Rate86%
  • Acceptance Rate93%
  • Students Enrolled27,552
  • Institution TypePublic
  • Percent Online Enrollment29%
  • AccreditationYes
#11 Best Online Liberal Arts Degrees

University of Missouri-St. Louis

  • Location-markerSaint Louis, MO
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Average Tuition
  • In-State$11,079
  • Out-of-state$29,295
  • Retention Rate77%
  • Acceptance Rate73%
  • Students Enrolled15,988
  • Institution TypePublic
  • Percent Online Enrollment32%
  • AccreditationYes
#12 Best Online Liberal Arts Degrees

Colorado State University

  • Location-markerFort Collins, CO
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Average Tuition
  • In-State$9,426
  • Out-of-state$28,147
  • Retention Rate84%
  • Acceptance Rate81%
  • Students Enrolled33,426
  • Institution TypePublic
  • Percent Online Enrollment26%
  • AccreditationYes
#13 Best Online Liberal Arts Degrees

University of Illinois at Springfield

  • Location-markerSpringfield, IL
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Average Tuition
  • In-State$9,520
  • Out-of-state$15,948
  • Retention Rate79%
  • Acceptance Rate77%
  • Students Enrolled4,275
  • Institution TypePublic
  • Percent Online Enrollment70%
  • AccreditationYes
#14 Best Online Liberal Arts Degrees

University of Southern Mississippi

  • Location-markerHattiesburg, MS
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Average Tuition
  • In-State$8,786
  • Out-of-state$10,786
  • Retention Rate68%
  • Acceptance Rate97%
  • Students Enrolled14,133
  • Institution TypePublic
  • Percent Online Enrollment70%
  • AccreditationYes
#15 Best Online Liberal Arts Degrees

Northern Arizona University

  • Location-markerFlagstaff, AZ
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Average Tuition
  • In-State$10,018
  • Out-of-state$16,613
  • Retention Rate78%
  • Acceptance Rate85%
  • Students Enrolled30,733
  • Institution TypePublic
  • Percent Online Enrollment46%
  • AccreditationYes

Best Online Bachelors

Liberal Arts

2023


The Best Schools

Online Bachelor’s in Liberal Arts Programs Ranking Guidelines

We ranked these degree programs based on quality, curricula, school awards, rankings, and reputation.

Rankings Methodology
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Choosing a Program

Pursuing a liberal arts degree online provides students with a foundation of knowledge rooted in the arts, sciences, and humanities. The wide range of courses in English, mathematics, science, and philosophy will deepen your analytical and critical thinking skills. Graduates with a liberal arts degree typically have excellent writing, communication, and public speaking abilities.

As the degree itself doesn’t delve deeply into any one subject, many students opt to supplement it with a minor. Popular choices include business, communications, political science, economics, media, and computer science. A minor can help students direct their studies once they’ve discovered a passion without requiring them to change their major.

Online Bachelor’s in Liberal Arts Careers

Earning a liberal arts bachelor’s degree online prepares students for a variety of career opportunities. The general nature of the degree provides a knowledge base across many subject areas, though many specific careers may require additional training or advanced degrees. Popular professions for graduates with this degree include teaching, community work, bookkeeping, sales, and real estate.

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