Best Online Bachelor's in Liberal Arts for 2019
If you're interested in a truly multidisciplinary education, an online liberal arts program may be the answer. Students gain a comprehensive introduction to humanities and social sciences topics in bachelor's in liberal arts online programs. In addition to an understanding of history, other cultures, and the natural universe, you'll develop the problem-solving and communications skills that employers seek.
Many online liberal arts degrees allow you to focus your studies around a career interest, such as elementary education or pre-law. Whether you use your online liberal studies degree for immediate employment or as preparation for graduate school, your career outlook is good. According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers' Fall 2015 Salary Survey , salaries for graduates of liberal arts bachelor's programs averaged $45,000 per year.
What are the Best Online Bachelor's in Liberal Arts Programs?
Top 25 Online Bachelors Degrees in Liberal Arts
Admissions Rate
6%
Graduation Rate
98%
Online Enrollment
7%
Retention Rate
98%
Default Rate
1%
Harvard University is one of the most prestigious private universities in the world and counts U.S. presidents, Nobel laureates, and global business leaders among its accomplished alumni. Its extension school offers online and hybrid degree programs, including the bachelor of liberal arts . The curriculum blends traditional liberal arts coursework with focused subject areas such as psychology, computer science, or business. The 128-credit program accepts adults age 21 or older who have not already earned an undergraduate degree. Before students can apply they must earn at least a B in three required online courses to ensure they have the writing and math skills to succeed at Harvard. Once accepted, distance learners can pursue most of their liberal arts degree online but must complete at least 16 credits at Harvard in intensive three-week or weekend on-campus courses.
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What Will I Learn in an Online Liberal Arts Program?
Though liberal studies programs are consistent in their approach, individual course requirements vary. Every liberal arts program online develops its curriculum independently, so carefully investigate the course listings of any programs you're considering. Below, we've listed five standard core courses for a liberal studies online degree.
Comparative Arts Appreciation: This course examines the intellectual, artistic, and aesthetic parallels in art history and music history. Class discussion focuses on aesthetic judgment, art and music criticism, principle forms and genres of art and music, and the historical examination of the arts from the Renaissance through the present.
Economics I&II: Topics covered in this course include the principles of production, exchange, alternative market structures, pricing, and supply and demand. Students examine the international economy and its relationship to the U.S. commercial banking system, fiscal policy, and the principles that impact national employment and income.
World Civilizations: This course provides an overview of societies and cultures within them from ancient times through the early modern era. Students conceptually relate this knowledge to our current global society.
Constitutional Law and Politics: This course examines the structure of the American government and the guiding principles behind the structure. Discussion covers the Bill of Rights, judicial review, and key concepts of federalism, ordered liberty, separation of powers, and due process.
Psychological Science: This class provides an overview of scientific methodology in cognitive, developmental, and biological psychology. Discussion emphasizes evidence-based knowledge, the effects of diversity, ethics, social actions, and variations in human functioning.
What can I do with an Online Liberal Arts Degree?
The career options for liberal arts bachelor's degree online graduates are quite varied as the educational background is applicable to many industries. Because you hold this degree, your future employers will understand that you've been trained to think critically, bring multiple perspectives to the table, and problem-solve. Here, we've listed five liberal arts jobs that require a bachelor's degree.
Uses sophisticated technology to create images that visually promote a product or communicate a message. Creates logos, packaging, websites, fonts, and print products. Often works in conjunction with marketing or advertising team; may be self-employed. Must have well-developed artistic sensibility, meet frequent deadlines, and have excellent communications skills.
Median Salary: $42,718
Job Outlook and Salary
A liberal arts degree online can lead to jobs in nearly any sector. In fact, the BLS reports that many hiring managers view a liberal arts degree as evidence that employees have the fundamental skills that are required to succeed in their first job after college.
Below we've listed the BLS employment projections for five liberal arts jobs. Remember that location can have a significant impact on salaries and the number of available jobs. You should also consider the health of appealing industries, as some are functioning more profitably than others. A bachelor's in liberal arts online offers unique flexibility in this regard, and it may be wise to consider industry performance trends as you plan.
| Career | Employment, 2016 | Projected Employment, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Graphic Designer | 266,300 | 5% increase |
| Marketing Manager | 249,600 | 9% increase |
| Customer Service Representative | 2,784,500 | 5% increase |
| Paralegal | 285,600 | 15% increase |
| Purchasing Agent | 520,400 | 3% decline |
Salary Growth by Experience
Because the job possibilities span so many industries, the careers shown in the table below reflect only a small portion of the potential salary growth for liberal arts degree jobs. Each of these roles requires a bachelor's degree for entry, and salaries can be boosted by further education. Some fields can be considerably more lucrative than others. Salaries increase with accumulated experience, which is typical for most careers.
To determine the best online bachelor's in liberal arts programs, we looked at the most important factors prospective students, mainly common predictors of future success and a school's commitment to online programs. This boils down to admissions rate, student loan default rate, retention rate, graduation rate, and the percent of students enrolled in online classes. All data points are taken from information provided by colleges and universities to the National Center for Education Statistics.
Each factor is weighted evenly in order to give an objective view and determine the best online bachelor's in liberal arts programs. To calculate our rankings, we looked at a school's ranking when organized by a single factor, and then averaged each category's ranking to find an overall score: Admissions Rate (20%) + Default Rate (20%) + Retention Rate (20%) + Graduation Rate (20%) + Percent of Students Enrolled in Online Classes (20%) = Final score.