Best Online Liberal Arts Degree Programs

CSULB offers a hybrid bachelor's in liberal arts degree completion program designed for busy professionals reentering higher education.

This 66-credit program includes courses on communication, global citizenship, and diverse cultures. Students take classes online and in person, working in small cohorts with their fellow learners. Courses take place one night a week and every other Saturday. Most students complete their bachelor's degree within two years.

Eligible applicants must possess at least 72 credits of transferable postsecondary coursework and a minimum 2.0 GPA. Prospective students should submit an application essay and official transcripts from all colleges they previously attended.

All bachelor's in liberal arts students pay the same tuition, regardless of state residency. Graduates complete their degrees with a median student loan debt of $15,000.

CSUN's Tseng College delivers an online bachelor's degree in liberal arts for individuals returning to school to complete their education. The 60-credit program features a cohort structure, allowing students to take classes with the same group of peers.

The curriculum includes a course on cities of the third world, which explores economic, cultural, and political influences that shape communities in Africa, the Caribbean, and other parts of the globe.

Prospective students must possess at least 60 transferable credits and a minimum 2.0 GPA. Their transcripts also must reflect passing grades in critical thinking, analytical writing, oral communication, and math courses. The program boasts a graduation rate of more than 85%. All online students pay the same tuition, even if they live out of state.

ASU Online delivers a bachelor's in liberal arts program that encompasses more than two dozen subject areas across the social sciences and humanities. The program serves students looking to complete their bachelor's degree and individuals interested in exploring a variety of disciplines for their major.

The program features 40 total classes and 120 credits, with each class lasting 7.5 weeks. Students take all courses online and learn using an asynchronous schedule, with no set log-in times.

The program also provides flexibility in the classes students can take. One popular course — cultural diversity in the U.S. — examines how various cultures have influenced American communities and society as a whole. Located in Tempe, ASU boasts a five-year graduation rate of nearly 70%.

Primarily serving students who plan to teach elementary school, the online bachelor's in liberal arts completion program at Chico State delivers a solid foundation in a variety of subject areas. The program also enables students to gain experience working with children in K-8 settings.

The program's curriculum includes courses on liberal studies, sociology, social sciences, and religious studies. Students have the freedom to choose many classes that interest them as they complete their degree.

Students can begin taking classes in the fall or spring. To apply as a transfer student, an applicant must provide official transcripts from colleges and universities they previously attended. Chico State's median student debt upon graduation is $17,000.

UIS offers an online bachelor's in liberal arts program designed for individuals looking to complete their undergraduate degree. While the program makes all its courses available online, students may opt to engage in some in-person experiences at the school's Springfield campus.

This online bachelor's degree in liberal arts features at least 48 credits of upper-division courses, with students choosing from a variety of subjects to complete their degree. Most students graduate within 2-3 years.

While resident students pay less than nonresidents, UIS offers discounted tuition rates to distance learners. The university also offers credit for prior learning, such as internships, service learning, the military, and job experience. UIS alumni make up nearly 30% of the college-educated workforce in the Springfield area.

Located in Morrow, Georgia, CSU delivers a bachelor's in liberal arts degree that allows students to create their own curriculum. Many students who earn this liberal arts degree move seamlessly into graduate programs.

The program requires students to complete a minor to supplement their studies. Criminal justice and English minors are currently available entirely online, although the school plans to expand these options in the future.

First-time applicants must provide their official high school transcripts or GED scores, along with their ACT or SAT scores. Prospective transfer students should submit official college transcripts from previously attended institutions. Out-of-state residents who study online pay less than they would for on-campus classes.

Emphasizing leadership and communication skills, UI's online bachelor's degree in liberal arts allows students to complete their undergraduate studies from a distance. Students may choose from concentrations in expression in writing and the arts; family, community, and social support; global studies; health and human studies; justice and ethics; and organizational studies.

To graduate, students must complete a total of 120 credits, transferring in up to 60 credits from a two-year postsecondary institution. Incoming transfer students must possess at least 24 credits of college coursework earned with a minimum 2.0 GPA. The program also accepts individuals with an associate degree.

Bachelor of liberal studies students may also combine their degree with a certificate in entrepreneurial management, nonprofit management, or public health.

Rutgers-Camden delivers an online bachelor's degree in liberal arts for individuals who possess an AAS degree from an accredited institution.

Students can tailor their studies to match their interests and career goals, choosing from courses in music and the arts, English, history, literature, and the social sciences. Although students can take all classes online, they may opt for in-person experiences at several campuses throughout New Jersey.

Applicants to this bachelor's in liberal arts program must provide transcripts from all colleges and universities they previously attended. Students at nearby community colleges can apply to a dual-degree program and earn a bachelor's and master's in liberal studies at the same time.

Northeastern's online bachelor's in liberal arts degree completion program features an experiential learning model that teaches students the knowledge and skills needed to thrive in a variety of workplaces.

The 48-credit program includes courses in English, humanities, social sciences, mathematics, and science. Students complete a three-credit capstone, conducting independent research aligned with their chosen curriculum path. All courses take place online and feature an asynchronous structure.

To apply, prospective students must submit their official college transcripts. Incoming students may begin the program in the fall, spring, or summer. Northeastern's main campus is located in Boston. Resident and nonresident students pay the same tuition.

Harvard's Extension School offers an on-campus and online bachelor's in liberal arts program tailored to professionals looking to complete their degree while working full time. The program primarily serves adults over the age of 30 who have completed 1-2 years of postsecondary coursework.

While most learning takes place online, students must complete at least 16 credits at the Harvard campus; however, three-week and weekend class options are available. Graduates can also participate in the institution's annual commencement ceremony.

To receive admission into this bachelor's in liberal arts program, students must complete three initial courses with a "B" or better. The program accepts up to 64 transfer credits from regionally accredited colleges and universities.

In-state and out-of-state Harvard Extension School students pay the same tuition. The liberal arts program also offers a joint bachelor's/master's degree.