Best Online Certificate in Liberal Arts and Humanities Ranked for Students 2025
Find top-ranked online certificates in liberal arts and humanities degree programs to help students pursue a deep level of study in a specific content area without the long-term commitment of a bachelor’s or master’s degree.
Key Takeaways
- Online certificates in liberal arts and humanities allow students to learn new disciplines right from the comfort of their homes.
- Liberal arts students can go on to pursue a full undergraduate degree, provided the certificate is from a fully accredited institution.
- Liberal arts programs, as well as the humanities, are very broad, but students can choose which field to pursue and which certificate to secure, ranging from psychology to communications, graphic design to political science.
Top 10 Online Liberal Arts and Humanities Certificates in 2025
- University of Massachusetts Amherst
- Texas Tech University
- East Tennessee State University
- Kennesaw State University +1
- University of North Georgia +1
- Tompkins Cortland Community College +4
- Toccoa Falls College
- Rowan College at Burlington County +3
- Point University –5
- Mount Wachusett Community College –1
2025 Ranking Update
Our Influence Ranking Engine™ leverages machine learning to track the real-world influence of colleges and universities over time. Below you’ll see which schools gained or lost ground for the 2025 school year.
In 2025, the top ten schools in our ranking of the best online liberal arts and humanities certificates saw a considerable amount of movement. Tompkins Cortland Community College gained the most ranking positions as the college developed new features in its online Liberal Arts and Humanities programs that are particularly appealing to certificate students. TC3′s flexible online format allows students to complete programs like the Liberal Arts: General Studies and Humanities degrees almost entirely online, providing options for both local and distant learners. These programs emphasize foundational skills in critical thinking, cultural awareness, and effective communication, which are essential for diverse careers or further academic pursuits.
Additionally, TC3 has enhanced its online learning experience with strong faculty support, frequent academic advising, and accessible career services, ensuring online students have comprehensive support throughout their studies. For students interested in creative and digital fields, TC3 offers specialized programs in areas like New Media and Graphic Design, which integrate liberal arts foundations with technical skills relevant to digital and media careers. This approach to combining core liberal arts competencies with practical, career-focused coursework makes TC3’s online offerings attractive to students seeking flexibility and industry-relevant skills in the humanities field.
Featured Programs
Best Online Certificate in Liberal Arts and Humanities Degree Programs
- #1 Best Public Colleges in Massachusetts 2024 #1 Most Affordable Colleges in Massachusetts Ranked for Students in 2024 #6 Best Research Universities in Massachusetts 2025 #6 Best Grad Schools in Massachusetts 2025
Other Rankings
- #7 Best Colleges in Massachusetts 2025
- #1 Best Online Associate Degrees in Massachusetts 2025
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- #2 Best Online Colleges in Massachusetts 2024
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- #2 Best Online Bachelor's in Interdisciplinary Studies Degree Programs for 2024
- #3 The Best Online Colleges Ranked for Students in 2025
- #3 Best Online Bachelor’s of Digital Media for 2025
- #4 Fastest Online Associate Degrees Ranked for 2024
- #4 Best Online Master's Programs in Massachusetts 2024
- #4 Best Online Master’s in Education
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- #5 Best Data Science Online Master’s Programs 2025
- #6 Best Online Master’s in Engineering 2025
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- #7 Best Online Master’s in Engineering Management
- #8 Fastest Online Bachelor's Degrees Ranked for 2025
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- #10 Top 20 Best Online MBA Programs that Can Be Completed in One Year 2025
- #14 Best Online Master's in Management 2025
- #17 Best Online Master's Programs 2024
- #17 Best Schools in the World for Earning an MBA Degree Ranked for 2024
Tuition + fees
$17K
Acceptance
64%
Graduation
83%
Student body
37K
Median SAT/ACT
1370/31
Career Outlook for degree at University of Massachusetts Amherst
Cost of Degree: $17,357Expenses: $17,309Starting Salary: $57,700Cost Recoup Time: 7 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryOnline Degrees
Undergraduate Certificate in Medical Humanities
- Required Credits: 12
- Completion time: None Reported
- Format: Online
- #4 Best Public Colleges in Texas 2025 #4 Most Affordable Colleges in Texas 2025 #7 Best Research Universities in Texas 2024 #7 Best Colleges in Texas 2024
Other Rankings
- #13 Best Colleges and Universities for Communications Degrees 2025
- #1 Best Online Colleges in Texas 2024
- #2 Best Online Bachelor's of English Degree Programs for 2024
- #2 Best Online MBA Programs in Texas
- #3 Fastest Accelerated Online Doctorate of Information Technology
- #3 Best Online Master's in English 2025
- #3 Top 5 Best Online English PhD Degree Programs (Doctorates)
- #3 Best Online Doctorate of Educational Psychology (PhDs) 2025
- #4 Top 10 Best Online Communications PhD Degree Programs (Doctorates)
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- #6 Top 10 Best Online Master's of Public Relations Ranked 2025
- #6 Best Online Master’s in Engineering Management
- #7 Best Online Master's Programs in Texas 2024
- #7 Best Online Bachelor’s of Early Childhood Education Degree Programs for 2025
- #7 Best Online Master's in Agriculture and Agribusiness Degree Programs
- #8 20 Fastest Accelerated Online English Doctorates (PhDs) 2024
- #8 10 Best Online Master's of Music Education Degree Programs 2025
- #10 Best Online Master’s in Communications
- #10 Best Online Bachelor’s of Communications Degree Programs for 2025
- #11 Top 20 Most Affordable Online Doctorate of Education (PhDs) 2025
- #11 Best Online Master's in Marketing and Advertising
- #12 Top 20 Best Online Accredited Doctorate Degree Programs (PhDs) 2025
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- #13 Best Online Master's in Special Education 2025
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- #14 The Best Online Colleges Ranked for Students in 2025
- #14 Best Online Master's in Computer Science Degree Programs
- #15 Best Online Doctorate in Education Degree Programs Ranked for Students
- #15 Best Online Master’s in Education
- #20 Best Online Master’s in Engineering 2025
- #23 Top 50 Best No GRE Online PhD Degree Programs (Doctorates)
Tuition + fees
$12K
Acceptance
67%
Graduation
64%
Student body
44K
Median SAT/ACT
1185/25
Career Outlook for degree at Texas Tech University
Cost of Degree: $11,852Expenses: $16,170Starting Salary: $61,600Cost Recoup Time: 6 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryOnline Degrees
Certificate in Book History and Digital Humanities
- Required Credits: 15
- Completion time: 1 year or less
- Format: Online
- #5 The Most Influential Universities and Colleges Ranked by State 2024 #6 Most Affordable Colleges in Tennessee 2025 #6 Best Public Colleges in Tennessee 2025 #7 Best Research Universities in Tennessee 2025
Other Rankings
- #7 Best Grad Schools in Tennessee 2024
- #9 Best Colleges in Tennessee 2025
- #2 Best Online MBA Programs in Tennessee
- #2 Best Online Colleges in Tennessee 2024
- #3 Best Online Master’s in Human Services
- #4 Fastest Accelerated Online Healthcare Administration Masters 2025
- #5 Best Online Master's Programs in Tennessee 2024
- #9 Best Online Bachelor’s of Human Services Degree Programs Ranked for 2024
- #12 Best Online Bachelor's in Interdisciplinary Studies Degree Programs for 2024
- #19 Best Online Master's in Sports Management 2025
Tuition + fees
$9K
Acceptance
85%
Graduation
55%
Student body
15K
Median SAT/ACT
1085/22
Career Outlook for degree at East Tennessee State University
Cost of Degree: $9,706Expenses: $18,550Starting Salary: $40,600Cost Recoup Time: 8 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryOnline Degrees
Certificate in Humanities
Concentrations
- Archival Studies
- School Library Professional
- Required Credits: 18
- Completion time: 9 months
- Format: Online
- #3 Best Online Bachelor's in Cybersecurity in Georgia #6 Top 15 Most Affordable Online Information Technology PhD Programs #6 Best Online Master's Programs in Georgia 2025 #8 Top 10 Most Affordable English PhD Programs (Doctorates) 2024
Other Rankings
- #10 Best Online Degrees for a Career in Teaching Ranked 2024
- #13 Top 20 Most Affordable Online Bachelor's of Cybersecurity 2025
- #14 Best Online MBA Programs in Georgia
- #19 Top 20 Most Affordable Online Master's of Nursing Programs 2025
- #23 Best Online Colleges in Georgia 2024
- #19 Fastest Accelerated Online Master's of Nursing Degree Programs 2024
Tuition + fees
$6K
Acceptance
68%
Graduation
46%
Student body
50K
Median SAT/ACT
1120/22
Online Degrees
Certificate in Humanities
Concentrations
- Applied Peacebuilding
- Digital & Social Media
- Required Credits: 9
- Completion time: 6 months
- Format: Online
- #8 Top 10 Fastest Accelerated Online PhD in Criminal Justice (Doctorates) #10 Best Online Master's Programs in Georgia 2025 #11 Most Affordable Online Criminal Justice PhDs (Doctorates) 2025 #24 Best Online Colleges in Georgia 2024
Tuition + fees
$5K
Acceptance
70%
Graduation
39%
Student body
22K
Median SAT/ACT
1080/21
Career Outlook for degree at University of North Georgia
Cost of Degree: $5,211Expenses: $17,450Starting Salary: $46,200Cost Recoup Time: 6 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryOnline Degrees
Certificate in Humanities
Concentrations
- Diversity Program
- Required Credits: 10
- Completion time: 9-12 months
- Format: Online
- #7 Best Online Associate in Gender Studies #15 Best Online Associate Degrees in New York 2025 #24 Best Online Associate in Paralegal Studies #8 Fastest Accelerated Online Associate's of Counseling Degree Programs
Tuition + fees
$7K
Graduation
23%
Student body
8K
Career Outlook for degree at Tompkins Cortland Community College
Cost of Degree: $6,946Expenses: $16,467Starting Salary: $34,600Cost Recoup Time: 8 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryOnline Degrees
Certificate in Liberal Arts and Sciences: General Studies
- Required Credits: 30
- Completion time: 1 year or less
- Format: Online
- #9 Best Christian Colleges in Georgia 2025 #7 Best Online Associate Degrees in Georgia 2024 #12 Best Online Bachelor’s of Counseling Degree Programs for 2025 #14 Best Online Associate in Education
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$22K
Acceptance
68%
Graduation
46%
Student body
2K
Median SAT/ACT
1115/21
Career Outlook for degree at Toccoa Falls College
Cost of Degree: $23,250Expenses: $14,570Starting Salary: $32,200Cost Recoup Time: 11 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryOnline Degrees
Certificate in Humanities
Concentrations
- Cross-Cultural Studies
- Required Credits: 18
- Completion time: 9 months
- Format: Online
- #10 Best Community Colleges in New Jersey 2025 #8 Best Online Associate Degrees in New Jersey 2024 #14 Best Online Associate in Political Science 2025 #14 Best Online Associate in Health Science Degree Programs
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$5K
Graduation
29%
Student body
11K
Career Outlook for degree at Rowan College at Burlington County
Cost of Degree: $5,376Starting Salary: $39,700Online Degrees
Undergraduate Certificate in Liberal Arts and Sciences
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: None Reported
- Format: Online
- #2 Best Online Bachelor's in Cybersecurity in Georgia #4 Best Online Associate in Education #6 Best Online Associate in Psychology #6 Best Online Associate in Marketing
Other Rankings
- #7 Best Online Associate in Christian Ministry
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- #9 Best Online Associate Degrees in Georgia 2024
- #11 Best Online Associate in Criminal Justice
- #12 Best Online MBA Programs in Georgia
- #18 Best Online Bachelor's in Network Administration Degree Programs for 2024
- #23 Best Online Associate in Accounting
- #24 Best Online Associate in Liberal Arts 2025
- #24 Best Online Bachelor’s of Christian Ministry Degree Programs for 2025
Tuition + fees
$22K
Acceptance
24%
Graduation
26%
Student body
2K
Median SAT/ACT
975/18
Career Outlook for degree at Point University
Cost of Degree: $22,300Expenses: $13,100Starting Salary: $34,700Cost Recoup Time: 10 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryOnline Degrees
Certificate in Humanities
Concentrations
- Social Media Marketing
- Required Credits: None Reported
- Completion time: 9-12 months
- Format: Online
- #11 Best Online Associate's in Physics 2025 #11 Best Online Associate Degrees in Massachusetts 2025 #20 Best Online Associate in Fire Science Degree Programs #21 Best Online Colleges in Massachusetts 2024
Tuition + fees
$6K
Graduation
27%
Student body
4K
Career Outlook for degree at Mount Wachusett Community College
Cost of Degree: $6,000Starting Salary: $36,400Online Degrees
LAS in Liberal Arts and Sciences
- Required Credits: 61-63
- Completion time: 2 years
- Format: Online
- #5 Best Online Associate Degrees in New Jersey 2024 #6 Best Online Associate in Health Science Degree Programs #24 Best Online Associate in Sociology
Tuition + fees
$11K
Graduation
35%
Student body
11K
Career Outlook for degree at Union College
Cost of Degree: $9,500Starting Salary: $37,100Online Degrees
Undergraduate Certificate in Liberal Studies
- Required Credits: 30-31
- Completion time: None Reported
- Format: Online
With further schooling, almost all liberal arts degrees can lead to lucrative careers. This allows graduates (with the right qualifications) to share their passion with others.
Certificates and degrees in liberal arts also lend themselves well to future studies and research. Many liberal arts majors are also keen on giving back and connecting with people, eventually leading to careers in public service, politics, and other helping professions.
Certificate in Liberal Arts and Humanities: Skills Gained and Learned
Arts and humanities certificate and degree holders gain critical skills, characteristics, and qualities before working. People with this degree are expected to communicate effectively, clearly, and professionally.
Thus, communication skills are the most imperative, followed by critical thinking. Their employers highly regard these skills, as they are valuable in dealing with daily issues as well as in planning for the future.
Here are some critical skills students will learn from a humanities or liberal arts certificate.
Communication Skills
These skills are needed in any workplace. Your ability to communicate your thoughts through effective and concise writing is important to communicate with your superiors and the masses. Liberal arts and humanities degree programs are designed to teach students these critical communication skills.
Throughout the public speaking and communication courses, students will learn how to break down their insights and arguments into easy and more digestible chunks that can be efficiently shared at any level.
Analytic and Critical Thinking Skills
When studying liberal arts and humanities online courses, students learn essential analytical and critical thinking skills. Learning to think and analyze critically about any problem makes it easier for you to understand incoherent issues. Not only will you understand the problem easily, but you will be able to develop a solution as well.
Research Skills
Any concentration within liberal arts can significantly help develop your research skills. This is one of the most critical parts of the humanities degree, and nearly every major will need at least one or two courses that focus on research.
These skills are what many employers want, especially because this is a skill that is hard to teach. Knowing how to use primary sources to develop relevant research questions and locate the information quickly is valuable in every career.
Liberal Arts and Humanities: Careers In Entertainment
One of the most coveted careers in the US is working in the entertainment industry. Many people of working in this industry to meet celebrities and travel globally. Career opportunities in the entertainment industry include:
- Movie Producer/Director
- Cinematographer
- Writer
- Actor/Actress
- Musician
- Radio Broadcaster
- Event Planner
- Musician
Liberal Arts and Humanities: Careers In Creative and Design
If you have an artistic eye and an amazing sense of style, you are a perfect fit for a career in creative design. Careers in creative and design for those who have a certificate or degree in liberal arts and humanities include:
- Architect
- Graphic Designer
- Interior Designer
- Fashion Designer
- Photographer
- Art Director
Other Careers in Arts and Humanities
Other career paths when you earn a certificate in liberal arts and humanities include:
- Historian
- Journalist
- Minister
- Editor
- Archivist, Curator, Museum Technician
- Public Relation Specialist
Frequently Asked Questions About Liberal Arts and Humanities Certificates
Certificates in Liberal Arts and Humanities offer students the opportunity to pursue a deep level of study in a specific content area without the long-term commitment of a bachelor’s or master’s degree.
Certificates can be especialy valuable for teachers seeking to earn continuing education credit or branch into another field of study.
Back to TopStudents can choose to pursue a certificate from a wide array of disciplines including graphic design, psychology, communications, political science, and more.
Back to TopMost programs can be completed in as little as two semesters and can require up to four courses.
Back to TopOnline certificates offer students the chance to explore new disciplines from the comfort of their homes. And provided that your certificate is granted by a fully accredited institution, it may be possible to count the credits you earn in this program toward a full undergraduate degree in your area of study.
Back to TopLearn more about how to major in history.
Online Degree Frequently Asked Questions
If this is your first time taking an online course, the experience may require a time of adjustment. Although you’ll typically learn the same material and take the same exams as your on-campus peers, going online will require greater independence and responsibility than going in person. You’ll be accountable for your own time management, for harnessing the online educational technology that you’ll need to use, and for completing the course requirements, such as listening to lectures, learning lessons, reading texts, and handing in assignments. This means you’ll need to create a suitable workspace for yourself, maintain a realistic schedule, and take the initiative in building relationships with your instructors and classmates. With online college, your goal is to find a balance between independence and engagement.
No. The only part of online education that’s easier than campus-based education is ease of access: all you need is a computer and an internet connection for online education. But even this seeming advantage of online education can be misleading: what’s easier, studying online with your computer and internet connection from your home where you need to cook, clean, pay rent, and maintain a job? Or studying on campus in a dorm where all your living needs are handled by the school, and college staff are there to help you every step of the way?
If you take the commute to campus out of the equation, campus-based education is easier. All the support structures available on campus for students, especially with real people to help you in person, are not there online. The demands on you as an online student will largely be the same as for your campus-based counterpart, but without the same helps.
In general, your online courses will present the same material and test you in the same way as traditional in-person courses. In many cases, you’ll even have the same instructors as your on-campus counterparts. In fact, if you are adjusting to the experience of independent learning with remote educational technology for the first time, online college may be considerably more challenging than campus-based college. For a few insights on how to manage this new online experience, check out our 10 Tips for Adjusting to School Online.
Accreditation is especially important when it comes to online college. This is because the online education landscape is a mix of highly-reputable non-profit institutions on the one end and less-than-reputable for-profit institutions on the other end. Accreditation gives you the power to identify the more reputable actors in online education. Accreditation is a stamp of approval from an independent accrediting agency indicating that a college or university is meeting standards of quality and credibility. School-wide accreditation falls into two major categories: regional and national accreditation. Regional accreditors generally hold jurisdiction only over schools in the states comprising their region, whereas national accreditors hold jurisdiction over schools in all states. Regional accreditation is widely regarded as a more rigorous standard of quality and credibility than national accreditation.
Attending a college or university that is not regionally accredited could limit your opportunities. For students seeking an online education, we strongly recommend that they opt for regionally accredited schools. Regional accreditation ensures eligibility for federal loans and grants, ensures your college credits can be transferred between schools, and ensures that your degree credits can be accepted if you wish to earn an advanced degree. For more on this important topic, check out our What is Accreditation and Why Does It Matter? College & University Accreditation Guide.
As long as your online college degree is regionally accredited (see the previous point), you should have little difficulty transferring most of your credits or credentials to another regionally accredited undergraduate school. Every school carries its own standards and procedures for granting a transfer of credits. In many cases, you will encounter some bureaucratic haggling in which some of your credits will be transferred and others may be refused. However, provided that you have attended an online school with recognized regional accreditation, you should be in good shape in transferring your credits earned online.
In most cases, as long you graduate from a well-regarded, regionally-accredited online college, prospective employers won’t look sideways at your degree. In fact, unless you attend an exclusively online college or university, there will likely be no specific indicator on your degree, transcript, or resumé differentiating your school from its brick-and-mortar counterpart. This means that your employer will likely only differentiate between an online and in-person degree if you mention this distinction.
Some employers may express the concern that because you did your degree online, you may need to transition from an online education experience to in-person workplace experience. But in an age of Covid, that concern seems much diminished. The fact is that much employment these days is remote. And collaboration increasingly happens online over Zoom. Many employers will therefore view your online degree as evidence of valuable 21st century professional skills such as independence, self-motivation, time management, and tech savvy.
If you are a student who thrives on the dynamic energy of in-person discussion, who requires the physical surroundings of a classroom to feel engaged, or who considers the social aspects of education to be of equal importance to the actual content of your courses, online education will be less than ideal for you (though depending on your circumstances, it may also be the only viable option).
While there is much in traditional campus-based education that can be substituted or simulated through the online medium, some students may find that there is nothing that can replace the conversation, collaboration, and motivation that occur in an actual in-person classroom setting. As you transition to online education, one of the biggest challenges you will likely face in getting the most out of your online classes is overcoming this difference between “real reality” and “virtual reality.” Fortunately, we’ve got some great Tips for Online Education Beginners.
The advantages of online classes are many. Above all, online courses give you the freedom and flexibility to attend class from anywhere that works for you, whether you’re at home, in a coffee shop, or in a quiet conference room at work. In many cases, you’ll also enjoy the convenience of asynchronous learning opportunities-educational experiences that you can complete at your own pace and on your own schedule. This may include pre-taped lectures, ongoing chat-board discussions, and 24/7 access to digital materials. And of course, just as there are some learners who prefer the energy of a live classroom, there are those who learn best when working in their own personal space, free from distractions. If this sounds like you, you might find the solitude of online learning to be a major advantage.
Resources for Online College-Bound Students
Whether you’re just getting started on your college search, you’re looking for survival tips on your way to a bachelor’s degree, or you’re preparing for the transition into grad school, we’ve got guides, how to’s and tons of other valuable resources to keep you moving forward in your educational journey.