Santa Monica, California has a population of about 91,535. The city’s median household income is $109,739 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 68.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited business administration programs within 100 miles of Santa Monica. In the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area, the top-earning business administration-related role is Financial Manager at a median $171,920 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
The five accredited institutions below are the closest options indexed in our directory that offer business administration programs. Distances are calculated from Santa Monica city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Monica College | Santa Monica, CA | 0.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Mount Saint Mary’s University | Los Angeles, CA | 4.1 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Loyola Marymount University | Los Angeles, CA | 5.1 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| West Los Angeles College | Culver City, CA | 5.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| American Jewish University | Los Angeles, CA | 7.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all California schools on the California business administration page.
Santa Monica is part of the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area (BLS area code 31080). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to California statewide.
| Occupation | Median Wage | Source | COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| General and Operations Manager | $127,610 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $112,333 |
| Administrative Services Manager | $119,610 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $105,290 |
| Financial Manager | $171,920 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $151,338 |
| Human Resources Manager | $161,970 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $142,579 |
| Management Analyst | $107,470 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $94,604 |
| Project Management Specialist | $103,820 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $91,391 |
| Accountant or Auditor | $93,890 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $82,650 |
| Training and Development Specialist | $73,350 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $64,569 |
| Office and Administrative Support Supervisor | $74,760 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $65,810 |
Source: BLS, May 2024 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.
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 91,535 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $109,739 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 68.9% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 113.6 (above U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Business Administration-related employment in Los Angeles County | 190,310 workers, 24,130 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Our directory lists 5 business administration programs within 100 miles of Santa Monica. The closest is Santa Monica College in Santa Monica, CA (0.7 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is American Jewish University (7.2 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying business administration-related roles near Santa Monica are: Financial Manager ($171,920), Human Resources Manager ($161,970), General and Operations Manager ($127,610). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with California statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Culver City, CA is 5.0 miles from Santa Monica and has its own set of local business administration programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.
Santa Monica’s median household income of $109,739 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Santa Monica while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and California public universities often offer reduced in-state online tuition.
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.
Return to Best Online Business Administration Programs in California (2026)