Olympia, Washington has a population of about 55,583. The city’s median household income is $76,930 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 50.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited business administration programs within 100 miles of Olympia. In the Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA metro area, the top-earning business administration-related role is Financial Manager at a median $135,080 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 Olympia city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Puget Sound Community College | Olympia, WA | 2.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Saint Martin’s University | Lacey, WA | 3.8 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| The Evergreen State College | Olympia, WA | 4.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Pierce College District | Lakewood, WA | 17.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Clover Park Technical College | Lakewood, WA | 20.9 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Washington schools on the Washington business administration page.
Olympia is part of the Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA metro area (BLS area code 36500). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Washington statewide.
| Occupation | Median Wage | Source | COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| General and Operations Manager | $116,730 | Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $112,565 |
| Administrative Services Manager | $131,160 | Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $126,480 |
| Financial Manager | $135,080 | Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $130,260 |
| Human Resources Manager | $130,900 | Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $126,230 |
| Management Analyst | $86,200 | Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $83,124 |
| Project Management Specialist | $102,470 | Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $98,814 |
| Accountant or Auditor | $90,140 | Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $86,924 |
| Training and Development Specialist | $82,360 | Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $79,421 |
| Office and Administrative Support Supervisor | $72,790 | Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $70,193 |
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 | 55,583 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $76,930 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 50.0% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 103.7 (above U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Business Administration-related employment in Thurston County | 3,786 workers, 569 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Our directory lists 5 business administration programs within 100 miles of Olympia. The closest is South Puget Sound Community College in Olympia, WA (2.2 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Clover Park Technical College (20.9 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 Olympia are: Financial Manager ($135,080), Administrative Services Manager ($131,160), Human Resources Manager ($130,900). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Washington statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Tumwater, WA is 3.6 miles from Olympia 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.
Olympia’s median household income of $76,930 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Olympia while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Washington 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 Washington (2026)