Best Online Education Programs in Pasadena, CA (2026)
Pasadena, California has a population of about 136,462. The city’s median household income is $103,778 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 56.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 94 accredited schools offering education programs near Pasadena, with tuition ranging from $1,180 to $19,308 per year for indexed programs. In the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area, the top-earning education-related role is Education Administrator, K-12 at a median $139,080 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Education Schools to Pasadena
The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 94 schools in our directory that offer education programs near Pasadena. Distances are calculated from Pasadena city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pacific Oaks College | Pasadena, CA | 0.8 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| University of the People | Pasadena, CA | 0.9 mi | Contact school for pricing | ✓ |
| Pasadena City College | Pasadena, CA | 1.6 mi | $1,180 - $12,166 | – |
| California State University-Los Angeles | Los Angeles, CA | 6.6 mi | $6,813 - $18,698 | – |
| East Los Angeles College | Monterey Park, CA | 8.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| University of the West | Rosemead, CA | 8.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Southern California Institute of Architecture | Los Angeles, CA | 9.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Los Angeles City College | Los Angeles, CA | 10.1 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| The Chicago School at Los Angeles | Los Angeles, CA | 10.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Rio Hondo College | Whittier, CA | 11.4 mi | $1,388 - $19,308 | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all California schools on the California education page.
Education Wages Near Pasadena
Pasadena 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Secondary School Teacher | $97,970 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $86,241 |
| Elementary School Teacher | $100,580 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $88,539 |
| Middle School Teacher | $94,940 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $83,574 |
| Education Teacher, Postsecondary | $78,370 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $68,988 |
| Education Administrator, K-12 | $139,080 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $122,430 |
| Education Administrator, Postsecondary | $120,970 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $106,488 |
| Tutor | $42,300 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $37,236 |
| Educational and Career Counselor | $85,660 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $75,405 |
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.
Pasadena at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 136,462 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $103,778 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 56.0% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 113.6 (above U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Education-related employment in Los Angeles County | 123,686 workers, 4,718 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other Pasadena-Area Cities With Education Programs
- South Pasadena, CA – 3.6 mi away (25,913 pop)
- La Canada Flintridge, CA – 4.9 mi away (20,447 pop)
- San Gabriel, CA – 5.0 mi away (40,404 pop)
- Alhambra, CA – 5.2 mi away (85,474 pop)
- Arcadia, CA – 6.1 mi away (58,523 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited education schools are near Pasadena, CA?
Our directory has 94 accredited schools offering education programs near Pasadena. The closest is Pacific Oaks College in Pasadena, CA (0.8 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Rio Hondo College (11.4 miles). 1 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying education roles near Pasadena?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying education-related roles near Pasadena are: Education Administrator, K-12 ($139,080), Education Administrator, Postsecondary ($120,970), Elementary School Teacher ($100,580). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with California statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Should I look at programs in South Pasadena instead of Pasadena?
South Pasadena, CA is 3.6 miles from Pasadena and has its own set of local education programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.
Is Pasadena an affordable place to study education?
Pasadena’s median household income of $103,778 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Pasadena while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and California public universities often offer reduced in-state online tuition.
How do I verify a program is accredited?
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.
Related Resources
Data verified: May 5, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2024; Employment Projections 2024–2034) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2023 cohort). The source agency and data year are cited inline with every statistic.
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