Best Online Education Programs in San Mateo, CA (2026)
San Mateo, California has a population of about 103,555. The city’s median household income is $152,669 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 57.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 50 accredited schools offering education programs near San Mateo, with tuition ranging from $7,055 to $22,803 per year for indexed programs. In the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area, the top-earning education-related role is Education Administrator, K-12 at a median $145,140 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Education Schools to San Mateo
The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 50 schools in our directory that offer education programs near San Mateo. Distances are calculated from San Mateo city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Notre Dame de Namur University | Belmont, CA | 2.9 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Alder Graduate School of Education | Redwood City, CA | 6.1 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Canada College | Redwood City, CA | 7.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Skyline College | San Bruno, CA | 10.1 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Stanford University | Stanford, CA | 11.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Chabot College | Hayward, CA | 12.9 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| City College of San Francisco | San Francisco, CA | 14.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| San Francisco State University | San Francisco, CA | 14.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| California State University-East Bay | Hayward, CA | 15.9 mi | $7,055 - $22,803 | – |
| Foothill College | Los Altos Hills, CA | 16.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all California schools on the California education page.
Education Wages Near San Mateo
San Mateo is part of the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area (BLS area code 41860). 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 | $99,840 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $86,367 |
| Elementary School Teacher | $98,890 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $85,545 |
| Middle School Teacher | $81,240 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $70,277 |
| Education Teacher, Postsecondary | $85,640 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $74,083 |
| Education Administrator, K-12 | $145,140 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $125,554 |
| Education Administrator, Postsecondary | $137,490 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $118,936 |
| Tutor | $46,670 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $40,372 |
| Educational and Career Counselor | $100,960 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $87,336 |
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.
San Mateo at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 103,555 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $152,669 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 57.6% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 115.6 (above U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Education-related employment in San Mateo County | 11,860 workers, 527 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other San Mateo-Area Cities With Education Programs
- Foster City, CA – 2.5 mi away (34,175 pop)
- Belmont, CA – 2.7 mi away (27,081 pop)
- Burlingame, CA – 3.8 mi away (30,301 pop)
- San Carlos, CA – 4.4 mi away (29,797 pop)
- Redwood City, CA – 5.9 mi away (84,950 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited education schools are near San Mateo, CA?
Our directory has 50 accredited schools offering education programs near San Mateo. The closest is Notre Dame de Namur University in Belmont, CA (2.9 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Foothill College (16.6 miles). 0 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying education roles near San Mateo?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying education-related roles near San Mateo are: Education Administrator, K-12 ($145,140), Education Administrator, Postsecondary ($137,490), Educational and Career Counselor ($100,960). 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 Foster City instead of San Mateo?
Foster City, CA is 2.5 miles from San Mateo 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 San Mateo an affordable place to study education?
San Mateo’s median household income of $152,669 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in San Mateo 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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