Best Online Education Programs in Santa Rosa, CA (2026)
Santa Rosa, California has a population of about 177,216. The city’s median household income is $97,410 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 34.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 46 accredited schools offering education programs near Santa Rosa, with tuition ranging from $14,850 to $45,627 per year for indexed programs. In the Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA metro area, the top-earning education-related role is Education Administrator, K-12 at a median $145,710 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Education Schools to Santa Rosa
The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 46 schools in our directory that offer education programs near Santa Rosa. Distances are calculated from Santa Rosa city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sonoma State University | Rohnert Park, CA | 7.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Meridian University | Petaluma, CA | 15.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Pacific Union College | Angwin, CA | 16.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Napa Valley College | Napa, CA | 26.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Dominican University of California | San Rafael, CA | 33.8 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Touro University California | Vallejo, CA | 34.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Berkeley City College | Berkeley, CA | 46.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| University of California-Berkeley | Berkeley, CA | 46.5 mi | $14,850 - $45,627 | – |
| Diablo Valley College | Pleasant Hill, CA | 47.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| University of San Francisco | San Francisco, CA | 48.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all California schools on the California education page.
Education Wages Near Santa Rosa
Santa Rosa is part of the Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA metro area (BLS area code 42220). 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 | $97,530 | Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $90,473 |
| Elementary School Teacher | $97,160 | Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $90,130 |
| Middle School Teacher | $80,390 | Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $74,573 |
| Education Teacher, Postsecondary | $85,560 | CA statewide | $79,369 |
| Education Administrator, K-12 | $145,710 | Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $135,167 |
| Education Administrator, Postsecondary | $125,710 | Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $116,614 |
| Tutor | $37,450 | Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $34,740 |
| Educational and Career Counselor | $100,020 | Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $92,783 |
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.
Santa Rosa at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 177,216 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $97,410 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 34.8% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 107.8 (above U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Education-related employment in Sonoma County | 2,246 workers, 219 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other Santa Rosa-Area Cities With Education Programs
- Rohnert Park, CA – 6.8 mi away (42,622 pop)
- Windsor, CA – 8.6 mi away (27,555 pop)
- Petaluma, CA – 14.7 mi away (66,940 pop)
- Sonoma, CA – 17.2 mi away (33,923 pop)
- Napa, CA – 24.2 mi away (87,733 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited education schools are near Santa Rosa, CA?
Our directory has 46 accredited schools offering education programs near Santa Rosa. The closest is Sonoma State University in Rohnert Park, CA (7.5 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is University of San Francisco (48.3 miles). 0 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying education roles near Santa Rosa?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying education-related roles near Santa Rosa are: Education Administrator, K-12 ($145,710), Education Administrator, Postsecondary ($125,710), Educational and Career Counselor ($100,020). 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 Rohnert Park instead of Santa Rosa?
Rohnert Park, CA is 6.8 miles from Santa Rosa 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 Santa Rosa an affordable place to study education?
Santa Rosa’s median household income of $97,410 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Santa Rosa 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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