Best Online Healthcare Programs in Santa Cruz, CA (2026)
Santa Cruz, California has a population of about 60,953. The city’s median household income is $111,427 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 57.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited healthcare programs within 100 miles of Santa Cruz. In the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area, the top-earning healthcare-related role is Medical and Health Services Manager at a median $136,030 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Healthcare Schools to Santa Cruz
The five accredited institutions below are the closest options indexed in our directory that offer healthcare programs. Distances are calculated from Santa Cruz city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cabrillo College | Aptos, CA | 6.1 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| CET-Watsonville | Watsonville, CA | 15.1 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| West Valley College | Saratoga, CA | 19.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| De Anza College | Cupertino, CA | 23.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Carrington College-San Jose | San Jose, CA | 23.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all California schools on the California healthcare page.
Healthcare Wages Near Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz is part of the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area (BLS area code 42100). 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical and Health Services Manager | $136,030 | Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $123,776 |
| Health Information Technologist or Medical Registrar | $95,340 | CA statewide | $86,752 |
| Medical Records Specialist | $52,550 | Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $47,816 |
| Medical Secretary or Administrative Assistant | $49,880 | Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $45,387 |
| Healthcare Social Worker | $93,230 | Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $84,832 |
| Epidemiologist | $100,410 | CA statewide | $91,365 |
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 Cruz at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 60,953 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $111,427 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 57.7% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 109.9 (above U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Healthcare-related employment in Santa Cruz County | 16,901 workers, 3,345 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other Santa Cruz-Area Cities With Healthcare Programs
- Watsonville, CA – 15.1 mi away (77,266 pop)
- Los Gatos, CA – 17.9 mi away (30,545 pop)
- Saratoga, CA – 20.0 mi away (30,767 pop)
- Campbell, CA – 21.3 mi away (40,939 pop)
- Cupertino, CA – 23.4 mi away (60,643 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited healthcare programs are near Santa Cruz, CA?
Our directory lists 5 healthcare programs within 100 miles of Santa Cruz. The closest is Cabrillo College in Aptos, CA (6.1 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Carrington College-San Jose (23.4 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.
What are the highest-paying healthcare roles near Santa Cruz?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying healthcare-related roles near Santa Cruz are: Medical and Health Services Manager ($136,030), Epidemiologist ($100,410), Health Information Technologist or Medical Registrar ($95,340). 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 Watsonville instead of Santa Cruz?
Watsonville, CA is 15.1 miles from Santa Cruz and has its own set of local healthcare programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.
Is Santa Cruz an affordable place to study healthcare?
Santa Cruz’s median household income of $111,427 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Santa Cruz 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.
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