Best Online Liberal Arts Programs in El Cerrito, CA (2026)
El Cerrito, California has a population of about 5,121. The city’s median household income is $122,472 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 14.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited liberal arts programs within 100 miles of El Cerrito, with tuition ranging from $31,243 to $31,243 per year. In the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area, the top-earning liberal arts-related role is Technical Writer at a median $130,850 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Liberal Arts Schools to El Cerrito
The five accredited institutions below are the closest options indexed in our directory that offer liberal arts programs. Distances are calculated from El Cerrito city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laney College | Oakland, CA | 9.0 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Golden Gate University | San Francisco, CA | 10.4 mi | $31,243 | – |
| University of California-San Francisco | San Francisco, CA | 13.8 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| City College of San Francisco | San Francisco, CA | 15.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| San Francisco State University | San Francisco, CA | 16.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all California schools on the California liberal arts page.
Liberal Arts Wages Near El Cerrito
El Cerrito 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public Relations Specialist | $98,460 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $85,173 |
| Management Analyst | $128,120 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $110,830 |
| Technical Writer | $130,850 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $113,192 |
| News Analyst, Reporter, or Journalist | $102,240 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $88,443 |
| Editor | $99,720 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $86,263 |
| Training and Development Specialist | $92,390 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $79,922 |
| Human Resources Specialist | $100,600 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $87,024 |
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.
El Cerrito at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 5,121 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $122,472 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 14.3% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 115.6 (above U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Liberal Arts-related employment in Contra Costa County | 881 workers, 163 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other El Cerrito-Area Cities With Liberal Arts Programs
- Richmond, CA – 2.8 mi away (109,813 pop)
- Berkeley, CA – 3.6 mi away (121,240 pop)
- San Pablo, CA – 3.7 mi away (30,536 pop)
- Hercules, CA – 6.5 mi away (25,360 pop)
- Oakland, CA – 10.1 mi away (420,005 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited liberal arts programs are near El Cerrito, CA?
Our directory lists 5 liberal arts programs within 100 miles of El Cerrito. The closest is Laney College in Oakland, CA (9.0 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is San Francisco State University (16.7 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.
What are the highest-paying liberal arts roles near El Cerrito?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying liberal arts-related roles near El Cerrito are: Technical Writer ($130,850), Management Analyst ($128,120), News Analyst, Reporter, or Journalist ($102,240). 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 Richmond instead of El Cerrito?
Richmond, CA is 2.8 miles from El Cerrito and has its own set of local liberal arts programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.
Is El Cerrito an affordable place to study liberal arts?
El Cerrito’s median household income of $122,472 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in El Cerrito 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
- Online Liberal Arts Programs in California
- Main Liberal Arts Degree Guide
- Liberal Arts Programs by State
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