Best Online Liberal Arts Programs in Fontana, CA (2026)
Fontana, California has a population of about 211,921. The city’s median household income is $98,187 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 20.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 121 accredited schools offering liberal arts programs near Fontana, with tuition ranging from $1,420 to $44,947 per year for indexed programs. In the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area, the top-earning liberal arts-related role is Management Analyst at a median $92,680 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Liberal Arts Schools to Fontana
The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 121 schools in our directory that offer liberal arts programs near Fontana. Distances are calculated from Fontana city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Phoenix-California | Ontario, CA | 7.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Chaffey College | Rancho Cucamonga, CA | 7.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| San Bernardino Valley College | San Bernardino, CA | 8.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Riverside City College | Riverside, CA | 9.7 mi | $1,420 - $12,427 | – |
| California State University-San Bernardino | San Bernardino, CA | 9.8 mi | $7,675 - $19,555 | – |
| University of California-Riverside | Riverside, CA | 11.5 mi | $14,170 - $44,947 | – |
| California Baptist University | Riverside, CA | 11.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Loma Linda University | Loma Linda, CA | 11.8 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| La Sierra University | Riverside, CA | 13.1 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Norco College | Norco, CA | 13.9 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 Fontana
Fontana is part of the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area (BLS area code 40140). 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 | $73,740 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $69,305 |
| Management Analyst | $92,680 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $87,105 |
| Technical Writer | $81,920 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $76,992 |
| News Analyst, Reporter, or Journalist | $62,610 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $58,844 |
| Editor | $66,040 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $62,068 |
| Training and Development Specialist | $56,160 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $52,782 |
| Human Resources Specialist | $73,390 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $68,976 |
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.
Fontana at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 211,921 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $98,187 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 20.4% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 106.4 (above U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Liberal Arts-related employment in San Bernardino County | 1,774 workers, 224 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other Fontana-Area Cities With Liberal Arts Programs
- Rialto, CA – 4.2 mi away (103,314 pop)
- Rancho Cucamonga, CA – 6.4 mi away (176,534 pop)
- Colton, CA – 8.2 mi away (54,712 pop)
- Ontario, CA – 9.3 mi away (173,212 pop)
- San Bernardino, CA – 10.0 mi away (216,239 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited liberal arts schools are near Fontana, CA?
Our directory has 121 accredited schools offering liberal arts programs near Fontana. The closest is University of Phoenix-California in Ontario, CA (7.4 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Norco College (13.9 miles). 0 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying liberal arts roles near Fontana?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying liberal arts-related roles near Fontana are: Management Analyst ($92,680), Technical Writer ($81,920), Public Relations Specialist ($73,740). 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 Rialto instead of Fontana?
Rialto, CA is 4.2 miles from Fontana 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 Fontana an affordable place to study liberal arts?
Fontana’s median household income of $98,187 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Fontana 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
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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