Lompoc, California has a population of about 43,819. The city’s median household income is $70,038 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 12.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There is 1 accredited liberal arts program within 100 miles of Lompoc. In the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area, the top-earning liberal arts-related role is Technical Writer at a median $109,480 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
The five accredited institutions below are the closest options indexed in our directory that offer liberal arts programs. Distances are calculated from Lompoc city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California State University-Channel Islands | Camarillo, CA | 88.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all California schools on the California liberal arts page.
Lompoc is part of the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area (BLS area code 42200). 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 | $79,110 | Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $72,711 |
| Management Analyst | $102,260 | Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $93,989 |
| Technical Writer | $109,480 | Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $100,625 |
| News Analyst, Reporter, or Journalist | $53,680 | Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $49,338 |
| Editor | $66,980 | Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $61,562 |
| Training and Development Specialist | $60,170 | Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $55,303 |
| Human Resources Specialist | $77,880 | Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $71,581 |
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.
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 43,819 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $70,038 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 12.8% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 108.8 (above U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Liberal Arts-related employment in Santa Barbara County | 1,225 workers, 148 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Our directory lists 1 liberal arts programs within 100 miles of Lompoc. The closest is California State University-Channel Islands in Camarillo, CA (88.2 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is California State University-Channel Islands (88.2 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying liberal arts-related roles near Lompoc are: Technical Writer ($109,480), Management Analyst ($102,260), Public Relations Specialist ($79,110). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with California statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Santa Maria, CA is 18.8 miles from Lompoc 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.
Lompoc’s median household income of $70,038 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Lompoc while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and California public universities often offer reduced in-state online tuition.
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.
Return to Best Online Liberal Arts Programs in California (2026)