Best Online Liberal Arts Programs in Oakley, CA (2026)
Oakley, California has a population of about 44,311. The city’s median household income is $132,067 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 23.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 74 accredited schools offering liberal arts programs near Oakley, with tuition ranging from $1,168 to $20,286 per year for indexed programs. 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 Oakley
The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 74 schools in our directory that offer liberal arts programs near Oakley. Distances are calculated from Oakley city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Medanos College | Pittsburg, CA | 9.1 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Las Positas College | Livermore, CA | 20.3 mi | $1,168 - $14,810 | – |
| San Joaquin Delta College | Stockton, CA | 20.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Humphreys University-Stockton and Modesto Campuses | Stockton, CA | 20.6 mi | $14,760 - $20,286 | – |
| Diablo Valley College | Pleasant Hill, CA | 20.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| University of the Pacific | Stockton, CA | 20.9 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Saint Mary’s College of California | Moraga, CA | 24.9 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Solano Community College | Fairfield, CA | 28.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Merritt College | Oakland, CA | 29.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| California State University Maritime Academy | Vallejo, CA | 29.7 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 Oakley
Oakley 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.
Oakley at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 44,311 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $132,067 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 23.2% | 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 Oakley-Area Cities With Liberal Arts Programs
- Brentwood, CA – 4.2 mi away (60,532 pop)
- Antioch, CA – 5.6 mi away (300,780 pop)
- Pittsburg, CA – 11.1 mi away (70,679 pop)
- Concord, CA – 16.8 mi away (649,437 pop)
- Danville, CA – 19.5 mi away (44,631 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited liberal arts schools are near Oakley, CA?
Our directory has 74 accredited schools offering liberal arts programs near Oakley. The closest is Los Medanos College in Pittsburg, CA (9.1 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is California State University Maritime Academy (29.7 miles). 0 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying liberal arts roles near Oakley?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying liberal arts-related roles near Oakley 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 Brentwood instead of Oakley?
Brentwood, CA is 4.2 miles from Oakley 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 Oakley an affordable place to study liberal arts?
Oakley’s median household income of $132,067 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Oakley 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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