Best Online Liberal Arts Programs in Sacramento, CA (2026)
Sacramento, California has a population of about 524,802. The city’s median household income is $83,753 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 36.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited liberal arts programs within 100 miles of Sacramento, with tuition ranging from $15,247 to $46,024 per year. In the Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA metro area, the top-earning liberal arts-related role is Public Relations Specialist at a median $85,360 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Liberal Arts Schools to Sacramento
The five accredited institutions below are the closest options indexed in our directory that offer liberal arts programs. Distances are calculated from Sacramento city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of California-Davis | Davis, CA | 17.6 mi | $15,247 - $46,024 | – |
| Santa Rosa Junior College | Santa Rosa, CA | 68.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Laney College | Oakland, CA | 68.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Golden Gate University | San Francisco, CA | 73.8 mi | $31,243 | – |
| University of California-San Francisco | San Francisco, CA | 77.3 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 Sacramento
Sacramento is part of the Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA metro area (BLS area code 40900). 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 | $85,360 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $80,000 |
| Management Analyst | $82,180 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $77,020 |
| Technical Writer | $80,390 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $75,342 |
| News Analyst, Reporter, or Journalist | $74,820 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $70,122 |
| Editor | $75,260 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $70,534 |
| Training and Development Specialist | $71,120 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $66,654 |
| Human Resources Specialist | $79,630 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $74,630 |
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.
Sacramento at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 524,802 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $83,753 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 36.4% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 106.7 (above U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Liberal Arts-related employment in Sacramento County | 2,856 workers, 234 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other Sacramento-Area Cities With Liberal Arts Programs
- West Sacramento, CA – 4.5 mi away (52,981 pop)
- Elk Grove, CA – 11.4 mi away (169,743 pop)
- Rancho Cordova, CA – 11.7 mi away (72,326 pop)
- Citrus Heights, CA – 13.2 mi away (87,432 pop)
- Davis, CA – 14.5 mi away (75,553 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited liberal arts programs are near Sacramento, CA?
Our directory lists 5 liberal arts programs within 100 miles of Sacramento. The closest is University of California-Davis in Davis, CA (17.6 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is University of California-San Francisco (77.3 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.
What are the highest-paying liberal arts roles near Sacramento?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying liberal arts-related roles near Sacramento are: Public Relations Specialist ($85,360), Management Analyst ($82,180), Technical Writer ($80,390). 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 West Sacramento instead of Sacramento?
West Sacramento, CA is 4.5 miles from Sacramento 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 Sacramento an affordable place to study liberal arts?
Sacramento’s median household income of $83,753 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Sacramento 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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