Best Online Liberal Arts Programs in San Mateo, CA (2026)
San Mateo, California has a population of about 103,555. The city’s median household income is $152,669 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 57.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited liberal arts programs within 100 miles of San Mateo. 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 San Mateo
The five accredited institutions below are the closest options indexed in our directory that offer liberal arts programs. Distances are calculated from San Mateo city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stanford University | Stanford, CA | 11.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| City College of San Francisco | San Francisco, CA | 14.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| San Francisco State University | San Francisco, CA | 14.9 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| University of California-San Francisco | San Francisco, CA | 16.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Laney College | Oakland, CA | 17.0 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 San Mateo
San Mateo 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.
San Mateo at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 103,555 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $152,669 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 57.6% | 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 San Mateo County | 729 workers, 124 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other San Mateo-Area Cities With Liberal Arts Programs
- Foster City, CA – 2.5 mi away (34,175 pop)
- Belmont, CA – 2.7 mi away (27,081 pop)
- Burlingame, CA – 3.8 mi away (30,301 pop)
- San Carlos, CA – 4.4 mi away (29,797 pop)
- Redwood City, CA – 5.9 mi away (84,950 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited liberal arts programs are near San Mateo, CA?
Our directory lists 5 liberal arts programs within 100 miles of San Mateo. The closest is Stanford University in Stanford, CA (11.6 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Laney College (17.0 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.
What are the highest-paying liberal arts roles near San Mateo?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying liberal arts-related roles near San Mateo 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 Foster City instead of San Mateo?
Foster City, CA is 2.5 miles from San Mateo 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 San Mateo an affordable place to study liberal arts?
San Mateo’s median household income of $152,669 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in San Mateo 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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