Best Online Liberal Arts Programs in Santa Monica, CA (2026)
Santa Monica, California has a population of about 91,535. The city’s median household income is $109,739 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 68.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 111 accredited schools offering liberal arts programs near Santa Monica, with tuition ranging from $6,920 to $44,524 per year for indexed programs. In the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area, the top-earning liberal arts-related role is Management Analyst at a median $107,470 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Liberal Arts Schools to Santa Monica
The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 111 schools in our directory that offer liberal arts programs near Santa Monica. Distances are calculated from Santa Monica city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Monica College | Santa Monica, CA | 0.8 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| University of California-Los Angeles | Los Angeles, CA | 4.0 mi | $13,747 - $44,524 | – |
| Mount Saint Mary’s University | Los Angeles, CA | 4.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Loyola Marymount University | Los Angeles, CA | 5.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| West Los Angeles College | Culver City, CA | 5.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Antioch University-Los Angeles | Culver City, CA | 6.0 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Los Angeles Valley College | Valley Glen, CA | 11.0 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| University of Southern California | Los Angeles, CA | 11.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| World Mission University | Los Angeles, CA | 11.4 mi | $6,920 - $22,556 | – |
| Los Angeles City College | Los Angeles, CA | 11.7 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 Santa Monica
Santa Monica is part of the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area (BLS area code 31080). 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 | $77,380 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $68,116 |
| Management Analyst | $107,470 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $94,604 |
| Technical Writer | $100,440 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $88,415 |
| News Analyst, Reporter, or Journalist | $89,620 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $78,891 |
| Editor | $90,570 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $79,727 |
| Training and Development Specialist | $73,350 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $64,569 |
| Human Resources Specialist | $79,330 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $69,833 |
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.
Santa Monica at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 91,535 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $109,739 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 68.9% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 113.6 (above U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Liberal Arts-related employment in Los Angeles County | 56,719 workers, 18,615 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other Santa Monica-Area Cities With Liberal Arts Programs
- Culver City, CA – 5.0 mi away (39,364 pop)
- Beverly Hills, CA – 5.9 mi away (34,687 pop)
- Los Angeles, CA – 7.6 mi away (12,740,381 pop)
- West Hollywood, CA – 7.7 mi away (36,698 pop)
- Inglewood, CA – 9.1 mi away (110,654 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited liberal arts schools are near Santa Monica, CA?
Our directory has 111 accredited schools offering liberal arts programs near Santa Monica. The closest is Santa Monica College in Santa Monica, CA (0.8 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Los Angeles City College (11.7 miles). 0 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying liberal arts roles near Santa Monica?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying liberal arts-related roles near Santa Monica are: Management Analyst ($107,470), Technical Writer ($100,440), Editor ($90,570). 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 Culver City instead of Santa Monica?
Culver City, CA is 5.0 miles from Santa Monica 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 Santa Monica an affordable place to study liberal arts?
Santa Monica’s median household income of $109,739 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Santa Monica 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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