Best Online Liberal Arts Programs in Seaside, CA (2026)
Seaside, California has a population of about 31,964. The city’s median household income is $82,303 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 27.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 55 accredited schools offering liberal arts programs near Seaside, with tuition ranging from $1,404 to $45,337 per year for indexed programs. In California, the top-earning liberal arts-related role is Technical Writer at a median $100,440 annually (BLS, May 2024).
Closest Liberal Arts Schools to Seaside
The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 55 schools in our directory that offer liberal arts programs near Seaside. Distances are calculated from Seaside city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California State University-Monterey Bay | Seaside, CA | 2.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Naval Postgraduate School | Monterey, CA | 3.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Monterey Peninsula College | Monterey, CA | 4.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey | Monterey, CA | 4.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Hartnell College | Salinas, CA | 9.2 mi | $1,404 - $12,050 | – |
| Cabrillo College | Aptos, CA | 26.0 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Gavilan College | Gilroy, CA | 27.9 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| University of California-Santa Cruz | Santa Cruz, CA | 29.0 mi | $14,560 - $45,337 | – |
| West Valley College | Saratoga, CA | 45.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Evergreen Valley College | San Jose, CA | 47.0 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 Seaside
Seaside is part of the Salinas, CA metro area (BLS area code 41500). 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 | $76,320 | Salinas, CA | $70,018 |
| Management Analyst | $95,270 | Salinas, CA | $87,404 |
| Technical Writer | $100,440 | CA statewide | $92,147 |
| News Analyst, Reporter, or Journalist | $58,610 | Salinas, CA | $53,771 |
| Editor | $69,090 | Salinas, CA | $63,385 |
| Training and Development Specialist | $67,400 | Salinas, CA | $61,835 |
| Human Resources Specialist | $79,240 | Salinas, CA | $72,697 |
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.
Seaside at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 31,964 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $82,303 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 27.5% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 109.0 (above U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Liberal Arts-related employment in Monterey County | 1,147 workers, 80 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other Seaside-Area Cities With Liberal Arts Programs
- Monterey, CA – 4.0 mi away (28,454 pop)
- Marina, CA – 4.4 mi away (21,688 pop)
- Salinas, CA – 11.3 mi away (193,126 pop)
- Watsonville, CA – 20.8 mi away (77,266 pop)
- Santa Cruz, CA – 27.4 mi away (176,037 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited liberal arts schools are near Seaside, CA?
Our directory has 55 accredited schools offering liberal arts programs near Seaside. The closest is California State University-Monterey Bay in Seaside, CA (2.4 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Evergreen Valley College (47.0 miles). 0 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying liberal arts roles near Seaside?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying liberal arts-related roles near Seaside are: Technical Writer ($100,440), Management Analyst ($95,270), Human Resources Specialist ($79,240). 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 Monterey instead of Seaside?
Monterey, CA is 4.0 miles from Seaside 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 Seaside an affordable place to study liberal arts?
Seaside’s median household income of $82,303 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Seaside 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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