Best Online Liberal Arts Programs in South El Monte, CA (2026)
South El Monte, California has a population of about 19,413. The city’s median household income is $67,153 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 10.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 117 accredited schools offering liberal arts programs near South El Monte, with tuition ranging from $1,180 to $19,308 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 South El Monte
The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 117 schools in our directory that offer liberal arts programs near South El Monte. Distances are calculated from South El Monte city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of the West | Rosemead, CA | 2.0 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Rio Hondo College | Whittier, CA | 2.2 mi | $1,388 - $19,308 | – |
| Whittier College | Whittier, CA | 5.0 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| East Los Angeles College | Monterey Park, CA | 5.8 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| California State University-Los Angeles | Los Angeles, CA | 7.0 mi | $6,813 - $18,698 | – |
| California Institute of Technology | Pasadena, CA | 7.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Pasadena City College | Pasadena, CA | 7.7 mi | $1,180 - $12,166 | – |
| Providence Christian College | Pasadena, CA | 8.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Saybrook University | Pasadena, CA | 9.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Biola University | La Mirada, CA | 10.1 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 South El Monte
South El Monte 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.
South El Monte at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 19,413 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $67,153 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 10.2% | 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 South El Monte-Area Cities With Liberal Arts Programs
- El Monte, CA – 2.0 mi away (115,807 pop)
- Rosemead, CA – 2.4 mi away (54,500 pop)
- Temple City, CA – 3.7 mi away (36,365 pop)
- Montebello, CA – 4.3 mi away (63,335 pop)
- San Gabriel, CA – 4.3 mi away (40,404 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited liberal arts schools are near South El Monte, CA?
Our directory has 117 accredited schools offering liberal arts programs near South El Monte. The closest is University of the West in Rosemead, CA (2.0 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Biola University (10.1 miles). 0 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying liberal arts roles near South El Monte?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying liberal arts-related roles near South El Monte 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 El Monte instead of South El Monte?
El Monte, CA is 2.0 miles from South El Monte 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 South El Monte an affordable place to study liberal arts?
South El Monte’s median household income of $67,153 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in South El Monte 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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