Liberal Arts & Humanities Schools in California
32 California schools offer Liberal Arts & Humanities. Earnings in California are in line with the national average, so compare programs on commute, tuition, and fit rather than on statewide outcomes alone.
Liberal Arts & Humanities Training in California: What You Need to Know
Local program supply
California has 32 schools offering Liberal Arts & Humanities programs, concentrated in 6 cities including {'city': 'San Diego', 'city_slug': 'san-diego', 'count': 4, 'avg_earn': 32888.0}, {'city': 'Orange', 'city_slug': 'orange', 'count': 1, 'avg_earn': 34100.0}, {'city': 'Los Angeles', 'city_slug': 'los-angeles', 'count': 1, 'avg_earn': 32770.0}. Most students attend within 60 miles of home — local choice matters more than national rankings.
Earnings vs. national
Liberal Arts & Humanities graduates in California earn approximately $28,123/year on average, which is +2% above the national average for this trade. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
California-specific licensing
Most skilled trades require a state-issued license or certification before you can work independently. Requirements vary substantially by state. Verify California-specific licensing through the relevant state board (Department of Labor, Contractors Board, or trade-specific licensing body). Apprenticeship hours often count toward licensure.
How California compares
Average TradeSchoolOutlook Score for Liberal Arts & Humanities programs in California is 57/100. Cost of living, wage levels, and program supply all vary by state — see the school list below ranked by TradeSchoolOutlook Score, which combines earnings, debt, and job-market demand.
Liberal Arts & Humanities Programs in California
All 32 California schools offering Liberal Arts & Humanities, ranked by TradeSchoolOutlook Score. Click a school to see full earnings projections and program details.
| # | School | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Santiago Canyon College Orange, CA |
64 |
| 2 | Diablo Valley College Pleasant Hill, CA |
62 |
| 3 | Los Medanos College Pittsburg, CA |
63 |
| 4 | East Los Angeles College Monterey Park, CA |
62 |
| 5 | San Diego Mesa College San Diego, CA |
62 |
| 6 | Los Angeles Southwest College Los Angeles, CA |
60 |
| 7 | San Joaquin Delta College Stockton, CA |
61 |
| 8 | San Diego City College San Diego, CA |
62 |
| 9 | San Diego Miramar College San Diego, CA |
61 |
| 10 | National University San Diego, CA |
48 |
| 11 | College of the Desert Palm Desert, CA |
58 |
| 12 | Santa Ana College Santa Ana, CA |
59 |
| 13 | College of the Canyons Santa Clarita, CA |
59 |
| 14 | Contra Costa College San Pablo, CA |
56 |
| 15 | Gavilan College Gilroy, CA |
58 |
| 16 | Modesto Junior College Modesto, CA |
58 |
| 17 | Riverside City College Riverside, CA |
56 |
| 18 | Merced College Merced, CA |
58 |
| 19 | Cabrillo College Aptos, CA |
58 |
| 20 | West Valley College Saratoga, CA |
55 |
| 21 | Lemoore College Lemoore, CA |
56 |
| 22 | Orange Coast College Costa Mesa, CA |
54 |
| 23 | Moreno Valley College Moreno Valley, CA |
53 |
| 24 | Mt San Jacinto Community College District San Jacinto, CA |
49 |
| 25 | College of the Sequoias Visalia, CA |
53 |
| 26 | Chaffey College Rancho Cucamonga, CA |
54 |
| 27 | Coalinga College Coalinga, CA |
55 |
| 28 | Hartnell College Salinas, CA |
52 |
| 29 | Victor Valley College Victorville, CA |
52 |
| 30 | Shasta College Redding, CA |
53 |
| 31 | Saddleback College Mission Viejo, CA |
51 |
| 32 | Cerritos College Norwalk, CA |
49 |
Where Liberal Arts & Humanities Programs Cluster in California
Cities with the most Liberal Arts & Humanities programs — useful if you want to minimize commute or relocate within state.
| City | Schools | Avg Earnings |
|---|---|---|
| San Diego, CA | 4 | $32,888/yr |
| Orange, CA | 1 | $34,100/yr |
| Los Angeles, CA | 1 | $32,770/yr |
| Stockton, CA | 1 | $32,492/yr |
| Palm Desert, CA | 1 | $30,417/yr |
| Pleasant Hill, CA | 1 | $29,318/yr |
Compare Liberal Arts & Humanities in Other States
Considering a nearby state? Here's how California compares to others with strong Liberal Arts & Humanities offerings.