Best Online Education Programs in Chester, PA (2026)
Chester, Pennsylvania has a population of about 33,209. The city’s median household income is $39,809 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 13.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 167 accredited schools offering education programs near Chester, with tuition ranging from $13,920 to $80,014 per year for indexed programs. In the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area, the top-earning education-related role is Education Administrator, K-12 at a median $127,120 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Education Schools to Chester
The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 167 schools in our directory that offer education programs near Chester. Distances are calculated from Chester city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Widener University | Chester, PA | 1.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Neumann University | Aston, PA | 4.1 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Swarthmore College | Swarthmore, PA | 4.2 mi | $62,412 - $80,014 | – |
| Delaware County Community College | Media, PA | 8.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Cheyney University of Pennsylvania | Cheyney, PA | 10.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Salem Community College | Carneys Point, NJ | 11.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Strayer University-Delaware | Wilmington, DE | 11.7 mi | $13,920 | – |
| Haverford College | Haverford, PA | 11.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| University of Pennsylvania | Philadelphia, PA | 11.9 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Drexel University | Philadelphia, PA | 12.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Pennsylvania schools on the Pennsylvania education page.
Education Wages Near Chester
Chester is part of the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area (BLS area code 37980). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Pennsylvania statewide.
| Occupation | Median Wage | Source | COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Secondary School Teacher | $78,440 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $76,452 |
| Elementary School Teacher | $74,480 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $72,593 |
| Middle School Teacher | $77,030 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $75,078 |
| Education Teacher, Postsecondary | $64,820 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $63,177 |
| Education Administrator, K-12 | $127,120 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $123,899 |
| Education Administrator, Postsecondary | $108,200 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $105,458 |
| Tutor | $38,520 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $37,544 |
| Educational and Career Counselor | $66,940 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $65,244 |
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.
Chester at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 33,209 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $39,809 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 13.3% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 102.6 (above U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Education-related employment in Delaware County | 12,233 workers, 274 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other Chester-Area Cities With Education Programs
- Wilmington, DE – 11.3 mi away (71,442 pop)
- Camden, NJ – 15.4 mi away (74,420 pop)
- Philadelphia, PA – 16.9 mi away (5,591,554 pop)
- Norristown, PA – 19.2 mi away (34,370 pop)
- Newark, DE – 23.5 mi away (33,398 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited education schools are near Chester, PA?
Our directory has 167 accredited schools offering education programs near Chester. The closest is Widener University in Chester, PA (1.4 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Drexel University (12.3 miles). 0 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying education roles near Chester?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying education-related roles near Chester are: Education Administrator, K-12 ($127,120), Education Administrator, Postsecondary ($108,200), Secondary School Teacher ($78,440). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Pennsylvania statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Should I look at programs in Wilmington instead of Chester?
Wilmington, DE is 11.3 miles from Chester and has its own set of local education programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.
Is Chester an affordable place to study education?
Chester’s median household income of $39,809 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Chester while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Pennsylvania 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
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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