Gilbert, Arizona has a population of about 271,118. The city’s median household income is $121,351 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 47.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited engineering programs within 100 miles of Gilbert, with tuition ranging from $12,280 to $23,864 per year. In Arizona, the top-earning engineering-related role is Architectural and Engineering Manager at a median $172,680 annually (BLS, May 2024).
The five accredited institutions below are the closest options indexed in our directory that offer engineering programs. Distances are calculated from Gilbert city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chandler-Gilbert Community College | Chandler, AZ | 2.9 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Mesa Community College | Mesa, AZ | 9.0 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Arizona State University Campus Immersion | Tempe, AZ | 13.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| University of Advancing Technology | Tempe, AZ | 14.1 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Sonoran Desert Institute | Tempe, AZ | 14.7 mi | $12,280 - $23,864 | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Arizona schools on the Arizona engineering page.
Gilbert is part of the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ metro area (BLS area code 38060). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Arizona statewide.
| Occupation | Median Wage | Source | COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineer | $95,400 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $92,352 |
| Electrical Engineer | $109,820 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $106,312 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $102,300 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $99,032 |
| Chemical Engineer | $125,050 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $121,055 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $139,260 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $134,811 |
| Biomedical Engineer | $120,310 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $116,467 |
| Environmental Engineer | $93,390 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $90,407 |
| Architectural and Engineering Manager | $172,680 | AZ statewide | $167,164 |
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.
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 271,118 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $121,351 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 47.5% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 103.3 (above U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Engineering-related employment in Maricopa County | 27,811 workers, 3,611 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Our directory lists 5 engineering programs within 100 miles of Gilbert. The closest is Chandler-Gilbert Community College in Chandler, AZ (2.9 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Sonoran Desert Institute (14.7 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying engineering-related roles near Gilbert are: Architectural and Engineering Manager ($172,680), Aerospace Engineer ($139,260), Chemical Engineer ($125,050). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Arizona statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Chandler, AZ is 6.4 miles from Gilbert and has its own set of local engineering programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.
Gilbert’s median household income of $121,351 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Gilbert while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Arizona public universities often offer reduced in-state online tuition.
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.
Return to Best Online Engineering Programs in Arizona (2026)