Jonesboro, Arkansas has a population of about 79,187. The city’s median household income is $52,559 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 29.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited engineering programs within 100 miles of Jonesboro, with tuition ranging from $7,754 to $22,823 per year. In Arkansas, the top-earning engineering-related role is Aerospace Engineer at a median $103,900 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 Jonesboro city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arkansas State University | Jonesboro, AR | 1.7 mi | $7,754 - $22,823 | – |
| Arkansas State University-Newport | Newport, AR | 31.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Black River Technical College | Pocahontas, AR | 32.8 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Arkansas Northeastern College | Blytheville, AR | 42.9 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| University of Arkansas Community College-Batesville | Batesville, AR | 52.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Arkansas schools on the Arkansas engineering page.
Jonesboro is part of the Jonesboro, AR metro area (BLS area code 27860). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Arkansas statewide.
| Occupation | Median Wage | Source | COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineer | $79,660 | Jonesboro, AR | $92,736 |
| Electrical Engineer | $92,580 | Jonesboro, AR | $107,776 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $74,530 | Jonesboro, AR | $86,764 |
| Chemical Engineer | $99,020 | AR statewide | $115,274 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $103,900 | AR statewide | $120,955 |
| Biomedical Engineer | N/A | AR statewide | – |
| Environmental Engineer | $84,600 | AR statewide | $98,487 |
| Architectural and Engineering Manager | $96,210 | Jonesboro, AR | $112,002 |
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 | 79,187 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $52,559 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 29.8% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 85.9 (below U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Engineering-related employment in Craighead County | 180 workers, 30 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Our directory lists 5 engineering programs within 100 miles of Jonesboro. The closest is Arkansas State University in Jonesboro, AR (1.7 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is University of Arkansas Community College-Batesville (52.5 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying engineering-related roles near Jonesboro are: Aerospace Engineer ($103,900), Chemical Engineer ($99,020), Architectural and Engineering Manager ($96,210). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Arkansas statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Paragould, AR is 18.7 miles from Jonesboro 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.
Jonesboro’s median household income of $52,559 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Jonesboro while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Arkansas 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 Arkansas (2026)