Best Online Engineering Programs in Desert Hot Springs, CA (2026)
Desert Hot Springs, California has a population of about 32,786. The city’s median household income is $50,349 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 15.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited engineering programs within 100 miles of Desert Hot Springs, with tuition ranging from $14,170 to $44,947 per year. In the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area, the top-earning engineering-related role is Architectural and Engineering Manager at a median $170,180 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Engineering Schools to Desert Hot Springs
The five accredited institutions below are the closest options indexed in our directory that offer engineering programs. Distances are calculated from Desert Hot Springs city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| College of the Desert | Palm Desert, CA | 16.1 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Mt San Jacinto Community College District | San Jacinto, CA | 27.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Summit College | San Bernardino, CA | 42.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| San Bernardino Valley College | San Bernardino, CA | 44.9 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| University of California-Riverside | Riverside, CA | 45.7 mi | $14,170 - $44,947 | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all California schools on the California engineering page.
Engineering Wages Near Desert Hot Springs
Desert Hot Springs is part of the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area (BLS area code 40140). 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineer | $109,250 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $102,679 |
| Electrical Engineer | $109,360 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $102,782 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $101,800 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $95,677 |
| Chemical Engineer | N/A | CA statewide | – |
| Aerospace Engineer | $126,220 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $118,628 |
| Biomedical Engineer | $122,520 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $115,150 |
| Environmental Engineer | $109,830 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $103,224 |
| Architectural and Engineering Manager | $170,180 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $159,944 |
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.
Desert Hot Springs at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 32,786 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $50,349 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 15.9% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 106.4 (above U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Engineering-related employment in Riverside County | 5,469 workers, 894 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other Desert Hot Springs-Area Cities With Engineering Programs
- Cathedral City, CA – 9.3 mi away (54,056 pop)
- Palm Springs, CA – 10.6 mi away (47,689 pop)
- Yucca Valley, CA – 13.5 mi away (24,899 pop)
- Palm Desert, CA – 18.0 mi away (52,231 pop)
- Banning, CA – 20.4 mi away (31,026 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited engineering programs are near Desert Hot Springs, CA?
Our directory lists 5 engineering programs within 100 miles of Desert Hot Springs. The closest is College of the Desert in Palm Desert, CA (16.1 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is University of California-Riverside (45.7 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.
What are the highest-paying engineering roles near Desert Hot Springs?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying engineering-related roles near Desert Hot Springs are: Architectural and Engineering Manager ($170,180), Aerospace Engineer ($126,220), Biomedical Engineer ($122,520). 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 Cathedral City instead of Desert Hot Springs?
Cathedral City, CA is 9.3 miles from Desert Hot Springs 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.
Is Desert Hot Springs an affordable place to study engineering?
Desert Hot Springs’s median household income of $50,349 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Desert Hot Springs 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
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