Best Online Engineering Programs in Downey, CA (2026)
Downey, California has a population of about 111,793. The city’s median household income is $87,400 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 25.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 86 accredited schools offering engineering programs near Downey, with tuition ranging from $1,388 to $19,308 per year for indexed programs. In the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area, the top-earning engineering-related role is Architectural and Engineering Manager at a median $181,400 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Engineering Schools to Downey
The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 86 schools in our directory that offer engineering programs near Downey. Distances are calculated from Downey city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cerritos College | Norwalk, CA | 4.0 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Compton College | Compton, CA | 6.1 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Whittier College | Whittier, CA | 6.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Biola University | La Mirada, CA | 7.0 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| East Los Angeles College | Monterey Park, CA | 7.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Long Beach City College | Long Beach, CA | 7.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Rio Hondo College | Whittier, CA | 8.0 mi | $1,388 - $19,308 | – |
| California State University-Dominguez Hills | Carson, CA | 8.8 mi | $7,064 - $18,944 | – |
| California State University-Los Angeles | Los Angeles, CA | 9.2 mi | $6,813 - $18,698 | – |
| Cypress College | Cypress, CA | 9.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all California schools on the California engineering page.
Engineering Wages Near Downey
Downey is part of the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area (BLS area code 31080). 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 | $105,290 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $92,685 |
| Electrical Engineer | $134,900 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $118,750 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $114,290 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $100,607 |
| Chemical Engineer | $122,950 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $108,231 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $143,860 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $126,637 |
| Biomedical Engineer | $115,020 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $101,250 |
| Environmental Engineer | $119,780 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $105,440 |
| Architectural and Engineering Manager | $181,400 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $159,683 |
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.
Downey at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 111,793 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $87,400 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 25.6% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 113.6 (above U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Engineering-related employment in Los Angeles County | 46,423 workers, 7,228 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other Downey-Area Cities With Engineering Programs
- Bell Gardens, CA – 2.4 mi away (42,806 pop)
- Paramount, CA – 3.4 mi away (54,909 pop)
- Cudahy, CA – 3.4 mi away (24,098 pop)
- Bellflower, CA – 3.5 mi away (77,790 pop)
- Norwalk, CA – 3.5 mi away (106,178 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited engineering schools are near Downey, CA?
Our directory has 86 accredited schools offering engineering programs near Downey. The closest is Cerritos College in Norwalk, CA (4.0 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Cypress College (9.7 miles). 0 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying engineering roles near Downey?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying engineering-related roles near Downey are: Architectural and Engineering Manager ($181,400), Aerospace Engineer ($143,860), Electrical Engineer ($134,900). 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 Bell Gardens instead of Downey?
Bell Gardens, CA is 2.4 miles from Downey 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 Downey an affordable place to study engineering?
Downey’s median household income of $87,400 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Downey 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
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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