Best Online Engineering Programs in East Palo Alto, CA (2026)
East Palo Alto, California has a population of about 29,143. The city’s median household income is $104,832 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 25.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited engineering programs within 100 miles of East Palo Alto. In the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area, the top-earning engineering-related role is Architectural and Engineering Manager at a median $208,580 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Engineering Schools to East Palo Alto
The five accredited institutions below are the closest options indexed in our directory that offer engineering programs. Distances are calculated from East Palo Alto city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stanford University | Stanford, CA | 3.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Foothill College | Los Altos Hills, CA | 7.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Mission College | Santa Clara, CA | 9.8 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| De Anza College | Cupertino, CA | 11.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Chabot College | Hayward, CA | 12.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all California schools on the California engineering page.
Engineering Wages Near East Palo Alto
East Palo Alto is part of the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area (BLS area code 41860). 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 | $126,560 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $109,481 |
| Electrical Engineer | $163,840 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $141,730 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $145,640 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $125,986 |
| Chemical Engineer | N/A | CA statewide | – |
| Aerospace Engineer | $160,000 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $138,408 |
| Biomedical Engineer | $136,720 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $118,270 |
| Environmental Engineer | $142,000 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $122,837 |
| Architectural and Engineering Manager | $208,580 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $180,433 |
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.
East Palo Alto at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 29,143 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $104,832 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 25.8% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 115.6 (above U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Engineering-related employment in San Mateo County | 3,959 workers, 394 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other East Palo Alto-Area Cities With Engineering Programs
- Menlo Park, CA – 1.7 mi away (33,888 pop)
- Palo Alto, CA – 5.2 mi away (67,024 pop)
- Mountain View, CA – 5.5 mi away (80,447 pop)
- Redwood City, CA – 5.5 mi away (84,950 pop)
- Newark, CA – 6.8 mi away (45,810 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited engineering programs are near East Palo Alto, CA?
Our directory lists 5 engineering programs within 100 miles of East Palo Alto. The closest is Stanford University in Stanford, CA (3.4 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Chabot College (12.2 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.
What are the highest-paying engineering roles near East Palo Alto?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying engineering-related roles near East Palo Alto are: Architectural and Engineering Manager ($208,580), Electrical Engineer ($163,840), Aerospace Engineer ($160,000). 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 Menlo Park instead of East Palo Alto?
Menlo Park, CA is 1.7 miles from East Palo Alto 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 East Palo Alto an affordable place to study engineering?
East Palo Alto’s median household income of $104,832 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in East Palo Alto 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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