Best Online Engineering Programs in Garden Grove, CA (2026)
Garden Grove, California has a population of about 170,603. The city’s median household income is $90,166 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 24.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited engineering programs within 100 miles of Garden Grove, with tuition ranging from $1,180 to $12,206 per year. 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 Garden Grove
The five accredited institutions below are the closest options indexed in our directory that offer engineering programs. Distances are calculated from Garden Grove city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Golden West College | Huntington Beach, CA | 4.0 mi | $1,196 - $12,206 | – |
| Southern California Institute of Technology | Anaheim, CA | 4.1 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Santa Ana College | Santa Ana, CA | 4.3 mi | $1,180 - $11,848 | – |
| Cypress College | Cypress, CA | 5.0 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Fullerton College | Fullerton, CA | 7.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all California schools on the California engineering page.
Engineering Wages Near Garden Grove
Garden Grove 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.
Garden Grove at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 170,603 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $90,166 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 24.9% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 113.6 (above U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Engineering-related employment in Orange County | 29,431 workers, 3,059 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other Garden Grove-Area Cities With Engineering Programs
- Stanton, CA – 2.4 mi away (38,644 pop)
- Westminster, CA – 2.7 mi away (91,565 pop)
- Fountain Valley, CA – 4.7 mi away (56,529 pop)
- Cypress, CA – 5.2 mi away (48,906 pop)
- Santa Ana, CA – 5.4 mi away (334,217 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited engineering programs are near Garden Grove, CA?
Our directory lists 5 engineering programs within 100 miles of Garden Grove. The closest is Golden West College in Huntington Beach, CA (4.0 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Fullerton College (7.2 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.
What are the highest-paying engineering roles near Garden Grove?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying engineering-related roles near Garden Grove 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 Stanton instead of Garden Grove?
Stanton, CA is 2.4 miles from Garden Grove 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 Garden Grove an affordable place to study engineering?
Garden Grove’s median household income of $90,166 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Garden Grove 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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