Best Online Engineering Programs in Irvine, CA (2026)
Irvine, California has a population of about 308,160. The city’s median household income is $129,647 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 70.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 89 accredited schools offering engineering programs near Irvine, with tuition ranging from $1,156 to $45,014 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 Irvine
The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 89 schools in our directory that offer engineering programs near Irvine. Distances are calculated from Irvine city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Irvine Valley College | Irvine, CA | 0.2 mi | $1,156 - $11,750 | – |
| University of California-Irvine | Irvine, CA | 4.4 mi | $14,237 - $45,014 | – |
| Orange Coast College | Costa Mesa, CA | 7.8 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Santiago Canyon College | Orange, CA | 8.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Santa Ana College | Santa Ana, CA | 8.7 mi | $1,180 - $11,848 | – |
| Chapman University | Orange, CA | 9.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Saddleback College | Mission Viejo, CA | 10.6 mi | $1,432 - $13,732 | – |
| Golden West College | Huntington Beach, CA | 13.7 mi | $1,196 - $12,206 | – |
| Southern California Institute of Technology | Anaheim, CA | 15.1 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| California State University-Fullerton | Fullerton, CA | 15.5 mi | $7,073 - $18,953 | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all California schools on the California engineering page.
Engineering Wages Near Irvine
Irvine 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.
Irvine at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 308,160 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $129,647 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 70.6% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 113.6 (above U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Engineering-related employment in Orange County | 29,431 workers, 3,059 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other Irvine-Area Cities With Engineering Programs
- Tustin, CA – 4.3 mi away (80,395 pop)
- Lake Forest, CA – 6.0 mi away (83,240 pop)
- Newport Beach, CA – 6.9 mi away (86,688 pop)
- Aliso Viejo, CA – 7.2 mi away (51,424 pop)
- Laguna Hills, CA – 7.3 mi away (31,509 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited engineering schools are near Irvine, CA?
Our directory has 89 accredited schools offering engineering programs near Irvine. The closest is Irvine Valley College in Irvine, CA (0.2 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is California State University-Fullerton (15.5 miles). 0 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying engineering roles near Irvine?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying engineering-related roles near Irvine 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 Tustin instead of Irvine?
Tustin, CA is 4.3 miles from Irvine 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 Irvine an affordable place to study engineering?
Irvine’s median household income of $129,647 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Irvine 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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