Best Online Engineering Programs in Los Altos, CA (2026)
Los Altos, California has a population of about 30,736. The city’s median household income is $250,001 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 87.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited engineering programs within 100 miles of Los Altos. In the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area, the top-earning engineering-related role is Architectural and Engineering Manager at a median $226,940 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Engineering Schools to Los Altos
The five accredited institutions below are the closest options indexed in our directory that offer engineering programs. Distances are calculated from Los Altos city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Foothill College | Los Altos Hills, CA | 1.8 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| De Anza College | Cupertino, CA | 4.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Stanford University | Stanford, CA | 5.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Mission College | Santa Clara, CA | 6.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Santa Clara University | Santa Clara, CA | 8.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all California schools on the California engineering page.
Engineering Wages Near Los Altos
Los Altos is part of the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area (BLS area code 41940). 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 | $129,260 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $117,083 |
| Electrical Engineer | $186,920 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $169,312 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $147,730 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $133,813 |
| Chemical Engineer | $135,610 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $122,835 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $167,340 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $151,576 |
| Biomedical Engineer | $139,490 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $126,350 |
| Environmental Engineer | $130,260 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $117,989 |
| Architectural and Engineering Manager | $226,940 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $205,562 |
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.
Los Altos at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 30,736 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $250,001 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 87.2% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 110.4 (above U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Engineering-related employment in Santa Clara County | 17,886 workers, 1,190 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other Los Altos-Area Cities With Engineering Programs
- Mountain View, CA – 2.4 mi away (80,447 pop)
- Palo Alto, CA – 3.2 mi away (67,024 pop)
- Sunnyvale, CA – 4.0 mi away (152,771 pop)
- Cupertino, CA – 4.5 mi away (60,643 pop)
- Santa Clara, CA – 7.1 mi away (125,948 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited engineering programs are near Los Altos, CA?
Our directory lists 5 engineering programs within 100 miles of Los Altos. The closest is Foothill College in Los Altos Hills, CA (1.8 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Santa Clara University (8.6 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.
What are the highest-paying engineering roles near Los Altos?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying engineering-related roles near Los Altos are: Architectural and Engineering Manager ($226,940), Electrical Engineer ($186,920), Aerospace Engineer ($167,340). 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 Mountain View instead of Los Altos?
Mountain View, CA is 2.4 miles from Los Altos 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 Los Altos an affordable place to study engineering?
Los Altos’s median household income of $250,001 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Los Altos 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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