Best Online Engineering Programs in Merced, CA (2026)
Merced, California has a population of about 89,766. The city’s median household income is $59,938 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 18.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 43 accredited schools offering engineering programs near Merced, with tuition ranging from $6,980 to $18,860 per year for indexed programs. In California, the top-earning engineering-related role is Architectural and Engineering Manager at a median $201,810 annually (BLS, May 2024).
Closest Engineering Schools to Merced
The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 43 schools in our directory that offer engineering programs near Merced. Distances are calculated from Merced city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merced College | Merced, CA | 2.0 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| University of California-Merced | Merced, CA | 5.1 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Madera Community College | Madera, CA | 37.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Modesto Junior College | Modesto, CA | 37.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Clovis Community College | Fresno, CA | 50.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Columbia College | Sonora, CA | 50.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Institute of Technology | Clovis, CA | 52.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Fresno City College | Fresno, CA | 52.9 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| California State University-Fresno | Fresno, CA | 52.9 mi | $6,980 - $18,860 | – |
| Gavilan College | Gilroy, CA | 64.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all California schools on the California engineering page.
Engineering Wages Near Merced
Merced is part of the Merced, CA metro area (BLS area code 32900). 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 | $99,600 | Merced, CA | $101,322 |
| Electrical Engineer | $140,360 | CA statewide | $142,787 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $88,250 | Merced, CA | $89,776 |
| Chemical Engineer | N/A | CA statewide | – |
| Aerospace Engineer | $143,860 | CA statewide | $146,348 |
| Biomedical Engineer | $125,700 | CA statewide | $127,874 |
| Environmental Engineer | $127,660 | CA statewide | $129,868 |
| Architectural and Engineering Manager | $201,810 | CA statewide | $205,300 |
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.
Merced at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 89,766 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $59,938 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 18.0% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 98.3 (below U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Engineering-related employment in Merced County | 102 workers, 15 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other Merced-Area Cities With Engineering Programs
- Atwater, CA – 7.4 mi away (29,270 pop)
- Turlock, CA – 25.0 mi away (106,100 pop)
- Los Banos, CA – 26.1 mi away (37,584 pop)
- Madera, CA – 32.2 mi away (82,278 pop)
- Ceres, CA – 33.3 mi away (48,278 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited engineering schools are near Merced, CA?
Our directory has 43 accredited schools offering engineering programs near Merced. The closest is Merced College in Merced, CA (2.0 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Gavilan College (64.4 miles). 0 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying engineering roles near Merced?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying engineering-related roles near Merced are: Architectural and Engineering Manager ($201,810), Aerospace Engineer ($143,860), Electrical Engineer ($140,360). 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 Atwater instead of Merced?
Atwater, CA is 7.4 miles from Merced 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 Merced an affordable place to study engineering?
Merced’s median household income of $59,938 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Merced 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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