Best Online Engineering Programs in Mission Viejo, CA (2026)
Mission Viejo, California has a population of about 92,415. The city’s median household income is $136,071 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 51.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 88 accredited schools offering engineering programs near Mission Viejo, 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 Mission Viejo
The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 88 schools in our directory that offer engineering programs near Mission Viejo. Distances are calculated from Mission Viejo city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saddleback College | Mission Viejo, CA | 3.9 mi | $1,432 - $13,732 | – |
| Irvine Valley College | Irvine, CA | 8.4 mi | $1,156 - $11,750 | – |
| University of California-Irvine | Irvine, CA | 11.0 mi | $14,237 - $45,014 | – |
| Santiago Canyon College | Orange, CA | 14.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Orange Coast College | Costa Mesa, CA | 15.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Santa Ana College | Santa Ana, CA | 16.9 mi | $1,180 - $11,848 | – |
| Chapman University | Orange, CA | 17.0 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Golden West College | Huntington Beach, CA | 21.7 mi | $1,196 - $12,206 | – |
| Norco College | Norco, CA | 21.8 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| California State University-Fullerton | Fullerton, CA | 23.0 mi | $7,073 - $18,953 | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all California schools on the California engineering page.
Engineering Wages Near Mission Viejo
Mission Viejo 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.
Mission Viejo at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 92,415 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $136,071 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 51.1% | 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 Mission Viejo-Area Cities With Engineering Programs
- Laguna Hills, CA – 2.8 mi away (31,509 pop)
- Rancho Santa Margarita, CA – 3.6 mi away (48,969 pop)
- Lake Forest, CA – 3.7 mi away (83,240 pop)
- Aliso Viejo, CA – 4.7 mi away (51,424 pop)
- Laguna Niguel, CA – 6.4 mi away (65,328 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited engineering schools are near Mission Viejo, CA?
Our directory has 88 accredited schools offering engineering programs near Mission Viejo. The closest is Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, CA (3.9 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is California State University-Fullerton (23.0 miles). 0 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying engineering roles near Mission Viejo?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying engineering-related roles near Mission Viejo 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 Laguna Hills instead of Mission Viejo?
Laguna Hills, CA is 2.8 miles from Mission Viejo 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 Mission Viejo an affordable place to study engineering?
Mission Viejo’s median household income of $136,071 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Mission Viejo 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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