Best Online Engineering Programs in Monterey, CA (2026)

Monterey, California has a population of about 29,772. The city’s median household income is $104,110 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 54.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 40 accredited schools offering engineering programs near Monterey, with tuition ranging from $1,404 to $45,337 per year for indexed programs. In the Salinas, CA metro area, the top-earning engineering-related role is Architectural and Engineering Manager at a median $166,430 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).

Closest Engineering Schools to Monterey

The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 40 schools in our directory that offer engineering programs near Monterey. Distances are calculated from Monterey city center.

Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all California schools on the California engineering page.

Engineering Wages Near Monterey

Monterey is part of the Salinas, CA metro area (BLS area code 41500). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to California statewide.

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.

Monterey at a Glance

Other Monterey-Area Cities With Engineering Programs

• Seaside, CA – 4.0 mi away (118,670 pop)
• Marina, CA – 8.0 mi away (21,688 pop)
• Salinas, CA – 15.3 mi away (193,126 pop)
• Watsonville, CA – 23.5 mi away (77,266 pop)
• Santa Cruz, CA – 28.0 mi away (176,037 pop)

Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited engineering schools are near Monterey, CA?

Our directory has 40 accredited schools offering engineering programs near Monterey. The closest is Monterey Peninsula College in Monterey, CA (0.3 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is De Anza College (51.1 miles). 0 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.

What are the highest-paying engineering roles near Monterey?

Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying engineering-related roles near Monterey are: Architectural and Engineering Manager ($166,430), Aerospace Engineer ($143,860), Mechanical Engineer ($141,420). 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 Seaside instead of Monterey?

Seaside, CA is 4.0 miles from Monterey 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 Monterey an affordable place to study engineering?

Monterey’s median household income of $104,110 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Monterey 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

• Online Engineering Programs in California
• Main Engineering Degree Guide
• Engineering Programs by State

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.