Best Online Engineering Programs in Mountain View, CA (2026)
Mountain View, California has a population of about 82,363. The city’s median household income is $179,917 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 74.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited engineering programs within 100 miles of Mountain View. 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 Mountain View
The five accredited institutions below are the closest options indexed in our directory that offer engineering programs. Distances are calculated from Mountain View city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Foothill College | Los Altos Hills, CA | 3.8 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Stanford University | Stanford, CA | 5.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Mission College | Santa Clara, CA | 5.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| De Anza College | Cupertino, CA | 6.0 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Santa Clara University | Santa Clara, CA | 8.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all California schools on the California engineering page.
Engineering Wages Near Mountain View
Mountain View 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.
Mountain View at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 82,363 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $179,917 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 74.3% | 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 Mountain View-Area Cities With Engineering Programs
- Los Altos, CA – 2.4 mi away (30,561 pop)
- Sunnyvale, CA – 3.1 mi away (152,771 pop)
- Palo Alto, CA – 3.7 mi away (67,024 pop)
- East Palo Alto, CA – 5.5 mi away (29,684 pop)
- Cupertino, CA – 6.0 mi away (60,643 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited engineering programs are near Mountain View, CA?
Our directory lists 5 engineering programs within 100 miles of Mountain View. The closest is Foothill College in Los Altos Hills, CA (3.8 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Santa Clara University (8.4 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.
What are the highest-paying engineering roles near Mountain View?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying engineering-related roles near Mountain View 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 Los Altos instead of Mountain View?
Los Altos, CA is 2.4 miles from Mountain View 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 Mountain View an affordable place to study engineering?
Mountain View’s median household income of $179,917 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Mountain View 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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