Best Online Engineering Programs in National City, CA (2026)
National City, California has a population of about 55,960. The city’s median household income is $64,248 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 16.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited engineering programs within 100 miles of National City. In the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area, the top-earning engineering-related role is Architectural and Engineering Manager at a median $185,550 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Engineering Schools to National City
The five accredited institutions below are the closest options indexed in our directory that offer engineering programs. Distances are calculated from National City city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego City College | San Diego, CA | 4.9 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Southwestern College | Chula Vista, CA | 6.0 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| San Diego State University | San Diego, CA | 7.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| University of San Diego | San Diego, CA | 9.1 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Cuyamaca College | El Cajon, CA | 10.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all California schools on the California engineering page.
Engineering Wages Near National City
National City is part of the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area (BLS area code 41740). 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 | $106,350 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $95,040 |
| Electrical Engineer | $128,750 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $115,058 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $128,660 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $114,978 |
| Chemical Engineer | N/A | CA statewide | – |
| Aerospace Engineer | $132,320 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $118,248 |
| Biomedical Engineer | $116,790 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $104,370 |
| Environmental Engineer | $125,890 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $112,502 |
| Architectural and Engineering Manager | $185,550 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $165,818 |
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.
National City at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 55,960 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $64,248 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 16.9% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 111.9 (above U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Engineering-related employment in San Diego County | 28,854 workers, 2,663 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other National City-Area Cities With Engineering Programs
- Coronado, CA – 3.6 mi away (25,952 pop)
- Chula Vista, CA – 5.5 mi away (267,172 pop)
- Lemon Grove, CA – 6.0 mi away (26,860 pop)
- Imperial Beach, CA – 6.8 mi away (27,418 pop)
- La Mesa, CA – 8.5 mi away (59,948 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited engineering programs are near National City, CA?
Our directory lists 5 engineering programs within 100 miles of National City. The closest is San Diego City College in San Diego, CA (4.9 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Cuyamaca College (10.7 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.
What are the highest-paying engineering roles near National City?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying engineering-related roles near National City are: Architectural and Engineering Manager ($185,550), Aerospace Engineer ($132,320), Electrical Engineer ($128,750). 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 Coronado instead of National City?
Coronado, CA is 3.6 miles from National City 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 National City an affordable place to study engineering?
National City’s median household income of $64,248 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in National City 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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