Best Online Engineering Programs in Ontario, CA (2026)
Ontario, California has a population of about 178,347. The city’s median household income is $82,806 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 20.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 88 accredited schools offering engineering programs near Ontario, with tuition ranging from $62,326 to $84,896 per year for indexed programs. In the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area, the top-earning engineering-related role is Architectural and Engineering Manager at a median $170,180 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Engineering Schools to Ontario
The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 88 schools in our directory that offer engineering programs near Ontario. Distances are calculated from Ontario city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DeVry University-California | Ontario, CA | 2.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Universal Technical Institute of California Inc | Rancho Cucamonga, CA | 3.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| The Fab School | Rancho Cucamonga, CA | 4.1 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Pitzer College | Claremont, CA | 7.3 mi | $62,692 - $82,832 | – |
| Claremont McKenna College | Claremont, CA | 7.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Pomona College | Claremont, CA | 7.4 mi | $62,326 - $81,196 | – |
| Scripps College | Claremont, CA | 7.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Harvey Mudd College | Claremont, CA | 7.5 mi | $66,255 - $84,896 | – |
| Keck Graduate Institute | Claremont, CA | 7.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Chaffey College | Rancho Cucamonga, CA | 7.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all California schools on the California engineering page.
Engineering Wages Near Ontario
Ontario is part of the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area (BLS area code 40140). 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 | $109,250 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $102,679 |
| Electrical Engineer | $109,360 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $102,782 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $101,800 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $95,677 |
| Chemical Engineer | N/A | CA statewide | – |
| Aerospace Engineer | $126,220 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $118,628 |
| Biomedical Engineer | $122,520 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $115,150 |
| Environmental Engineer | $109,830 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $103,224 |
| Architectural and Engineering Manager | $170,180 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $159,944 |
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.
Ontario at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 178,347 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $82,806 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 20.7% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 106.4 (above U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Engineering-related employment in San Bernardino County | 6,654 workers, 665 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other Ontario-Area Cities With Engineering Programs
- Chino, CA – 5.1 mi away (87,776 pop)
- Eastvale, CA – 5.6 mi away (61,151 pop)
- Montclair, CA – 5.7 mi away (38,944 pop)
- Upland, CA – 6.2 mi away (76,684 pop)
- Rancho Cucamonga, CA – 6.3 mi away (176,534 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited engineering schools are near Ontario, CA?
Our directory has 88 accredited schools offering engineering programs near Ontario. The closest is DeVry University-California in Ontario, CA (2.3 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Chaffey College (7.7 miles). 0 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying engineering roles near Ontario?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying engineering-related roles near Ontario are: Architectural and Engineering Manager ($170,180), Aerospace Engineer ($126,220), Biomedical Engineer ($122,520). 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 Chino instead of Ontario?
Chino, CA is 5.1 miles from Ontario 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 Ontario an affordable place to study engineering?
Ontario’s median household income of $82,806 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Ontario 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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