Best Online Engineering Programs in Riverside, CA (2026)
Riverside, California has a population of about 316,241. The city’s median household income is $88,575 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 25.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited engineering programs within 100 miles of Riverside, with tuition ranging from $1,420 to $44,947 per year. 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 Riverside
The five accredited institutions below are the closest options indexed in our directory that offer engineering programs. Distances are calculated from Riverside city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Riverside City College | Riverside, CA | 2.4 mi | $1,420 - $12,427 | – |
| University of California-Riverside | Riverside, CA | 3.6 mi | $14,170 - $44,947 | – |
| Norco College | Norco, CA | 10.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| San Bernardino Valley College | San Bernardino, CA | 11.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Summit College | San Bernardino, CA | 11.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all California schools on the California engineering page.
Engineering Wages Near Riverside
Riverside 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.
Riverside at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 316,241 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $88,575 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 25.7% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 106.4 (above U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Engineering-related employment in Riverside County | 5,469 workers, 894 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other Riverside-Area Cities With Engineering Programs
- Colton, CA – 8.9 mi away (54,712 pop)
- Norco, CA – 8.9 mi away (26,714 pop)
- Eastvale, CA – 10.7 mi away (61,151 pop)
- Moreno Valley, CA – 11.0 mi away (205,499 pop)
- Corona, CA – 11.0 mi away (166,785 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited engineering programs are near Riverside, CA?
Our directory lists 5 engineering programs within 100 miles of Riverside. The closest is Riverside City College in Riverside, CA (2.4 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Summit College (11.7 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.
What are the highest-paying engineering roles near Riverside?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying engineering-related roles near Riverside 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 Colton instead of Riverside?
Colton, CA is 8.9 miles from Riverside 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 Riverside an affordable place to study engineering?
Riverside’s median household income of $88,575 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Riverside 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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