Best Online Engineering Programs in San Bernardino, CA (2026)
San Bernardino, California has a population of about 221,774. The city’s median household income is $63,988 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 12.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited engineering programs within 100 miles of San Bernardino, 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 San Bernardino
The five accredited institutions below are the closest options indexed in our directory that offer engineering programs. Distances are calculated from San Bernardino city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Bernardino Valley College | San Bernardino, CA | 3.9 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Summit College | San Bernardino, CA | 5.0 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| University of California-Riverside | Riverside, CA | 12.5 mi | $14,170 - $44,947 | – |
| Riverside City College | Riverside, CA | 12.8 mi | $1,420 - $12,427 | – |
| Chaffey College | Rancho Cucamonga, CA | 15.9 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all California schools on the California engineering page.
Engineering Wages Near San Bernardino
San Bernardino 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.
San Bernardino at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 221,774 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $63,988 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 12.8% | 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 San Bernardino-Area Cities With Engineering Programs
- Rialto, CA – 5.8 mi away (103,314 pop)
- Colton, CA – 6.3 mi away (54,712 pop)
- Loma Linda, CA – 7.1 mi away (24,129 pop)
- Highland, CA – 7.6 mi away (54,939 pop)
- Redlands, CA – 9.4 mi away (71,288 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited engineering programs are near San Bernardino, CA?
Our directory lists 5 engineering programs within 100 miles of San Bernardino. The closest is San Bernardino Valley College in San Bernardino, CA (3.9 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Chaffey College (15.9 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.
What are the highest-paying engineering roles near San Bernardino?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying engineering-related roles near San Bernardino 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 Rialto instead of San Bernardino?
Rialto, CA is 5.8 miles from San Bernardino 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 San Bernardino an affordable place to study engineering?
San Bernardino’s median household income of $63,988 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in San Bernardino 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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