Best Online Engineering Programs in San Francisco, CA (2026)
San Francisco, California has a population of about 836,321. The city’s median household income is $141,446 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 60.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited engineering programs within 100 miles of San Francisco, with tuition ranging from $14,850 to $45,627 per year. In the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area, the top-earning engineering-related role is Architectural and Engineering Manager at a median $208,580 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Engineering Schools to San Francisco
The five accredited institutions below are the closest options indexed in our directory that offer engineering programs. Distances are calculated from San Francisco city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| City College of San Francisco | San Francisco, CA | 2.1 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| San Francisco State University | San Francisco, CA | 3.0 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Skyline College | San Bruno, CA | 8.8 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Laney College | Oakland, CA | 10.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| University of California-Berkeley | Berkeley, CA | 12.9 mi | $14,850 - $45,627 | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all California schools on the California engineering page.
Engineering Wages Near San Francisco
San Francisco is part of the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area (BLS area code 41860). 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 | $126,560 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $109,481 |
| Electrical Engineer | $163,840 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $141,730 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $145,640 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $125,986 |
| Chemical Engineer | N/A | CA statewide | – |
| Aerospace Engineer | $160,000 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $138,408 |
| Biomedical Engineer | $136,720 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $118,270 |
| Environmental Engineer | $142,000 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $122,837 |
| Architectural and Engineering Manager | $208,580 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $180,433 |
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 Francisco at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 836,321 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $141,446 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 60.1% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 115.6 (above U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Engineering-related employment in San Francisco County | 13,652 workers, 1,353 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other San Francisco-Area Cities With Engineering Programs
- Daly City, CA – 5.0 mi away (106,472 pop)
- South San Francisco, CA – 7.2 mi away (66,980 pop)
- San Bruno, CA – 9.1 mi away (42,957 pop)
- Alameda, CA – 9.6 mi away (78,906 pop)
- Pacifica, CA – 10.2 mi away (39,062 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited engineering programs are near San Francisco, CA?
Our directory lists 5 engineering programs within 100 miles of San Francisco. The closest is City College of San Francisco in San Francisco, CA (2.1 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is University of California-Berkeley (12.9 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.
What are the highest-paying engineering roles near San Francisco?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying engineering-related roles near San Francisco are: Architectural and Engineering Manager ($208,580), Electrical Engineer ($163,840), Aerospace Engineer ($160,000). 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 Daly City instead of San Francisco?
Daly City, CA is 5.0 miles from San Francisco 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 Francisco an affordable place to study engineering?
San Francisco’s median household income of $141,446 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in San Francisco 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.
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