Best Online Engineering Programs in Santa Ana, CA (2026)
Santa Ana, California has a population of about 311,639. The city’s median household income is $88,354 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 18.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited engineering programs within 100 miles of Santa Ana, with tuition ranging from $1,180 to $45,014 per year. In the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area, the top-earning engineering-related role is Architectural and Engineering Manager at a median $181,400 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Engineering Schools to Santa Ana
The five accredited institutions below are the closest options indexed in our directory that offer engineering programs. Distances are calculated from Santa Ana city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Ana College | Santa Ana, CA | 1.5 mi | $1,180 - $11,848 | – |
| Orange Coast College | Costa Mesa, CA | 4.9 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Chapman University | Orange, CA | 6.0 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| University of California-Irvine | Irvine, CA | 6.5 mi | $14,237 - $45,014 | – |
| Golden West College | Huntington Beach, CA | 6.9 mi | $1,196 - $12,206 | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all California schools on the California engineering page.
Engineering Wages Near Santa Ana
Santa Ana is part of the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area (BLS area code 31080). 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 | $105,290 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $92,685 |
| Electrical Engineer | $134,900 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $118,750 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $114,290 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $100,607 |
| Chemical Engineer | $122,950 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $108,231 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $143,860 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $126,637 |
| Biomedical Engineer | $115,020 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $101,250 |
| Environmental Engineer | $119,780 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $105,440 |
| Architectural and Engineering Manager | $181,400 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $159,683 |
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.
Santa Ana at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 311,639 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $88,354 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 18.0% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 113.6 (above U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Engineering-related employment in Orange County | 29,431 workers, 3,059 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other Santa Ana-Area Cities With Engineering Programs
- Tustin, CA – 4.1 mi away (80,395 pop)
- Fountain Valley, CA – 4.4 mi away (56,529 pop)
- Costa Mesa, CA – 5.2 mi away (112,822 pop)
- Garden Grove, CA – 5.4 mi away (174,858 pop)
- Orange, CA – 5.8 mi away (140,504 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited engineering programs are near Santa Ana, CA?
Our directory lists 5 engineering programs within 100 miles of Santa Ana. The closest is Santa Ana College in Santa Ana, CA (1.5 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Golden West College (6.9 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.
What are the highest-paying engineering roles near Santa Ana?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying engineering-related roles near Santa Ana are: Architectural and Engineering Manager ($181,400), Aerospace Engineer ($143,860), Electrical Engineer ($134,900). 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 Tustin instead of Santa Ana?
Tustin, CA is 4.1 miles from Santa Ana 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 Santa Ana an affordable place to study engineering?
Santa Ana’s median household income of $88,354 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Santa Ana 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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