Best Online Engineering Programs in Santa Cruz, CA (2026)
Santa Cruz, California has a population of about 60,953. The city’s median household income is $111,427 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 57.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited engineering programs within 100 miles of Santa Cruz. In the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area, the top-earning engineering-related role is Architectural and Engineering Manager at a median $174,700 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Engineering Schools to Santa Cruz
The five accredited institutions below are the closest options indexed in our directory that offer engineering programs. Distances are calculated from Santa Cruz city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cabrillo College | Aptos, CA | 6.1 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| De Anza College | Cupertino, CA | 23.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| San Jose City College | San Jose, CA | 24.0 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Gavilan College | Gilroy, CA | 25.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| San Jose State University | San Jose, CA | 26.0 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all California schools on the California engineering page.
Engineering Wages Near Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz is part of the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area (BLS area code 42100). 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 | $116,440 | Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $105,951 |
| Electrical Engineer | $127,050 | Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $115,605 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $129,190 | Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $117,552 |
| Chemical Engineer | N/A | CA statewide | – |
| Aerospace Engineer | $143,860 | CA statewide | $130,901 |
| Biomedical Engineer | $125,700 | CA statewide | $114,377 |
| Environmental Engineer | $106,760 | Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $97,143 |
| Architectural and Engineering Manager | $174,700 | Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $158,963 |
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 Cruz at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 60,953 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $111,427 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 57.7% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 109.9 (above U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Engineering-related employment in Santa Cruz County | 709 workers, 174 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other Santa Cruz-Area Cities With Engineering Programs
- Watsonville, CA – 15.1 mi away (77,266 pop)
- Los Gatos, CA – 17.9 mi away (30,545 pop)
- Saratoga, CA – 20.0 mi away (30,767 pop)
- Campbell, CA – 21.3 mi away (40,939 pop)
- Cupertino, CA – 23.4 mi away (60,643 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited engineering programs are near Santa Cruz, CA?
Our directory lists 5 engineering programs within 100 miles of Santa Cruz. The closest is Cabrillo College in Aptos, CA (6.1 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is San Jose State University (26.0 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.
What are the highest-paying engineering roles near Santa Cruz?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying engineering-related roles near Santa Cruz are: Architectural and Engineering Manager ($174,700), Aerospace Engineer ($143,860), Mechanical Engineer ($129,190). 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 Watsonville instead of Santa Cruz?
Watsonville, CA is 15.1 miles from Santa Cruz 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 Cruz an affordable place to study engineering?
Santa Cruz’s median household income of $111,427 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Santa Cruz 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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