Best Online Engineering Programs in Santa Monica, CA (2026)
Santa Monica, California has a population of about 91,535. The city’s median household income is $109,739 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 68.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited engineering programs within 100 miles of Santa Monica, with tuition ranging from $13,747 to $44,524 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 Monica
The five accredited institutions below are the closest options indexed in our directory that offer engineering programs. Distances are calculated from Santa Monica city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Monica College | Santa Monica, CA | 0.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| University of California-Los Angeles | Los Angeles, CA | 4.3 mi | $13,747 - $44,524 | – |
| Loyola Marymount University | Los Angeles, CA | 5.1 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Los Angeles Valley College | Valley Glen, CA | 11.1 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| University of Southern California | Los Angeles, CA | 11.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all California schools on the California engineering page.
Engineering Wages Near Santa Monica
Santa Monica 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 Monica at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 91,535 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $109,739 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 68.9% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 113.6 (above U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Engineering-related employment in Los Angeles County | 46,423 workers, 7,228 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other Santa Monica-Area Cities With Engineering Programs
- Culver City, CA – 5.0 mi away (39,364 pop)
- Beverly Hills, CA – 5.9 mi away (34,687 pop)
- Los Angeles, CA – 7.6 mi away (12,740,381 pop)
- West Hollywood, CA – 7.7 mi away (36,698 pop)
- Inglewood, CA – 9.1 mi away (110,654 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited engineering programs are near Santa Monica, CA?
Our directory lists 5 engineering programs within 100 miles of Santa Monica. The closest is Santa Monica College in Santa Monica, CA (0.7 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is University of Southern California (11.3 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.
What are the highest-paying engineering roles near Santa Monica?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying engineering-related roles near Santa Monica 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 Culver City instead of Santa Monica?
Culver City, CA is 5.0 miles from Santa Monica 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 Monica an affordable place to study engineering?
Santa Monica’s median household income of $109,739 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Santa Monica 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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