Best Online Engineering Programs in Shafter, CA (2026)

Shafter, California has a population of about 20,618. The city’s median household income is $67,989 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 10.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 29 accredited schools offering engineering programs near Shafter, with tuition ranging from $1,334 to $12,522 per year for indexed programs. In the Bakersfield-Delano, CA metro area, the top-earning engineering-related role is Architectural and Engineering Manager at a median $173,450 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).

Closest Engineering Schools to Shafter

The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 29 schools in our directory that offer engineering programs near Shafter. Distances are calculated from Shafter city center.

Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all California schools on the California engineering page.

Engineering Wages Near Shafter

Shafter is part of the Bakersfield-Delano, CA metro area (BLS area code 12540). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to California statewide.

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.

Shafter at a Glance

Other Shafter-Area Cities With Engineering Programs

• Wasco, CA – 12.4 mi away (26,337 pop)
• Bakersfield, CA – 12.6 mi away (567,585 pop)
• Delano, CA – 20.3 mi away (54,030 pop)
• Arvin, CA – 28.6 mi away (21,380 pop)
• Porterville, CA – 41.5 mi away (76,512 pop)

Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited engineering schools are near Shafter, CA?

Our directory has 29 accredited schools offering engineering programs near Shafter. The closest is California State University-Bakersfield in Bakersfield, CA (10.3 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Reedley College (79.2 miles). 0 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.

What are the highest-paying engineering roles near Shafter?

Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying engineering-related roles near Shafter are: Architectural and Engineering Manager ($173,450), Chemical Engineer ($135,820), Aerospace Engineer ($127,900). 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 Wasco instead of Shafter?

Wasco, CA is 12.4 miles from Shafter 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 Shafter an affordable place to study engineering?

Shafter’s median household income of $67,989 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Shafter 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

• Online Engineering Programs in California
• Main Engineering Degree Guide
• Engineering Programs by State

Data verified: May 5, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2024; Employment Projections 2024–2034) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2023 cohort). The source agency and data year are cited inline with every statistic.