Best Online Engineering Programs in Wilmington, DE (2026)
Wilmington, Delaware has a population of about 71,124. The city’s median household income is $55,269 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 33.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited engineering programs within 100 miles of Wilmington, with tuition ranging from $16,080 to $39,720 per year. In the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area, the top-earning engineering-related role is Architectural and Engineering Manager at a median $166,850 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Engineering Schools to Wilmington
The five accredited institutions below are the closest options indexed in our directory that offer engineering programs. Distances are calculated from Wilmington city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Delaware | Newark, DE | 12.5 mi | $16,080 - $39,720 | – |
| Widener University | Chester, PA | 12.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Pennsylvania Institute of Technology | Media, PA | 14.0 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Delaware County Community College | Media, PA | 17.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Rowan University | Glassboro, NJ | 21.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Delaware schools on the Delaware engineering page.
Engineering Wages Near Wilmington
Wilmington is part of the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area (BLS area code 37980). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Delaware statewide.
| Occupation | Median Wage | Source | COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineer | $96,630 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $94,181 |
| Electrical Engineer | $125,350 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $122,173 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $102,180 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $99,591 |
| Chemical Engineer | $120,300 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $117,251 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $128,400 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $125,146 |
| Biomedical Engineer | $97,930 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $95,448 |
| Environmental Engineer | $101,980 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $99,396 |
| Architectural and Engineering Manager | $166,850 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $162,622 |
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.
Wilmington at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 71,124 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $55,269 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 33.1% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 102.6 (above U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Engineering-related employment in New Castle County | 2,897 workers, 557 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other Wilmington-Area Cities With Engineering Programs
- Chester, PA – 11.3 mi away (33,988 pop)
- Newark, DE – 12.8 mi away (33,398 pop)
- Middletown, DE – 22.4 mi away (32,540 pop)
- Camden, NJ – 26.3 mi away (74,420 pop)
- Philadelphia, PA – 28.2 mi away (5,591,554 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited engineering programs are near Wilmington, DE?
Our directory lists 5 engineering programs within 100 miles of Wilmington. The closest is University of Delaware in Newark, DE (12.5 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Rowan University (21.7 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.
What are the highest-paying engineering roles near Wilmington?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying engineering-related roles near Wilmington are: Architectural and Engineering Manager ($166,850), Aerospace Engineer ($128,400), Electrical Engineer ($125,350). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Delaware statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Should I look at programs in Chester instead of Wilmington?
Chester, PA is 11.3 miles from Wilmington 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 Wilmington an affordable place to study engineering?
Wilmington’s median household income of $55,269 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Wilmington while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Delaware 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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