Best Online Engineering Programs in Washington, DC (2026)

Washington, District of Columbia has a population of about 672,079. The city’s median household income is $106,287 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 63.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 62 accredited schools offering engineering programs near Washington, with tuition ranging from $6,152 to $80,727 per year for indexed programs. In the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area, the top-earning engineering-related role is Architectural and Engineering Manager at a median $180,360 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).

Closest Engineering Schools to Washington

The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 62 schools in our directory that offer engineering programs near Washington. Distances are calculated from Washington city center.

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

Engineering Wages Near Washington

Washington is part of the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area (BLS area code 47900). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to District of Columbia 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.

Washington at a Glance

Other Washington-Area Cities With Engineering Programs

• Alexandria, VA – 7.0 mi away (155,810 pop)
• College Park, MD – 7.7 mi away (32,275 pop)
• Greenbelt, MD – 9.3 mi away (23,909 pop)
• Rockville, MD – 14.4 mi away (66,940 pop)
• Bowie, MD – 15.2 mi away (58,393 pop)

Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited engineering schools are near Washington, DC?

Our directory has 62 accredited schools offering engineering programs near Washington. The closest is Howard University in Washington, DC (1.2 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Prince George’s Community College (10.4 miles). 0 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.

What are the highest-paying engineering roles near Washington?

Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying engineering-related roles near Washington are: Architectural and Engineering Manager ($180,360), Aerospace Engineer ($157,980), Electrical Engineer ($136,820). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with District of Columbia statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.

Should I look at programs in Alexandria instead of Washington?

Alexandria, VA is 7.0 miles from Washington 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 Washington an affordable place to study engineering?

Washington’s median household income of $106,287 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Washington while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and District of Columbia 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 District of Columbia
• 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.