Best Online Engineering Programs in Alton, IL (2026)
Alton, Illinois has a population of about 25,430. The city’s median household income is $53,005 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 21.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 26 accredited schools offering engineering programs near Alton, with tuition ranging from $3,660 to $83,476 per year for indexed programs. In the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area, the top-earning engineering-related role is Architectural and Engineering Manager at a median $155,100 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Engineering Schools to Alton
The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 26 schools in our directory that offer engineering programs near Alton. Distances are calculated from Alton city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lewis and Clark Community College | Godfrey, IL | 4.0 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Principia College | Elsah, IL | 11.1 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville | Edwardsville, IL | 11.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| University of Missouri-St Louis | Saint Louis, MO | 15.8 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Ranken Technical College | Saint Louis, MO | 18.0 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Saint Louis Community College | Bridgeton, MO | 18.8 mi | $3,660 - $12,053 | – |
| Saint Louis University | Saint Louis, MO | 18.9 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Washington University in St Louis | Saint Louis, MO | 19.6 mi | $62,982 - $83,476 | – |
| Webster University | Saint Louis, MO | 24.1 mi | $30,730 - $49,218 | – |
| St Charles Community College | Cottleville, MO | 28.1 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Illinois schools on the Illinois engineering page.
Engineering Wages Near Alton
Alton is part of the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area (BLS area code 41180). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Illinois statewide.
| Occupation | Median Wage | Source | COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineer | $97,930 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $102,976 |
| Electrical Engineer | $113,310 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $119,148 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $86,390 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $90,841 |
| Chemical Engineer | $127,100 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $133,649 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $116,600 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $122,608 |
| Biomedical Engineer | $79,190 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $83,270 |
| Environmental Engineer | $101,580 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $106,814 |
| Architectural and Engineering Manager | $155,100 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $163,091 |
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.
Alton at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 25,430 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $53,005 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 21.2% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 95.1 (below U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Engineering-related employment in Madison County | 1,030 workers, 78 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other Alton-Area Cities With Engineering Programs
- Edwardsville, IL – 11.7 mi away (25,071 pop)
- Florissant, MO – 11.8 mi away (51,776 pop)
- Granite City, IL – 12.1 mi away (28,908 pop)
- Ferguson, MO – 13.1 mi away (20,846 pop)
- Hazelwood, MO – 14.9 mi away (25,443 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited engineering schools are near Alton, IL?
Our directory has 26 accredited schools offering engineering programs near Alton. The closest is Lewis and Clark Community College in Godfrey, IL (4.0 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is St Charles Community College (28.1 miles). 0 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying engineering roles near Alton?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying engineering-related roles near Alton are: Architectural and Engineering Manager ($155,100), Chemical Engineer ($127,100), Aerospace Engineer ($116,600). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Illinois statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Should I look at programs in Edwardsville instead of Alton?
Edwardsville, IL is 11.7 miles from Alton 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 Alton an affordable place to study engineering?
Alton’s median household income of $53,005 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Alton while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Illinois 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
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.
Back to Best Online Engineering Programs in Illinois (2026)
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