Best Online Engineering Programs in Blue Island, IL (2026)
Blue Island, Illinois has a population of about 23,416. The city’s median household income is $60,965 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 19.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited engineering programs within 100 miles of Blue Island, with tuition ranging from $5,093 to $16,287 per year. In the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, the top-earning engineering-related role is Architectural and Engineering Manager at a median $159,110 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Engineering Schools to Blue Island
The five accredited institutions below are the closest options indexed in our directory that offer engineering programs. Distances are calculated from Blue Island city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Suburban College | South Holland, IL | 4.1 mi | $5,093 - $12,683 | – |
| City Colleges of Chicago-Richard J Daley College | Chicago, IL | 7.1 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Moraine Valley Community College | Palos Hills, IL | 8.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Prairie State College | Chicago Heights, IL | 9.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Purdue University Northwest | Hammond, IN | 11.9 mi | $8,419 - $16,287 | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Illinois schools on the Illinois engineering page.
Engineering Wages Near Blue Island
Blue Island is part of the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area (BLS area code 16980). 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 | $100,280 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $96,795 |
| Electrical Engineer | $109,010 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $105,222 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $100,390 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $96,902 |
| Chemical Engineer | $119,490 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $115,338 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $125,520 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $121,158 |
| Biomedical Engineer | $96,320 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $92,973 |
| Environmental Engineer | $107,550 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $103,813 |
| Architectural and Engineering Manager | $159,110 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $153,581 |
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.
Blue Island at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 23,416 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $60,965 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 19.3% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 103.6 (above U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Engineering-related employment in Cook County | 28,825 workers, 2,790 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other Blue Island-Area Cities With Engineering Programs
- Harvey, IL – 3.8 mi away (24,947 pop)
- Dolton, IL – 4.8 mi away (22,891 pop)
- Oak Forest, IL – 5.2 mi away (27,792 pop)
- Oak Lawn, IL – 5.4 mi away (56,257 pop)
- South Holland, IL – 5.8 mi away (21,817 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited engineering programs are near Blue Island, IL?
Our directory lists 5 engineering programs within 100 miles of Blue Island. The closest is South Suburban College in South Holland, IL (4.1 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Purdue University Northwest (11.9 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.
What are the highest-paying engineering roles near Blue Island?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying engineering-related roles near Blue Island are: Architectural and Engineering Manager ($159,110), Aerospace Engineer ($125,520), Chemical Engineer ($119,490). 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 Harvey instead of Blue Island?
Harvey, IL is 3.8 miles from Blue Island 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 Blue Island an affordable place to study engineering?
Blue Island’s median household income of $60,965 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Blue Island 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
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