Best Online Engineering Programs in Braidwood, IL (2026)
Braidwood, Illinois has a population of about 6,175. The city’s median household income is $83,365 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 18.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited engineering programs within 100 miles of Braidwood. 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 Braidwood
The five accredited institutions below are the closest options indexed in our directory that offer engineering programs. Distances are calculated from Braidwood city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joliet Junior College | Joliet, IL | 15.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Kankakee Community College | Kankakee, IL | 22.8 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Prairie State College | Chicago Heights, IL | 35.1 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Moraine Valley Community College | Palos Hills, IL | 35.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| DeVry University-Illinois | Lisle, IL | 37.8 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Illinois schools on the Illinois engineering page.
Engineering Wages Near Braidwood
Braidwood 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.
Braidwood at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 6,175 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $83,365 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 18.2% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 103.6 (above U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Engineering-related employment in Will County | 2,098 workers, 250 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other Braidwood-Area Cities With Engineering Programs
- Joliet, IL – 17.7 mi away (148,262 pop)
- New Lenox, IL – 21.1 mi away (26,217 pop)
- Crest Hill, IL – 21.7 mi away (21,169 pop)
- Kankakee, IL – 22.0 mi away (78,682 pop)
- Plainfield, IL – 24.2 mi away (42,933 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited engineering programs are near Braidwood, IL?
Our directory lists 5 engineering programs within 100 miles of Braidwood. The closest is Joliet Junior College in Joliet, IL (15.4 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is DeVry University-Illinois (37.8 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.
What are the highest-paying engineering roles near Braidwood?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying engineering-related roles near Braidwood 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 Joliet instead of Braidwood?
Joliet, IL is 17.7 miles from Braidwood 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 Braidwood an affordable place to study engineering?
Braidwood’s median household income of $83,365 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Braidwood 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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