Best Online Engineering Programs in Elgin, IL (2026)
Elgin, Illinois has a population of about 114,106. The city’s median household income is $88,316 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 26.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 62 accredited schools offering engineering programs near Elgin, with tuition ranging from $3,432 to $56,447 per year for indexed programs. 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 Elgin
The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 62 schools in our directory that offer engineering programs near Elgin. Distances are calculated from Elgin city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elgin Community College | Elgin, IL | 1.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| William Rainey Harper College | Palatine, IL | 13.2 mi | $3,822 - $12,833 | – |
| McHenry County College | Crystal Lake, IL | 15.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Wheaton College | Wheaton, IL | 16.3 mi | $43,930 - $56,447 | – |
| Waubonsee Community College | Sugar Grove, IL | 18.2 mi | $3,432 - $14,661 | – |
| College of DuPage | Glen Ellyn, IL | 18.8 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| DeVry University-Illinois | Lisle, IL | 19.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Universal Technical Institute of Illinois Inc | Lisle, IL | 19.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Aurora University | Aurora, IL | 19.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| North Central College | Naperville, IL | 20.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Illinois schools on the Illinois engineering page.
Engineering Wages Near Elgin
Elgin 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.
Elgin at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 114,106 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $88,316 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 26.0% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 103.6 (above U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Engineering-related employment in Kane County | 1,728 workers, 238 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other Elgin-Area Cities With Engineering Programs
- Carpentersville, IL – 6.1 mi away (38,291 pop)
- Bartlett, IL – 7.2 mi away (41,178 pop)
- Streamwood, IL – 7.5 mi away (40,166 pop)
- Saint Charles, IL – 8.3 mi away (32,717 pop)
- Algonquin, IL – 8.6 mi away (30,947 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited engineering schools are near Elgin, IL?
Our directory has 62 accredited schools offering engineering programs near Elgin. The closest is Elgin Community College in Elgin, IL (1.4 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is North Central College (20.4 miles). 0 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying engineering roles near Elgin?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying engineering-related roles near Elgin 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 Carpentersville instead of Elgin?
Carpentersville, IL is 6.1 miles from Elgin 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 Elgin an affordable place to study engineering?
Elgin’s median household income of $88,316 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Elgin 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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