Best Online Engineering Programs in Elmhurst, IL (2026)
Elmhurst, Illinois has a population of about 45,538. The city’s median household income is $145,374 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 63.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 63 accredited schools offering engineering programs near Elmhurst, with tuition ranging from $4,920 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 Elmhurst
The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 63 schools in our directory that offer engineering programs near Elmhurst. Distances are calculated from Elmhurst city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Triton College | River Grove, IL | 5.4 mi | $4,920 - $14,880 | – |
| College of DuPage | Glen Ellyn, IL | 7.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Wheaton College | Wheaton, IL | 8.3 mi | $43,930 - $56,447 | – |
| City Colleges of Chicago-Wilbur Wright College | Chicago, IL | 9.0 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Universal Technical Institute of Illinois Inc | Lisle, IL | 10.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| DeVry University-Illinois | Lisle, IL | 10.9 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Benedictine University | Lisle, IL | 11.5 mi | $34,290 - $46,548 | – |
| Oakton College | Des Plaines, IL | 11.8 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| North Park University | Chicago, IL | 13.1 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| North Central College | Naperville, IL | 13.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Illinois schools on the Illinois engineering page.
Engineering Wages Near Elmhurst
Elmhurst 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.
Elmhurst at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 45,538 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $145,374 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 63.0% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 103.6 (above U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Engineering-related employment in DuPage County | 7,055 workers, 715 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other Elmhurst-Area Cities With Engineering Programs
- Villa Park, IL – 1.9 mi away (21,882 pop)
- Lombard, IL – 4.1 mi away (43,815 pop)
- Melrose Park, IL – 4.1 mi away (25,229 pop)
- Addison, IL – 4.1 mi away (36,902 pop)
- Maywood, IL – 5.2 mi away (23,756 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited engineering schools are near Elmhurst, IL?
Our directory has 63 accredited schools offering engineering programs near Elmhurst. The closest is Triton College in River Grove, IL (5.4 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is North Central College (13.3 miles). 0 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying engineering roles near Elmhurst?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying engineering-related roles near Elmhurst 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 Villa Park instead of Elmhurst?
Villa Park, IL is 1.9 miles from Elmhurst 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 Elmhurst an affordable place to study engineering?
Elmhurst’s median household income of $145,374 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Elmhurst 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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