Best Online Engineering Programs in Highland Park, IL (2026)
Highland Park, Illinois has a population of about 30,229. The city’s median household income is $161,875 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 76.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited engineering programs within 100 miles of Highland Park, with tuition ranging from $3,822 to $12,833 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 Highland Park
The five accredited institutions below are the closest options indexed in our directory that offer engineering programs. Distances are calculated from Highland Park city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oakton College | Des Plaines, IL | 9.1 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Northwestern University | Evanston, IL | 11.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Loyola University Chicago | Chicago, IL | 14.9 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| William Rainey Harper College | Palatine, IL | 15.0 mi | $3,822 - $12,833 | – |
| City Colleges of Chicago-Wilbur Wright College | Chicago, IL | 15.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Illinois schools on the Illinois engineering page.
Engineering Wages Near Highland Park
Highland Park 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.
Highland Park at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 30,229 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $161,875 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 76.1% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 103.6 (above U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Engineering-related employment in Lake County | 2,679 workers, 407 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other Highland Park-Area Cities With Engineering Programs
- Northbrook, IL – 3.9 mi away (33,421 pop)
- Wheeling, IL – 6.8 mi away (38,315 pop)
- Glenview, IL – 6.9 mi away (47,475 pop)
- Buffalo Grove, IL – 7.8 mi away (41,346 pop)
- Wilmette, IL – 8.4 mi away (27,219 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited engineering programs are near Highland Park, IL?
Our directory lists 5 engineering programs within 100 miles of Highland Park. The closest is Oakton College in Des Plaines, IL (9.1 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is City Colleges of Chicago-Wilbur Wright College (15.5 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.
What are the highest-paying engineering roles near Highland Park?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying engineering-related roles near Highland Park 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 Northbrook instead of Highland Park?
Northbrook, IL is 3.9 miles from Highland Park 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 Highland Park an affordable place to study engineering?
Highland Park’s median household income of $161,875 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Highland Park 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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