Best Online Engineering Programs in Oak Park, IL (2026)
Oak Park, Illinois has a population of about 53,315. The city’s median household income is $108,026 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 72.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited engineering programs within 100 miles of Oak Park, with tuition ranging from $4,920 to $29,360 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 Oak Park
The five accredited institutions below are the closest options indexed in our directory that offer engineering programs. Distances are calculated from Oak Park city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Triton College | River Grove, IL | 3.3 mi | $4,920 - $14,880 | – |
| City Colleges of Chicago-Wilbur Wright College | Chicago, IL | 5.0 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| University of Illinois Chicago | Chicago, IL | 7.2 mi | $14,338 - $29,360 | – |
| Taylor Business Institute | Chicago, IL | 8.6 mi | $12,000 - $23,713 | – |
| East-West University | Chicago, IL | 8.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Illinois schools on the Illinois engineering page.
Engineering Wages Near Oak Park
Oak 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.
Oak Park at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 53,315 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $108,026 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 72.5% | 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 Oak Park-Area Cities With Engineering Programs
- Elmwood Park, IL – 2.8 mi away (24,626 pop)
- Maywood, IL – 2.8 mi away (23,756 pop)
- Berwyn, IL – 3.0 mi away (55,748 pop)
- Cicero, IL – 3.3 mi away (82,992 pop)
- Melrose Park, IL – 4.0 mi away (25,229 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited engineering programs are near Oak Park, IL?
Our directory lists 5 engineering programs within 100 miles of Oak Park. The closest is Triton College in River Grove, IL (3.3 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is East-West University (8.6 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.
What are the highest-paying engineering roles near Oak Park?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying engineering-related roles near Oak 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 Elmwood Park instead of Oak Park?
Elmwood Park, IL is 2.8 miles from Oak 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 Oak Park an affordable place to study engineering?
Oak Park’s median household income of $108,026 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Oak 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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