Best Online Engineering Programs in Palatine, IL (2026)
Palatine, Illinois has a population of about 66,548. The city’s median household income is $95,950 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 49.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 64 accredited schools offering engineering programs near Palatine, with tuition ranging from $3,822 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 Palatine
The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 64 schools in our directory that offer engineering programs near Palatine. Distances are calculated from Palatine city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| William Rainey Harper College | Palatine, IL | 2.9 mi | $3,822 - $12,833 | – |
| Oakton College | Des Plaines, IL | 9.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Elgin Community College | Elgin, IL | 15.9 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| College of Lake County | Grayslake, IL | 16.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| City Colleges of Chicago-Wilbur Wright College | Chicago, IL | 17.1 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Wheaton College | Wheaton, IL | 17.4 mi | $43,930 - $56,447 | – |
| Triton College | River Grove, IL | 17.4 mi | $4,920 - $14,880 | – |
| College of DuPage | Glen Ellyn, IL | 19.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Northwestern University | Evanston, IL | 19.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| McHenry County College | Crystal Lake, IL | 19.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Illinois schools on the Illinois engineering page.
Engineering Wages Near Palatine
Palatine 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.
Palatine at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 66,548 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $95,950 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 49.8% | 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 Palatine-Area Cities With Engineering Programs
- Rolling Meadows, IL – 3.1 mi away (24,021 pop)
- Arlington Heights, IL – 3.5 mi away (75,525 pop)
- Buffalo Grove, IL – 5.4 mi away (41,346 pop)
- Wheeling, IL – 6.2 mi away (38,315 pop)
- Schaumburg, IL – 6.4 mi away (74,446 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited engineering schools are near Palatine, IL?
Our directory has 64 accredited schools offering engineering programs near Palatine. The closest is William Rainey Harper College in Palatine, IL (2.9 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is McHenry County College (19.3 miles). 0 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying engineering roles near Palatine?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying engineering-related roles near Palatine 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 Rolling Meadows instead of Palatine?
Rolling Meadows, IL is 3.1 miles from Palatine 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 Palatine an affordable place to study engineering?
Palatine’s median household income of $95,950 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Palatine 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)
Return to Best Online Engineering Programs in Illinois (2026)