Best Online Engineering Programs in Park Forest, IL (2026)
Park Forest, Illinois has a population of about 20,898. The city’s median household income is $62,305 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 25.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited engineering programs within 100 miles of Park Forest, with tuition ranging from $5,093 to $16,287 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 Park Forest
The five accredited institutions below are the closest options indexed in our directory that offer engineering programs. Distances are calculated from Park Forest city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prairie State College | Chicago Heights, IL | 3.9 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| South Suburban College | South Holland, IL | 10.4 mi | $5,093 - $12,683 | – |
| Purdue University Northwest | Hammond, IN | 13.0 mi | $8,419 - $16,287 | – |
| Moraine Valley Community College | Palos Hills, IL | 16.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| City Colleges of Chicago-Richard J Daley College | Chicago, IL | 19.0 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Illinois schools on the Illinois engineering page.
Engineering Wages Near Park Forest
Park Forest 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.
Park Forest at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 20,898 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $62,305 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 25.8% | 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 Park Forest-Area Cities With Engineering Programs
- Chicago Heights, IL – 3.3 mi away (30,026 pop)
- Tinley Park, IL – 8.5 mi away (56,831 pop)
- Harvey, IL – 8.9 mi away (24,947 pop)
- South Holland, IL – 9.1 mi away (21,817 pop)
- Oak Forest, IL – 9.2 mi away (27,792 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited engineering programs are near Park Forest, IL?
Our directory lists 5 engineering programs within 100 miles of Park Forest. The closest is Prairie State College in Chicago Heights, IL (3.9 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is City Colleges of Chicago-Richard J Daley College (19.0 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.
What are the highest-paying engineering roles near Park Forest?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying engineering-related roles near Park Forest 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 Chicago Heights instead of Park Forest?
Chicago Heights, IL is 3.3 miles from Park Forest 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 Park Forest an affordable place to study engineering?
Park Forest’s median household income of $62,305 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Park Forest 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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