Best Online Engineering Programs in Saint Charles, IL (2026)
Saint Charles, Illinois has a population of about 32,733. The city’s median household income is $115,350 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 51.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited engineering programs within 100 miles of Saint Charles, with tuition ranging from $3,432 to $14,661 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 Saint Charles
The five accredited institutions below are the closest options indexed in our directory that offer engineering programs. Distances are calculated from Saint Charles city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elgin Community College | Elgin, IL | 6.9 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Waubonsee Community College | Sugar Grove, IL | 11.4 mi | $3,432 - $14,661 | – |
| DeVry University-Illinois | Lisle, IL | 12.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| College of DuPage | Glen Ellyn, IL | 13.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| William Rainey Harper College | Palatine, IL | 16.7 mi | $3,822 - $12,833 | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Illinois schools on the Illinois engineering page.
Engineering Wages Near Saint Charles
Saint Charles 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.
Saint Charles at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 32,733 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $115,350 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 51.2% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 103.6 (above U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Engineering-related employment in Kane County | 1,728 workers, 238 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other Saint Charles-Area Cities With Engineering Programs
- Geneva, IL – 2.6 mi away (21,880 pop)
- West Chicago, IL – 4.7 mi away (27,221 pop)
- Batavia, IL – 4.9 mi away (26,391 pop)
- Bartlett, IL – 6.8 mi away (41,178 pop)
- Elgin, IL – 8.3 mi away (112,123 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited engineering programs are near Saint Charles, IL?
Our directory lists 5 engineering programs within 100 miles of Saint Charles. The closest is Elgin Community College in Elgin, IL (6.9 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is William Rainey Harper College (16.7 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.
What are the highest-paying engineering roles near Saint Charles?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying engineering-related roles near Saint Charles 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 Geneva instead of Saint Charles?
Geneva, IL is 2.6 miles from Saint Charles 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 Saint Charles an affordable place to study engineering?
Saint Charles’s median household income of $115,350 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Saint Charles 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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