Best Online Engineering Programs in West Chicago, IL (2026)
West Chicago, Illinois has a population of about 25,434. The city’s median household income is $100,568 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 32.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited engineering programs within 100 miles of West Chicago, 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 West Chicago
The five accredited institutions below are the closest options indexed in our directory that offer engineering programs. Distances are calculated from West Chicago city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DeVry University-Illinois | Lisle, IL | 8.1 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| College of DuPage | Glen Ellyn, IL | 8.8 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Elgin Community College | Elgin, IL | 9.8 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Waubonsee Community College | Sugar Grove, IL | 13.9 mi | $3,432 - $14,661 | – |
| William Rainey Harper College | Palatine, IL | 15.2 mi | $3,822 - $12,833 | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Illinois schools on the Illinois engineering page.
Engineering Wages Near West Chicago
West Chicago 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.
West Chicago at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 25,434 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $100,568 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 32.3% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 103.6 (above U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Engineering-related employment in DuPage County | 7,055 workers, 715 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other West Chicago-Area Cities With Engineering Programs
- Saint Charles, IL – 4.7 mi away (32,717 pop)
- Carol Stream, IL – 5.1 mi away (40,069 pop)
- Geneva, IL – 5.1 mi away (21,880 pop)
- Batavia, IL – 5.4 mi away (26,391 pop)
- Bartlett, IL – 5.9 mi away (41,178 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited engineering programs are near West Chicago, IL?
Our directory lists 5 engineering programs within 100 miles of West Chicago. The closest is DeVry University-Illinois in Lisle, IL (8.1 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is William Rainey Harper College (15.2 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.
What are the highest-paying engineering roles near West Chicago?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying engineering-related roles near West Chicago 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 Saint Charles instead of West Chicago?
Saint Charles, IL is 4.7 miles from West Chicago 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 West Chicago an affordable place to study engineering?
West Chicago’s median household income of $100,568 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in West Chicago 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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