Best Online Engineering Programs in New Bedford, MA (2026)

New Bedford, Massachusetts has a population of about 100,731. The city’s median household income is $56,025 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 16.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited engineering programs within 100 miles of New Bedford. In the Providence-Warwick, RI-MA metro area, the top-earning engineering-related role is Architectural and Engineering Manager at a median $164,570 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).


Closest Engineering Schools to New Bedford

The five accredited institutions below are the closest options indexed in our directory that offer engineering programs. Distances are calculated from New Bedford city center.

SchoolCityDistanceTuitionOnline
Bristol Community CollegeFall River, MA9.9 miContact school for pricing
Roger Williams UniversityBristol, RI16.5 miContact school for pricing
Massachusetts Maritime AcademyBuzzards Bay, MA17.1 miContact school for pricing
IYRS School of Technology & TradesNewport, RI23.3 miContact school for pricing
Johnson & Wales University-ProvidenceProvidence, RI27.1 miContact school for pricing

Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Massachusetts schools on the Massachusetts engineering page.


Engineering Wages Near New Bedford

New Bedford is part of the Providence-Warwick, RI-MA metro area (BLS area code 39300). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Massachusetts statewide.

OccupationMedian WageSourceCOL-Adjusted (US=100)
Civil Engineer$108,010Providence-Warwick, RI-MA$106,100
Electrical Engineer$104,530Providence-Warwick, RI-MA$102,682
Mechanical Engineer$110,390Providence-Warwick, RI-MA$108,438
Chemical Engineer$98,160Providence-Warwick, RI-MA$96,424
Aerospace Engineer$152,210MA statewide$149,519
Biomedical Engineer$103,140Providence-Warwick, RI-MA$101,316
Environmental Engineer$106,620Providence-Warwick, RI-MA$104,735
Architectural and Engineering Manager$164,570Providence-Warwick, RI-MA$161,660

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.


New Bedford at a Glance

MetricValueSource
Population100,731Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income$56,025Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+16.8%Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)
Regional Price Parity (US=100)101.8 (above U.S. average)BEA RPP 2024
Engineering-related employment in Bristol County1,152 workers, 182 establishmentsBLS QCEW 2024 annual

Other New Bedford-Area Cities With Engineering Programs


Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited engineering programs are near New Bedford, MA?

Our directory lists 5 engineering programs within 100 miles of New Bedford. The closest is Bristol Community College in Fall River, MA (9.9 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Johnson & Wales University-Providence (27.1 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.

What are the highest-paying engineering roles near New Bedford?

Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying engineering-related roles near New Bedford are: Architectural and Engineering Manager ($164,570), Aerospace Engineer ($152,210), Mechanical Engineer ($110,390). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Massachusetts statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.

Should I look at programs in Fall River instead of New Bedford?

Fall River, MA is 8.7 miles from New Bedford 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 New Bedford an affordable place to study engineering?

New Bedford’s median household income of $56,025 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in New Bedford while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Massachusetts 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.