Best Online Engineering Programs in North Plainfield, NJ (2026)
North Plainfield, New Jersey has a population of about 22,667. The city’s median household income is $83,529 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 25.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited engineering programs within 100 miles of North Plainfield. In the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro area, the top-earning engineering-related role is Architectural and Engineering Manager at a median $179,110 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Engineering Schools to North Plainfield
The five accredited institutions below are the closest options indexed in our directory that offer engineering programs. Distances are calculated from North Plainfield city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Union County Vocational Technical School | Scotch Plains, NJ | 4.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| UCNJ Union College of Union County, NJ | Cranford, NJ | 7.1 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| DeVry University-New Jersey | Iselin, NJ | 7.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Middlesex College | Edison, NJ | 8.8 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Lincoln Technical Institute-Union | Union, NJ | 10.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all New Jersey schools on the New Jersey engineering page.
Engineering Wages Near North Plainfield
North Plainfield is part of the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro area (BLS area code 35620). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to New Jersey statewide.
| Occupation | Median Wage | Source | COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineer | $106,130 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $94,254 |
| Electrical Engineer | $127,160 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $112,931 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $111,270 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $98,819 |
| Chemical Engineer | $122,660 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $108,934 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $135,530 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $120,364 |
| Biomedical Engineer | $115,080 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $102,202 |
| Environmental Engineer | $105,040 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $93,286 |
| Architectural and Engineering Manager | $179,110 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $159,067 |
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.
North Plainfield at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 22,667 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $83,529 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 25.3% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 112.6 (above U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Engineering-related employment in Somerset County | 2,121 workers, 175 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other North Plainfield-Area Cities With Engineering Programs
- Plainfield, NJ – 1.2 mi away (50,636 pop)
- South Plainfield, NJ – 3.4 mi away (24,221 pop)
- Westfield, NJ – 5.4 mi away (30,206 pop)
- Summit, NJ – 7.6 mi away (22,019 pop)
- Rahway, NJ – 8.3 mi away (29,451 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited engineering programs are near North Plainfield, NJ?
Our directory lists 5 engineering programs within 100 miles of North Plainfield. The closest is Union County Vocational Technical School in Scotch Plains, NJ (4.3 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Lincoln Technical Institute-Union (10.5 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.
What are the highest-paying engineering roles near North Plainfield?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying engineering-related roles near North Plainfield are: Architectural and Engineering Manager ($179,110), Aerospace Engineer ($135,530), Electrical Engineer ($127,160). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with New Jersey statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Should I look at programs in Plainfield instead of North Plainfield?
Plainfield, NJ is 1.2 miles from North Plainfield 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 North Plainfield an affordable place to study engineering?
North Plainfield’s median household income of $83,529 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in North Plainfield while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and New Jersey 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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