Best Online Engineering Programs in Gastonia, NC (2026)

Gastonia, North Carolina has a population of about 81,632. The city’s median household income is $60,554 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 27.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited engineering programs within 100 miles of Gastonia, with tuition ranging from $2,602 to $15,399 per year. In the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area, the top-earning engineering-related role is Architectural and Engineering Manager at a median $167,590 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).

Closest Engineering Schools to Gastonia

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

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

Engineering Wages Near Gastonia

Gastonia is part of the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area (BLS area code 16740). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to North Carolina statewide.

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.

Gastonia at a Glance

Other Gastonia-Area Cities With Engineering Programs

• Lincolnton, NC – 15.8 mi away (23,264 pop)
• Charlotte, NC – 20.2 mi away (1,438,351 pop)
• Shelby, NC – 20.3 mi away (27,288 pop)
• Huntersville, NC – 20.6 mi away (54,839 pop)
• Cornelius, NC – 23.0 mi away (28,515 pop)

Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited engineering programs are near Gastonia, NC?

Our directory lists 5 engineering programs within 100 miles of Gastonia. The closest is Gaston College in Dallas, NC (4.1 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is University of North Carolina at Charlotte (26.1 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.

What are the highest-paying engineering roles near Gastonia?

Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying engineering-related roles near Gastonia are: Architectural and Engineering Manager ($167,590), Aerospace Engineer ($125,780), Biomedical Engineer ($120,850). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with North Carolina statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.

Should I look at programs in Lincolnton instead of Gastonia?

Lincolnton, NC is 15.8 miles from Gastonia 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 Gastonia an affordable place to study engineering?

Gastonia’s median household income of $60,554 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Gastonia while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and North Carolina 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

• Online Engineering Programs in North Carolina
• Main Engineering Degree Guide
• Engineering Programs by State