Best Online Engineering Programs in Monroe, NC (2026)

Monroe, North Carolina has a population of about 35,596. The city’s median household income is $67,265 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 21.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited engineering programs within 100 miles of Monroe, with tuition ranging from $2,792 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 Monroe

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

SchoolCityDistanceTuitionOnline
South Piedmont Community CollegePolkton, NC19.7 miContact school for pricing
Central Piedmont Community CollegeCharlotte, NC21.2 mi$2,792 - $10,951
University of North Carolina at CharlotteCharlotte, NC23.0 miContact school for pricing
York Technical CollegeRock Hill, SC25.1 mi$5,512 - $15,399
Stanly Community CollegeAlbemarle, NC29.3 miContact school for pricing

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


Engineering Wages Near Monroe

Monroe 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.

OccupationMedian WageSourceCOL-Adjusted (US=100)
Civil Engineer$100,040Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC$102,816
Electrical Engineer$114,450Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC$117,626
Mechanical Engineer$100,990Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC$103,792
Chemical Engineer$109,940Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC$112,991
Aerospace Engineer$125,780Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC$129,270
Biomedical Engineer$120,850Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC$124,203
Environmental Engineer$95,850Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC$98,510
Architectural and Engineering Manager$167,590Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC$172,240

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.


Monroe at a Glance

MetricValueSource
Population35,596Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income$67,265Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+21.6%Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)
Regional Price Parity (US=100)97.3 (below U.S. average)BEA RPP 2024
Engineering-related employment in Union County638 workers, 168 establishmentsBLS QCEW 2024 annual

Other Monroe-Area Cities With Engineering Programs


Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited engineering programs are near Monroe, NC?

Our directory lists 5 engineering programs within 100 miles of Monroe. The closest is South Piedmont Community College in Polkton, NC (19.7 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Stanly Community College (29.3 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.

What are the highest-paying engineering roles near Monroe?

Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying engineering-related roles near Monroe 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 Indian Trail instead of Monroe?

Indian Trail, NC is 6.6 miles from Monroe 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 Monroe an affordable place to study engineering?

Monroe’s median household income of $67,265 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Monroe 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.