Best Online Engineering Programs in Saint Helens, OR (2026)
Saint Helens, Oregon has a population of about 14,152. The city’s median household income is $82,123 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 16.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited engineering programs within 100 miles of Saint Helens, with tuition ranging from $5,040 to $30,138 per year. In the Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metro area, the top-earning engineering-related role is Architectural and Engineering Manager at a median $170,410 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Engineering Schools to Saint Helens
The five accredited institutions below are the closest options indexed in our directory that offer engineering programs. Distances are calculated from Saint Helens city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clark College | Vancouver, WA | 17.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Lower Columbia College | Longview, WA | 20.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Portland State University | Portland, OR | 24.6 mi | $11,238 - $30,138 | – |
| Portland Community College | Portland, OR | 29.0 mi | $5,040 - $17,271 | – |
| Mt Hood Community College | Gresham, OR | 31.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Oregon schools on the Oregon engineering page.
Engineering Wages Near Saint Helens
Saint Helens is part of the Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metro area (BLS area code 38900). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Oregon statewide.
| Occupation | Median Wage | Source | COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineer | $104,360 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $99,013 |
| Electrical Engineer | $114,130 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $108,283 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $103,010 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $97,732 |
| Chemical Engineer | $129,930 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $123,273 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $134,190 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $127,315 |
| Biomedical Engineer | $129,020 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $122,410 |
| Environmental Engineer | $122,290 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $116,025 |
| Architectural and Engineering Manager | $170,410 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $161,679 |
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.
Saint Helens at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 14,152 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $82,123 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 16.0% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 105.4 (above U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Engineering-related employment in Columbia County | 72 workers, 17 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other Saint Helens-Area Cities With Engineering Programs
- Battle Ground, WA – 14.4 mi away (20,110 pop)
- Vancouver, WA – 18.6 mi away (174,826 pop)
- Longview, WA – 21.3 mi away (65,156 pop)
- Hillsboro, OR – 23.4 mi away (105,164 pop)
- Portland, OR – 23.5 mi away (2,027,629 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited engineering programs are near Saint Helens, OR?
Our directory lists 5 engineering programs within 100 miles of Saint Helens. The closest is Clark College in Vancouver, WA (17.3 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Mt Hood Community College (31.2 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.
What are the highest-paying engineering roles near Saint Helens?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying engineering-related roles near Saint Helens are: Architectural and Engineering Manager ($170,410), Aerospace Engineer ($134,190), Chemical Engineer ($129,930). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Oregon statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Should I look at programs in Battle Ground instead of Saint Helens?
Battle Ground, WA is 14.4 miles from Saint Helens 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 Saint Helens an affordable place to study engineering?
Saint Helens’s median household income of $82,123 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Saint Helens while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Oregon 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.