Best Online Engineering Programs in Harrisburg, PA (2026)
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania has a population of about 50,092. The city’s median household income is $47,783 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 26.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited engineering programs within 100 miles of Harrisburg. In the Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA metro area, the top-earning engineering-related role is Architectural and Engineering Manager at a median $144,140 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Engineering Schools to Harrisburg
The five accredited institutions below are the closest options indexed in our directory that offer engineering programs. Distances are calculated from Harrisburg city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harrisburg University of Science and Technology | Harrisburg, PA | 0.9 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Harrisburg Area Community College | Harrisburg, PA | 1.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Messiah University | Mechanicsburg, PA | 7.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Harrisburg | Middletown, PA | 9.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Pennsylvania State University-Penn State York | York, PA | 24.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Pennsylvania schools on the Pennsylvania engineering page.
Engineering Wages Near Harrisburg
Harrisburg is part of the Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA metro area (BLS area code 25420). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Pennsylvania statewide.
| Occupation | Median Wage | Source | COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineer | $92,000 | Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $93,212 |
| Electrical Engineer | $102,460 | Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $103,810 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $96,050 | Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $97,315 |
| Chemical Engineer | $107,040 | PA statewide | $108,450 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $108,510 | PA statewide | $109,939 |
| Biomedical Engineer | $97,900 | PA statewide | $99,189 |
| Environmental Engineer | $86,130 | Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $87,264 |
| Architectural and Engineering Manager | $144,140 | Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $146,039 |
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.
Harrisburg at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 50,092 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $47,783 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 26.3% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 98.7 (below U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Engineering-related employment in Dauphin County | 1,692 workers, 105 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other Harrisburg-Area Cities With Engineering Programs
- York, PA – 22.9 mi away (232,796 pop)
- Lebanon, PA – 24.7 mi away (77,839 pop)
- Hanover, PA – 32.4 mi away (67,480 pop)
- Lancaster, PA – 34.7 mi away (401,205 pop)
- Shamokin, PA – 39.4 mi away (29,054 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited engineering programs are near Harrisburg, PA?
Our directory lists 5 engineering programs within 100 miles of Harrisburg. The closest is Harrisburg University of Science and Technology in Harrisburg, PA (0.9 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Pennsylvania State University-Penn State York (24.3 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.
What are the highest-paying engineering roles near Harrisburg?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying engineering-related roles near Harrisburg are: Architectural and Engineering Manager ($144,140), Aerospace Engineer ($108,510), Chemical Engineer ($107,040). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Pennsylvania statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Should I look at programs in York instead of Harrisburg?
York, PA is 22.9 miles from Harrisburg 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 Harrisburg an affordable place to study engineering?
Harrisburg’s median household income of $47,783 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Harrisburg while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania
- Main Engineering Degree Guide
- Engineering Programs by State
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