East Providence, Rhode Island has a population of about 46,970. The city’s median household income is $79,660 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 32.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited engineering programs within 100 miles of East Providence. In the Providence-Warwick, RI-MA metro area, the top-earning engineering-related role is Architectural and Engineering Manager at a median $164,570 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
The five accredited institutions below are the closest options indexed in our directory that offer engineering programs. Distances are calculated from East Providence city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Johnson & Wales University-Providence | Providence, RI | 3.8 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Community College of Rhode Island | Warwick, RI | 9.1 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Roger Williams University | Bristol, RI | 12.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| New England Institute of Technology | East Greenwich, RI | 12.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Bristol Community College | Fall River, MA | 13.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Rhode Island schools on the Rhode Island engineering page.
East Providence is part of the Providence-Warwick, RI-MA metro area (BLS area code 39300). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Rhode Island statewide.
| Occupation | Median Wage | Source | COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineer | $108,010 | Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $106,100 |
| Electrical Engineer | $104,530 | Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $102,682 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $110,390 | Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $108,438 |
| Chemical Engineer | $98,160 | Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $96,424 |
| Aerospace Engineer | N/A | RI statewide | – |
| Biomedical Engineer | $103,140 | Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $101,316 |
| Environmental Engineer | $106,620 | Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $104,735 |
| Architectural and Engineering Manager | $164,570 | Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $161,660 |
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.
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 46,970 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $79,660 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 32.3% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 101.8 (above U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Engineering-related employment in Providence County | 2,855 workers, 474 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Our directory lists 5 engineering programs within 100 miles of East Providence. The closest is Johnson & Wales University-Providence in Providence, RI (3.8 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Bristol Community College (13.5 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying engineering-related roles near East Providence are: Architectural and Engineering Manager ($164,570), Mechanical Engineer ($110,390), Civil Engineer ($108,010). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Rhode Island statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Providence, RI is 3.4 miles from East Providence 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.
East Providence’s median household income of $79,660 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in East Providence while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Rhode Island public universities often offer reduced in-state online tuition.
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.
Return to Best Online Engineering Programs in Rhode Island (2026)