Best Online Engineering Programs in Charleston, SC (2026)

Charleston, South Carolina has a population of about 152,014. The city’s median household income is $90,038 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 57.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 18 accredited schools offering engineering programs near Charleston, with tuition ranging from $4,488 to $29,957 per year for indexed programs. In the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area, the top-earning engineering-related role is Architectural and Engineering Manager at a median $168,290 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).

Closest Engineering Schools to Charleston

The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 18 schools in our directory that offer engineering programs near Charleston. Distances are calculated from Charleston city center.

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

Engineering Wages Near Charleston

Charleston is part of the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area (BLS area code 16700). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to South 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.

Charleston at a Glance

Other Charleston-Area Cities With Engineering Programs

• Hanahan, SC – 8.4 mi away (23,439 pop)
• Mount Pleasant, SC – 8.4 mi away (84,170 pop)
• North Charleston, SC – 9.0 mi away (109,298 pop)
• Goose Creek, SC – 12.6 mi away (42,039 pop)
• Summerville, SC – 18.1 mi away (49,323 pop)

Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited engineering schools are near Charleston, SC?

Our directory has 18 accredited schools offering engineering programs near Charleston. The closest is Citadel Military College of South Carolina in Charleston, SC (1.2 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Denmark Technical College (75.5 miles). 0 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.

What are the highest-paying engineering roles near Charleston?

Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying engineering-related roles near Charleston are: Architectural and Engineering Manager ($168,290), Aerospace Engineer ($131,820), Electrical Engineer ($114,880). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with South Carolina statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.

Should I look at programs in Hanahan instead of Charleston?

Hanahan, SC is 8.4 miles from Charleston 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 Charleston an affordable place to study engineering?

Charleston’s median household income of $90,038 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Charleston while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and South 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 South Carolina
• Main Engineering Degree Guide
• Engineering Programs by State

Data verified: May 5, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2024; Employment Projections 2024–2034) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2023 cohort). The source agency and data year are cited inline with every statistic.