Best Online Engineering Programs in Columbia, SC (2026)

Columbia, South Carolina has a population of about 138,019. The city’s median household income is $55,653 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 46.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 32 accredited schools offering engineering programs near Columbia, with tuition ranging from $5,512 to $29,957 per year for indexed programs. In the Columbia, SC metro area, the top-earning engineering-related role is Architectural and Engineering Manager at a median $147,060 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).

Closest Engineering Schools to Columbia

The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 32 schools in our directory that offer engineering programs near Columbia. Distances are calculated from Columbia city center.

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

Engineering Wages Near Columbia

Columbia is part of the Columbia, SC metro area (BLS area code 17900). 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.

Columbia at a Glance

Other Columbia-Area Cities With Engineering Programs

• Lexington, SC – 18.4 mi away (20,988 pop)
• Sumter, SC – 30.1 mi away (73,468 pop)
• Orangeburg, SC – 37.6 mi away (31,666 pop)
• Lancaster, SC – 48.1 mi away (25,691 pop)
• Aiken, SC – 58.8 mi away (30,937 pop)

Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited engineering schools are near Columbia, SC?

Our directory has 32 accredited schools offering engineering programs near Columbia. The closest is Benedict College in Columbia, SC (6.8 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is York Technical College (62.2 miles). 0 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.

What are the highest-paying engineering roles near Columbia?

Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying engineering-related roles near Columbia are: Architectural and Engineering Manager ($147,060), Aerospace Engineer ($131,820), Chemical Engineer ($105,870). 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 Lexington instead of Columbia?

Lexington, SC is 18.4 miles from Columbia 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 Columbia an affordable place to study engineering?

Columbia’s median household income of $55,653 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Columbia 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.