Lexington, South Carolina has a population of about 24,132. The city’s median household income is $83,263 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 48.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited engineering programs within 100 miles of Lexington, with tuition ranging from $11,060 to $29,957 per year. 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).
The five accredited institutions below are the closest options indexed in our directory that offer engineering programs. Distances are calculated from Lexington city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Midlands Technical College | West Columbia, SC | 6.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Benedict College | Columbia, SC | 11.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College | Orangeburg, SC | 38.0 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| South Carolina State University | Orangeburg, SC | 40.0 mi | $11,060 - $29,957 | – |
| Denmark Technical College | Denmark, SC | 46.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all South Carolina schools on the South Carolina engineering page.
Lexington 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.
| Occupation | Median Wage | Source | COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineer | $96,070 | Columbia, SC | $102,529 |
| Electrical Engineer | $101,350 | Columbia, SC | $108,164 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $97,580 | Columbia, SC | $104,141 |
| Chemical Engineer | $105,870 | Columbia, SC | $112,988 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $131,820 | SC statewide | $140,683 |
| Biomedical Engineer | $96,350 | SC statewide | $102,828 |
| Environmental Engineer | $80,380 | Columbia, SC | $85,784 |
| Architectural and Engineering Manager | $147,060 | Columbia, SC | $156,948 |
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 | 24,132 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $83,263 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 48.0% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 93.7 (below U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Engineering-related employment in Lexington County | 1,007 workers, 172 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Our directory lists 5 engineering programs within 100 miles of Lexington. The closest is Midlands Technical College in West Columbia, SC (6.5 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Denmark Technical College (46.2 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying engineering-related roles near Lexington 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.
Columbia, SC is 18.4 miles from Lexington 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.
Lexington’s median household income of $83,263 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Lexington while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and South Carolina 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 South Carolina (2026)