Best Online Engineering Programs in Sumter, SC (2026)

Sumter, South Carolina has a population of about 43,065. The city’s median household income is $53,071 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 28.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 31 accredited schools offering engineering programs near Sumter, with tuition ranging from $4,488 to $29,957 per year for indexed programs. In the Sumter, SC metro area, the top-earning engineering-related role is Architectural and Engineering Manager at a median $135,150 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).

Closest Engineering Schools to Sumter

The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 31 schools in our directory that offer engineering programs near Sumter. Distances are calculated from Sumter city center.

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

Engineering Wages Near Sumter

Sumter is part of the Sumter, SC metro area (BLS area code 44940). 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.

Sumter at a Glance

Other Sumter-Area Cities With Engineering Programs

• Columbia, SC – 30.1 mi away (571,249 pop)
• Florence, SC – 38.5 mi away (92,614 pop)
• Orangeburg, SC – 41.2 mi away (31,666 pop)
• Lexington, SC – 47.5 mi away (20,988 pop)
• Lancaster, SC – 58.6 mi away (25,691 pop)

Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited engineering schools are near Sumter, SC?

Our directory has 31 accredited schools offering engineering programs near Sumter. The closest is Central Carolina Technical College in Sumter, SC (1.3 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Francis Marion University (45.8 miles). 0 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.

What are the highest-paying engineering roles near Sumter?

Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying engineering-related roles near Sumter are: Architectural and Engineering Manager ($135,150), Aerospace Engineer ($131,820), Chemical Engineer ($104,660). 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 Columbia instead of Sumter?

Columbia, SC is 30.1 miles from Sumter 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 Sumter an affordable place to study engineering?

Sumter’s median household income of $53,071 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Sumter 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.