Best Online Engineering Programs in Knoxville, TN (2026)
Knoxville, Tennessee has a population of about 193,721. The city’s median household income is $50,994 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 33.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 36 accredited schools offering engineering programs near Knoxville, with tuition ranging from $4,576 to $36,828 per year for indexed programs. In the Knoxville, TN metro area, the top-earning engineering-related role is Architectural and Engineering Manager at a median $145,200 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Engineering Schools to Knoxville
The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 36 schools in our directory that offer engineering programs near Knoxville. Distances are calculated from Knoxville city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South College | Knoxville, TN | 1.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| The University of Tennessee-Knoxville | Knoxville, TN | 1.8 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Pellissippi State Community College | Knoxville, TN | 12.2 mi | $4,576 - $17,776 | – |
| Maryville College | Maryville, TN | 15.0 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Carson-Newman University | Jefferson City, TN | 27.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Roane State Community College | Harriman, TN | 38.0 mi | $4,762 - $18,622 | – |
| Walters State Community College | Morristown, TN | 41.9 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Lincoln Memorial University | Harrogate, TN | 45.1 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Tennessee Wesleyan University | Athens, TN | 51.0 mi | $29,264 - $36,828 | – |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Athens | Athens, TN | 52.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Tennessee schools on the Tennessee engineering page.
Engineering Wages Near Knoxville
Knoxville is part of the Knoxville, TN metro area (BLS area code 28940). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Tennessee statewide.
| Occupation | Median Wage | Source | COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineer | $99,810 | Knoxville, TN | $107,786 |
| Electrical Engineer | $110,890 | Knoxville, TN | $119,752 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $95,710 | Knoxville, TN | $103,359 |
| Chemical Engineer | $110,150 | TN statewide | $118,952 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $122,430 | TN statewide | $132,214 |
| Biomedical Engineer | $88,680 | Knoxville, TN | $95,767 |
| Environmental Engineer | $84,230 | Knoxville, TN | $90,961 |
| Architectural and Engineering Manager | $145,200 | Knoxville, TN | $156,803 |
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.
Knoxville at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 193,721 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $50,994 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 33.7% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 92.6 (below U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Engineering-related employment in Knox County | 3,238 workers, 416 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other Knoxville-Area Cities With Engineering Programs
- Farragut, TN – 14.6 mi away (22,282 pop)
- Maryville, TN – 15.4 mi away (28,703 pop)
- Oak Ridge, TN – 19.2 mi away (29,350 pop)
- Sevierville, TN – 22.1 mi away (24,882 pop)
- Harriman, TN – 34.3 mi away (23,026 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited engineering schools are near Knoxville, TN?
Our directory has 36 accredited schools offering engineering programs near Knoxville. The closest is South College in Knoxville, TN (1.5 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Athens (52.7 miles). 0 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying engineering roles near Knoxville?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying engineering-related roles near Knoxville are: Architectural and Engineering Manager ($145,200), Aerospace Engineer ($122,430), Electrical Engineer ($110,890). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Tennessee statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Should I look at programs in Farragut instead of Knoxville?
Farragut, TN is 14.6 miles from Knoxville 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 Knoxville an affordable place to study engineering?
Knoxville’s median household income of $50,994 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Knoxville while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Tennessee 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
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.
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