Best Online Engineering Programs in Harlingen, TX (2026)
Harlingen, Texas has a population of about 71,669. The city’s median household income is $55,891 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 21.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited engineering programs within 100 miles of Harlingen. In the Brownsville-Harlingen, TX metro area, the top-earning engineering-related role is Architectural and Engineering Manager at a median $158,820 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Engineering Schools to Harlingen
The five accredited institutions below are the closest options indexed in our directory that offer engineering programs. Distances are calculated from Harlingen city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southern Careers Institute-Harlingen | Harlingen, TX | 1.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| South Texas Vocational Technical Institute-Brownsville | Brownsville, TX | 22.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley | Edinburg, TX | 30.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Miller-Motte College-STVT-McAllen | McAllen, TX | 33.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Texas A & M University-Kingsville | Kingsville, TX | 92.9 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Texas schools on the Texas engineering page.
Engineering Wages Near Harlingen
Harlingen is part of the Brownsville-Harlingen, TX metro area (BLS area code 15180). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Texas statewide.
| Occupation | Median Wage | Source | COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineer | $71,810 | Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | $83,500 |
| Electrical Engineer | $103,420 | Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | $120,256 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $107,740 | Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | $125,279 |
| Chemical Engineer | $135,160 | TX statewide | $157,163 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $126,470 | TX statewide | $147,058 |
| Biomedical Engineer | $97,160 | TX statewide | $112,977 |
| Environmental Engineer | $108,560 | TX statewide | $126,233 |
| Architectural and Engineering Manager | $158,820 | Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | $184,674 |
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.
Harlingen at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 71,669 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $55,891 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 21.7% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 86.0 (below U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Engineering-related employment in Cameron County | 382 workers, 63 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other Harlingen-Area Cities With Engineering Programs
- San Benito, TX – 5.4 mi away (24,476 pop)
- Weslaco, TX – 18.0 mi away (40,033 pop)
- Brownsville, TX – 20.1 mi away (228,534 pop)
- San Juan, TX – 28.2 mi away (36,663 pop)
- Edinburg, TX – 30.1 mi away (87,650 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited engineering programs are near Harlingen, TX?
Our directory lists 5 engineering programs within 100 miles of Harlingen. The closest is Southern Careers Institute-Harlingen in Harlingen, TX (1.6 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Texas A & M University-Kingsville (92.9 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.
What are the highest-paying engineering roles near Harlingen?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying engineering-related roles near Harlingen are: Architectural and Engineering Manager ($158,820), Chemical Engineer ($135,160), Aerospace Engineer ($126,470). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Texas statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Should I look at programs in San Benito instead of Harlingen?
San Benito, TX is 5.4 miles from Harlingen 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 Harlingen an affordable place to study engineering?
Harlingen’s median household income of $55,891 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Harlingen while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Texas 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.