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. Our directory has 6 accredited schools offering engineering programs near 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 6 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 6 schools in our directory that offer engineering programs near Harlingen. 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 | 21.0 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 | 33.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| South Texas College | McAllen, TX | 34.5 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 schools are near Harlingen, TX?
Our directory has 6 accredited schools offering engineering programs near 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 the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
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.
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.