Best Online Engineering Programs in Houston, TX (2026)
Houston, Texas has a population of about 2,300,419. The city’s median household income is $62,894 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 36.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited engineering programs within 100 miles of Houston. In the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area, the top-earning engineering-related role is Architectural and Engineering Manager at a median $172,810 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Engineering Schools to Houston
The five accredited institutions below are the closest options indexed in our directory that offer engineering programs. Distances are calculated from Houston city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Houston-Downtown | Houston, TX | 2.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Houston Community College | Houston, TX | 3.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| University of St Thomas | Houston, TX | 3.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Texas Southern University | Houston, TX | 5.0 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| University of Houston | Houston, TX | 5.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Texas schools on the Texas engineering page.
Engineering Wages Near Houston
Houston is part of the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area (BLS area code 26420). 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 | $98,690 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $100,091 |
| Electrical Engineer | $110,210 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $111,775 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $126,870 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $128,671 |
| Chemical Engineer | $152,290 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $154,452 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $126,690 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $128,489 |
| Biomedical Engineer | $100,530 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $101,957 |
| Environmental Engineer | $110,500 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $112,069 |
| Architectural and Engineering Manager | $172,810 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $175,264 |
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.
Houston at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 2,300,419 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $62,894 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 36.0% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 98.6 (below U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Engineering-related employment in Harris County | 65,565 workers, 3,081 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other Houston-Area Cities With Engineering Programs
- Pearland, TX – 16.4 mi away (113,570 pop)
- Pasadena, TX – 17.1 mi away (153,351 pop)
- Missouri City, TX – 17.7 mi away (74,561 pop)
- Deer Park, TX – 18.0 mi away (33,782 pop)
- Sugar Land, TX – 19.3 mi away (88,177 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited engineering programs are near Houston, TX?
Our directory lists 5 engineering programs within 100 miles of Houston. The closest is University of Houston-Downtown in Houston, TX (2.5 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is University of Houston (5.6 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.
What are the highest-paying engineering roles near Houston?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying engineering-related roles near Houston are: Architectural and Engineering Manager ($172,810), Chemical Engineer ($152,290), Mechanical Engineer ($126,870). 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 Pearland instead of Houston?
Pearland, TX is 16.4 miles from Houston 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 Houston an affordable place to study engineering?
Houston’s median household income of $62,894 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Houston 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.