Best Online Engineering Programs in McAllen, TX (2026)
McAllen, Texas has a population of about 143,789. The city’s median household income is $60,165 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 32.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 6 accredited schools offering engineering programs near McAllen. In Texas, the top-earning engineering-related role is Architectural and Engineering Manager at a median $170,650 annually (BLS, May 2024).
Closest Engineering Schools to McAllen
The 6 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 6 schools in our directory that offer engineering programs near McAllen. Distances are calculated from McAllen city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Texas College | McAllen, TX | 0.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Miller-Motte College-STVT-McAllen | McAllen, TX | 2.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley | Edinburg, TX | 7.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Southern Careers Institute-Harlingen | Harlingen, TX | 35.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| South Texas Vocational Technical Institute-Brownsville | Brownsville, TX | 49.9 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 McAllen
McAllen is part of the McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX metro area (BLS area code 32580). 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 | $76,930 | McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $89,558 |
| Electrical Engineer | $77,960 | McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $90,757 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $84,570 | McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $98,452 |
| Chemical Engineer | $135,160 | TX statewide | $157,346 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $126,470 | TX statewide | $147,229 |
| Biomedical Engineer | $97,160 | TX statewide | $113,108 |
| Environmental Engineer | $108,560 | TX statewide | $126,380 |
| Architectural and Engineering Manager | $170,650 | TX statewide | $198,661 |
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.
McAllen at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 143,789 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $60,165 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 32.0% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 85.9 (below U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Engineering-related employment in Hidalgo County | 1,636 workers, 160 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other McAllen-Area Cities With Engineering Programs
- Pharr, TX – 4.9 mi away (77,320 pop)
- Mission, TX – 5.0 mi away (83,563 pop)
- San Juan, TX – 6.2 mi away (36,663 pop)
- Edinburg, TX – 8.5 mi away (87,650 pop)
- Weslaco, TX – 16.5 mi away (40,033 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited engineering schools are near McAllen, TX?
Our directory has 6 accredited schools offering engineering programs near McAllen. The closest is South Texas College in McAllen, TX (0.5 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 McAllen?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying engineering-related roles near McAllen are: Architectural and Engineering Manager ($170,650), 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 Pharr instead of McAllen?
Pharr, TX is 4.9 miles from McAllen 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 McAllen an affordable place to study engineering?
McAllen’s median household income of $60,165 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in McAllen 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.