Best Online Engineering Programs in Plano, TX (2026)
Plano, Texas has a population of about 287,339. The city’s median household income is $108,649 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 59.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 25 accredited schools offering engineering programs near Plano. In the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX metro area, the top-earning engineering-related role is Architectural and Engineering Manager at a median $170,840 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Engineering Schools to Plano
The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 25 schools in our directory that offer engineering programs near Plano. Distances are calculated from Plano city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The University of Texas at Dallas | Richardson, TX | 4.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Collin County Community College District | McKinney, TX | 10.0 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Southern Methodist University | Dallas, TX | 14.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| DeVry University-Texas | Irving, TX | 17.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center | Dallas, TX | 17.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Dallas College | Dallas, TX | 19.8 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| University of North Texas | Denton, TX | 25.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Dallas Baptist University | Dallas, TX | 26.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Peloton College | Arlington, TX | 28.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Miller-Motte College-STVT-Arlington | Arlington, TX | 29.8 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Texas schools on the Texas engineering page.
Engineering Wages Near Plano
Plano is part of the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX metro area (BLS area code 19100). 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 | $98,750 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $95,781 |
| Electrical Engineer | $104,380 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $101,242 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $104,410 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $101,271 |
| Chemical Engineer | $125,410 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $121,639 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $131,920 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $127,953 |
| Biomedical Engineer | $101,150 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $98,109 |
| Environmental Engineer | $108,560 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $105,296 |
| Architectural and Engineering Manager | $170,840 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $165,703 |
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.
Plano at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 287,339 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $108,649 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 59.2% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 103.1 (above U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Engineering-related employment in Collin County | 7,402 workers, 703 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other Plano-Area Cities With Engineering Programs
- Richardson, TX – 5.9 mi away (113,347 pop)
- Allen, TX – 5.9 mi away (99,179 pop)
- Murphy, TX – 8.3 mi away (20,482 pop)
- Frisco, TX – 8.4 mi away (163,656 pop)
- The Colony, TX – 9.1 mi away (42,408 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited engineering schools are near Plano, TX?
Our directory has 25 accredited schools offering engineering programs near Plano. The closest is The University of Texas at Dallas in Richardson, TX (4.5 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Miller-Motte College-STVT-Arlington (29.8 miles). 0 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying engineering roles near Plano?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying engineering-related roles near Plano are: Architectural and Engineering Manager ($170,840), Aerospace Engineer ($131,920), Chemical Engineer ($125,410). 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 Richardson instead of Plano?
Richardson, TX is 5.9 miles from Plano 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 Plano an affordable place to study engineering?
Plano’s median household income of $108,649 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Plano 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.