Best Online Engineering Programs in San Marcos, TX (2026)
San Marcos, Texas has a population of about 68,920. The city’s median household income is $51,030 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 37.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 26 accredited schools offering engineering programs near San Marcos, with tuition ranging from $35,660 to $45,850 per year for indexed programs. In the Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX metro area, the top-earning engineering-related role is Architectural and Engineering Manager at a median $175,940 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Engineering Schools to San Marcos
The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 26 schools in our directory that offer engineering programs near San Marcos. Distances are calculated from San Marcos city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas State University | San Marcos, TX | 1.1 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Texas Lutheran University | Seguin, TX | 21.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Southern Careers Institute-Austin | Austin, TX | 25.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Huston-Tillotson University | Austin, TX | 29.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| The University of Texas at Austin | Austin, TX | 30.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Austin Community College District | Austin, TX | 33.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| CyberTex Institute of Technology | Austin, TX | 33.8 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| University of the Incarnate Word | San Antonio, TX | 42.8 mi | $35,660 - $45,850 | – |
| Trinity University | San Antonio, TX | 43.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| St Philip’s College | San Antonio, TX | 44.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Texas schools on the Texas engineering page.
Engineering Wages Near San Marcos
San Marcos is part of the Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX metro area (BLS area code 12420). 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 | $97,850 | Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $99,745 |
| Electrical Engineer | $117,420 | Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $119,694 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $110,410 | Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $112,548 |
| Chemical Engineer | $135,860 | Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $138,491 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $121,800 | Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $124,159 |
| Biomedical Engineer | $101,360 | Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $103,323 |
| Environmental Engineer | $104,080 | Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $106,096 |
| Architectural and Engineering Manager | $175,940 | Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $179,348 |
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.
San Marcos at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 68,920 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $51,030 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 37.3% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 98.1 (below U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Engineering-related employment in Hays County | 728 workers, 146 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other San Marcos-Area Cities With Engineering Programs
- Kyle, TX – 9.5 mi away (39,060 pop)
- Seguin, TX – 20.0 mi away (27,415 pop)
- Cibolo, TX – 27.2 mi away (27,855 pop)
- Schertz, TX – 29.0 mi away (39,453 pop)
- Austin, TX – 31.3 mi away (1,633,847 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited engineering schools are near San Marcos, TX?
Our directory has 26 accredited schools offering engineering programs near San Marcos. The closest is Texas State University in San Marcos, TX (1.1 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is St Philip’s College (44.7 miles). 0 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying engineering roles near San Marcos?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying engineering-related roles near San Marcos are: Architectural and Engineering Manager ($175,940), Chemical Engineer ($135,860), Aerospace Engineer ($121,800). 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 Kyle instead of San Marcos?
Kyle, TX is 9.5 miles from San Marcos 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 San Marcos an affordable place to study engineering?
San Marcos’s median household income of $51,030 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in San Marcos 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.