Best Online Engineering Programs in Petersburg, VA (2026)
Petersburg, Virginia has a population of about 33,365. The city’s median household income is $50,741 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 25.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 34 accredited schools offering engineering programs near Petersburg, with tuition ranging from $4,848 to $61,174 per year for indexed programs. In the Richmond, VA metro area, the top-earning engineering-related role is Architectural and Engineering Manager at a median $159,990 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Engineering Schools to Petersburg
The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 34 schools in our directory that offer engineering programs near Petersburg. Distances are calculated from Petersburg city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia State University | Petersburg, VA | 2.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Brightpoint Community College | Chester, VA | 9.9 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Virginia Commonwealth University | Richmond, VA | 24.1 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| J Sargeant Reynolds Community College | Richmond, VA | 30.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Southside Virginia Community College | Alberta, VA | 38.5 mi | $4,848 - $13,401 | – |
| Randolph-Macon College | Ashland, VA | 38.7 mi | $48,002 - $61,174 | – |
| Paul D Camp Community College | Franklin, VA | 44.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Rappahannock Community College | Glenns, VA | 48.9 mi | $4,958 - $12,149 | – |
| Christopher Newport University | Newport News, VA | 50.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Virginia Peninsula Community College | Hampton, VA | 54.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Virginia schools on the Virginia engineering page.
Engineering Wages Near Petersburg
Petersburg is part of the Richmond, VA metro area (BLS area code 40060). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Virginia statewide.
| Occupation | Median Wage | Source | COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineer | $88,920 | Richmond, VA | $90,827 |
| Electrical Engineer | $110,500 | Richmond, VA | $112,870 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $101,210 | Richmond, VA | $103,381 |
| Chemical Engineer | $132,550 | VA statewide | $135,393 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $118,390 | Richmond, VA | $120,930 |
| Biomedical Engineer | $104,680 | Richmond, VA | $106,925 |
| Environmental Engineer | $93,270 | Richmond, VA | $95,271 |
| Architectural and Engineering Manager | $159,990 | Richmond, VA | $163,422 |
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.
Petersburg at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 33,365 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $50,741 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 25.0% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 97.9 (below U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
Other Petersburg-Area Cities With Engineering Programs
- Hopewell, VA – 7.9 mi away (22,735 pop)
- Richmond, VA – 22.9 mi away (1,041,877 pop)
- Williamsburg, VA – 37.9 mi away (81,840 pop)
- Newport News, VA – 48.6 mi away (181,825 pop)
- Roanoke Rapids, NC – 54.3 mi away (23,546 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited engineering schools are near Petersburg, VA?
Our directory has 34 accredited schools offering engineering programs near Petersburg. The closest is Virginia State University in Petersburg, VA (2.6 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Virginia Peninsula Community College (54.4 miles). 0 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying engineering roles near Petersburg?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying engineering-related roles near Petersburg are: Architectural and Engineering Manager ($159,990), Chemical Engineer ($132,550), Aerospace Engineer ($118,390). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Virginia statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Should I look at programs in Hopewell instead of Petersburg?
Hopewell, VA is 7.9 miles from Petersburg 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 Petersburg an affordable place to study engineering?
Petersburg’s median household income of $50,741 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Petersburg while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Virginia 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.
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