Best Online Engineering Programs in Portsmouth, VA (2026)
Portsmouth, Virginia has a population of about 97,299. The city’s median household income is $58,972 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 23.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited engineering programs within 100 miles of Portsmouth. In the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area, the top-earning engineering-related role is Architectural and Engineering Manager at a median $157,060 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Engineering Schools to Portsmouth
The five accredited institutions below are the closest options indexed in our directory that offer engineering programs. Distances are calculated from Portsmouth city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tidewater Community College | Norfolk, VA | 3.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Old Dominion University | Norfolk, VA | 3.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Norfolk State University | Norfolk, VA | 4.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| ECPI University | Virginia Beach, VA | 9.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Virginia Peninsula Community College | Hampton, VA | 15.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Virginia schools on the Virginia engineering page.
Engineering Wages Near Portsmouth
Portsmouth is part of the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area (BLS area code 47260). 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 | $94,060 | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $96,078 |
| Electrical Engineer | $106,070 | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $108,345 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $97,470 | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $99,561 |
| Chemical Engineer | $132,550 | VA statewide | $135,393 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $132,160 | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $134,995 |
| Biomedical Engineer | $103,110 | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $105,322 |
| Environmental Engineer | $99,250 | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $101,379 |
| Architectural and Engineering Manager | $157,060 | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $160,429 |
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.
Portsmouth at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 97,299 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $58,972 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 23.2% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 97.9 (below U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Engineering-related employment in Portsmouth (city) County | 410 workers, 32 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other Portsmouth-Area Cities With Engineering Programs
- Norfolk, VA – 6.2 mi away (245,115 pop)
- Chesapeake, VA – 12.0 mi away (237,940 pop)
- Hampton, VA – 14.4 mi away (135,410 pop)
- Virginia Beach, VA – 18.9 mi away (1,487,505 pop)
- Suffolk, VA – 19.0 mi away (89,273 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited engineering programs are near Portsmouth, VA?
Our directory lists 5 engineering programs within 100 miles of Portsmouth. The closest is Tidewater Community College in Norfolk, VA (3.5 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Virginia Peninsula Community College (15.4 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.
What are the highest-paying engineering roles near Portsmouth?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying engineering-related roles near Portsmouth are: Architectural and Engineering Manager ($157,060), Chemical Engineer ($132,550), Aerospace Engineer ($132,160). 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 Norfolk instead of Portsmouth?
Norfolk, VA is 6.2 miles from Portsmouth 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 Portsmouth an affordable place to study engineering?
Portsmouth’s median household income of $58,972 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Portsmouth 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
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