Best Online Engineering Programs in Renton, WA (2026)
Renton, Washington has a population of about 105,279. The city’s median household income is $96,626 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 39.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 36 accredited schools offering engineering programs near Renton. In the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area, the top-earning engineering-related role is Architectural and Engineering Manager at a median $183,640 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Engineering Schools to Renton
The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 36 schools in our directory that offer engineering programs near Renton. Distances are calculated from Renton city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bellevue College | Bellevue, WA | 7.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Highline College | Des Moines, WA | 8.0 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| South Seattle College | Seattle, WA | 9.1 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Seattle University | Seattle, WA | 11.0 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Green River College | Auburn, WA | 11.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| University of Washington-Seattle Campus | Seattle, WA | 13.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Seattle Pacific University | Seattle, WA | 14.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| DigiPen Institute of Technology | Redmond, WA | 14.8 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Lake Washington Institute of Technology | Kirkland, WA | 15.9 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| North Seattle College | Seattle, WA | 16.8 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Washington schools on the Washington engineering page.
Engineering Wages Near Renton
Renton is part of the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area (BLS area code 42660). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Washington statewide.
| Occupation | Median Wage | Source | COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineer | $107,930 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $97,147 |
| Electrical Engineer | $135,480 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $121,944 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $117,930 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $106,148 |
| Chemical Engineer | $135,830 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $122,259 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $174,130 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $156,733 |
| Biomedical Engineer | $125,010 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $112,520 |
| Environmental Engineer | $115,770 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $104,203 |
| Architectural and Engineering Manager | $183,640 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $165,293 |
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.
Renton at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 105,279 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $96,626 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 39.0% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 111.1 (above U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Engineering-related employment in King County | 22,058 workers, 1,921 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other Renton-Area Cities With Engineering Programs
- Tukwila, WA – 3.8 mi away (20,033 pop)
- SeaTac, WA – 5.5 mi away (28,873 pop)
- Kent, WA – 6.1 mi away (127,514 pop)
- Mercer Island, WA – 6.2 mi away (25,134 pop)
- Burien, WA – 7.0 mi away (50,997 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited engineering schools are near Renton, WA?
Our directory has 36 accredited schools offering engineering programs near Renton. The closest is Bellevue College in Bellevue, WA (7.7 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is North Seattle College (16.8 miles). 0 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying engineering roles near Renton?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying engineering-related roles near Renton are: Architectural and Engineering Manager ($183,640), Aerospace Engineer ($174,130), Chemical Engineer ($135,830). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Washington statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Should I look at programs in Tukwila instead of Renton?
Tukwila, WA is 3.8 miles from Renton 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 Renton an affordable place to study engineering?
Renton’s median household income of $96,626 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Renton while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Washington 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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