Best Online Engineering Programs in Richland, WA (2026)
Richland, Washington has a population of about 61,912. The city’s median household income is $92,550 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 46.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 10 accredited schools offering engineering programs near Richland. In the Kennewick-Richland, WA metro area, the top-earning engineering-related role is Architectural and Engineering Manager at a median $184,200 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Engineering Schools to Richland
The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 10 schools in our directory that offer engineering programs near Richland. Distances are calculated from Richland city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia Basin College | Pasco, WA | 8.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Walla Walla University | College Place, WA | 46.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Blue Mountain Community College | Pendleton, OR | 47.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Whitman College | Walla Walla, WA | 48.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Walla Walla Community College | Walla Walla, WA | 50.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Big Bend Community College | Moses Lake, WA | 62.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Yakima Valley College | Yakima, WA | 62.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Perry Technical Institute | Yakima, WA | 62.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Central Washington University | Ellensburg, WA | 77.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Wenatchee Valley College | Wenatchee, WA | 93.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Washington schools on the Washington engineering page.
Engineering Wages Near Richland
Richland is part of the Kennewick-Richland, WA metro area (BLS area code 28420). 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 | $121,170 | Kennewick-Richland, WA | $121,049 |
| Electrical Engineer | $138,370 | Kennewick-Richland, WA | $138,232 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $120,260 | Kennewick-Richland, WA | $120,140 |
| Chemical Engineer | $139,560 | Kennewick-Richland, WA | $139,421 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $158,600 | WA statewide | $158,442 |
| Biomedical Engineer | $125,010 | WA statewide | $124,885 |
| Environmental Engineer | $138,090 | Kennewick-Richland, WA | $137,952 |
| Architectural and Engineering Manager | $184,200 | Kennewick-Richland, WA | $184,016 |
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.
Richland at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 61,912 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $92,550 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 46.0% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 100.1 (above U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Engineering-related employment in Benton County | 2,902 workers, 126 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other Richland-Area Cities With Engineering Programs
- Kennewick, WA – 8.2 mi away (229,624 pop)
- Pasco, WA – 8.3 mi away (70,579 pop)
- Hermiston, OR – 31.1 mi away (28,704 pop)
- Walla Walla, WA – 48.2 mi away (56,509 pop)
- Moses Lake, WA – 58.4 mi away (36,662 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited engineering schools are near Richland, WA?
Our directory has 10 accredited schools offering engineering programs near Richland. The closest is Columbia Basin College in Pasco, WA (8.5 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Wenatchee Valley College (93.4 miles). 0 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying engineering roles near Richland?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying engineering-related roles near Richland are: Architectural and Engineering Manager ($184,200), Aerospace Engineer ($158,600), Chemical Engineer ($139,560). 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 Kennewick instead of Richland?
Kennewick, WA is 8.2 miles from Richland 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 Richland an affordable place to study engineering?
Richland’s median household income of $92,550 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Richland 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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