Wenatchee, Washington has a population of about 35,502. The city’s median household income is $70,000 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 28.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited engineering programs within 100 miles of Wenatchee. In Washington, the top-earning engineering-related role is Architectural and Engineering Manager at a median $181,080 annually (BLS, May 2024).
The five accredited institutions below are the closest options indexed in our directory that offer engineering programs. Distances are calculated from Wenatchee city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wenatchee Valley College | Wenatchee, WA | 0.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Central Washington University | Ellensburg, WA | 30.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Big Bend Community College | Moses Lake, WA | 53.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Bellevue College | Bellevue, WA | 85.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Green River College | Auburn, WA | 86.8 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Washington schools on the Washington engineering page.
Wenatchee is part of the Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA metro area (BLS area code 48300). 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 | $95,170 | Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | $91,598 |
| Electrical Engineer | $128,640 | Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | $123,811 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $97,110 | Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | $93,465 |
| Chemical Engineer | $130,830 | WA statewide | $125,919 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $158,600 | WA statewide | $152,647 |
| Biomedical Engineer | $125,010 | WA statewide | $120,318 |
| Environmental Engineer | $115,770 | WA statewide | $111,424 |
| Architectural and Engineering Manager | $181,080 | WA statewide | $174,283 |
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.
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 35,502 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $70,000 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 28.7% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 103.9 (above U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Engineering-related employment in Chelan County | 123 workers, 32 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Our directory lists 5 engineering programs within 100 miles of Wenatchee. The closest is Wenatchee Valley College in Wenatchee, WA (0.6 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Green River College (86.8 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying engineering-related roles near Wenatchee are: Architectural and Engineering Manager ($181,080), Aerospace Engineer ($158,600), Chemical Engineer ($130,830). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Washington statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Ellensburg, WA is 31.1 miles from Wenatchee 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.
Wenatchee’s median household income of $70,000 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Wenatchee while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Washington public universities often offer reduced in-state online tuition.
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.
Return to Best Online Engineering Programs in Washington (2026)