Beckley, West Virginia has a population of about 16,977. The city’s median household income is $39,939 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 25.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited engineering programs within 100 miles of Beckley, with tuition ranging from $10,240 to $20,747 per year. In West Virginia, the top-earning engineering-related role is Architectural and Engineering Manager at a median $143,800 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 Beckley city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Virginia University Institute of Technology | Beckley, WV | 0.8 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| New River Community and Technical College | Beaver, WV | 3.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Bluefield State University | Bluefield, WV | 36.1 mi | $10,240 - $20,747 | – |
| Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College | Logan, WV | 46.0 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| BridgeValley Community & Technical College | South Charleston, WV | 48.1 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all West Virginia schools on the West Virginia engineering page.
Beckley is part of the Beckley, WV metro area (BLS area code 13220). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to West Virginia statewide.
| Occupation | Median Wage | Source | COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineer | $85,170 | Beckley, WV | $96,346 |
| Electrical Engineer | $119,990 | Beckley, WV | $135,735 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $100,610 | WV statewide | $113,812 |
| Chemical Engineer | $139,730 | WV statewide | $158,066 |
| Aerospace Engineer | N/A | WV statewide | – |
| Biomedical Engineer | N/A | WV statewide | – |
| Environmental Engineer | $72,760 | Beckley, WV | $82,308 |
| Architectural and Engineering Manager | $143,800 | WV statewide | $162,670 |
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 | 16,977 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $39,939 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 25.9% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 88.4 (below U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Engineering-related employment in Raleigh County | 340 workers, 36 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Our directory lists 5 engineering programs within 100 miles of Beckley. The closest is West Virginia University Institute of Technology in Beckley, WV (0.8 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is BridgeValley Community & Technical College (48.1 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying engineering-related roles near Beckley are: Architectural and Engineering Manager ($143,800), Chemical Engineer ($139,730), Electrical Engineer ($119,990). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with West Virginia statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Bluefield, WV is 36.5 miles from Beckley 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.
Beckley’s median household income of $39,939 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Beckley while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and West Virginia 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 West Virginia (2026)