Best Online Technology Programs in Atwater, CA (2026)

Atwater, California has 5 accredited schools offering technology programs. Atwater has a population of about 32,013. Median household income is $63,945 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 13.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In the Merced, CA metro area, the top-earning technology-related role is Computer and Information Systems Manager at a median $167,150 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2025).


Closest Technology Schools to Atwater

The 5 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 5 schools in our directory that offer technology programs near Atwater. Distances are calculated from Atwater city center.

How We Rank Schools

Every school list on this site is ordered by the BOC Score, computed from the most recent school-level data published by the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard and IPEDS). To qualify, a school must be currently operating and accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Each eligible school is then scored on five measures, percentile-ranked against schools at the same credential level:

  • Graduation rate 30%
  • Median earnings, 10 years after entry 25%
  • Average net price (lower is better) 20%
  • Retention rate 15%
  • Fully online availability 10%

Schools without enough outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score. On this page, schools are ordered by distance from Atwater. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.

#1

Merced College

Merced, CA 7.0 miles from Atwater BOC Score51.7
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Online programsYes

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#2

Modesto Junior College

Modesto, CA 30.5 miles from Atwater BOC Score64.3
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Online programsYes

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#3

Madera Community College

Madera, CA 44.5 miles from Atwater BOC Score55.8
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programs--

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#4

Columbia College

Sonora, CA 48.1 miles from Atwater BOC Score32.3
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programs--

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#5

Clovis Community College

Fresno, CA 57.6 miles from Atwater BOC Score53.5
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programs--

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Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all California schools on the California technology page.


Technology Wages Near Atwater

Atwater is part of the Merced, CA metro area (BLS area code 32900). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to California statewide.

OccupationMedian WageSourceCOL-Adjusted (US=100)
Software Developer$132,120Merced, CA$134,405
Information Security Analyst$138,570CA statewide$140,966
Computer Network Architect$158,870CA statewide$161,617
Network and Computer Systems Administrator$98,060Merced, CA$99,756
Computer Network Support Specialist$84,870Merced, CA$86,338
Computer User Support Specialist$69,610Merced, CA$70,814
Web Developer$119,570CA statewide$121,638
Computer and Information Systems Manager$167,150Merced, CA$170,041

Source: BLS, May 2025 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.


Atwater at a Glance

MetricValueSource
Population32,013Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income$63,945Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+13.1%Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)
Regional Price Parity (US=100)98.3 (below U.S. average)BEA RPP 2024
Technology-related employment in Merced County306 workers, 47 establishmentsBLS QCEW 2024 annual

Other Atwater-Area Cities With Technology Programs


Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited technology schools are near Atwater, CA?

Our directory has 5 accredited schools offering technology programs near Atwater. The closest is Merced College in Merced, CA (7.0 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Clovis Community College (57.6 miles). 2 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.

What are the highest-paying technology roles near Atwater?

Based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data, the top-paying technology-related roles near Atwater are: Computer and Information Systems Manager ($167,150), Computer Network Architect ($158,870), Information Security Analyst ($138,570). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with California statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.

Should I look at programs in Merced instead of Atwater?

Merced, CA is 7.4 miles from Atwater and has its own set of local technology programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.

Is Atwater an affordable place to study technology?

Atwater’s median household income of $63,945 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Atwater while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and California 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.


Learn More About Technology Programs

Other Programs Available in Atwater

Compare every accredited online degree program with city-level data for Atwater:

Data verified: June 11, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; 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.