Best Online Technology Programs in East Chicago, IN (2026)

East Chicago, Indiana has 5 accredited schools offering technology programs, with tuition ranging from $5,093 to $16,287 per year for indexed programs. East Chicago has a population of about 26,158. Median household income is $41,071 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 9.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, the top-earning technology-related role is Computer and Information Systems Manager at a median $173,760 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2025).


Closest Technology Schools to East Chicago

The accredited institutions listed below are the closest in our directory that offer technology programs near East Chicago, ranked by BOC Score and straight-line distance from East Chicago city center. The list is rebuilt from federal IPEDS data on every site update.

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 East Chicago. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.

#1

Purdue University Northwest

Hammond, IN 4.8 miles from East Chicago BOC Score 50.1
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
  • Accredited
Acceptance rate 72%
Graduation rate 43%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $48,318
Avg net price $6,079/yr
Tuition
In‑state$8,675
Out‑of‑state$16,094
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 67%
  • Programs offered: 31

Source:Accreditor: Higher Learning CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#2

Valparaiso University

Valparaiso, IN 24.7 miles from East Chicago BOC Score 71.6
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 73%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $63,191
Avg net price $18,578/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 77%
  • Programs offered: 37

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#3

Purdue University Global

West Lafayette, IN 86.8 miles from East Chicago BOC Score 45.8
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 28%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $36,596
Avg net price $7,770/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 43%
  • Programs offered: 69

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#4

Purdue University-Main Campus

West Lafayette, IN 88.9 miles from East Chicago BOC Score 86.0
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 78%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $72,424
Avg net price $14,600/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 92%
  • Programs offered: 73

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#5

Huntington University

Huntington, IN 114.3 miles from East Chicago BOC Score 58.6
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
  • Accredited
Acceptance rate 76%
Graduation rate 66%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $46,672
Avg net price $19,310/yr
Tuition
In‑state$31,870
Out‑of‑state$31,870
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 80%
  • Programs offered: 30

Source:Accreditor: Higher Learning CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#6

Indiana Wesleyan University-National & Global

Marion, IN 121.0 miles from East Chicago BOC Score 57.5
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
  • Accredited
Graduation rate 36%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $59,986
Avg net price $16,898/yr
Tuition
In‑state$8,208
Out‑of‑state$8,208
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 54

Source:Accreditor: Higher Learning CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#7

Trine University-Regional/Non-Traditional Campuses

Angola, IN 126.1 miles from East Chicago BOC Score 68.3
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 62%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $57,165
Avg net price $15,788/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 86%
  • Programs offered: 15

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#8

Trine University

Angola, IN 126.1 miles from East Chicago BOC Score 58.2
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 62%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $57,165
Avg net price $25,355/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 83%
  • Programs offered: 28

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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


Technology Wages Near East Chicago

East Chicago is part of the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area (BLS area code 16980). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Indiana statewide.

OccupationMedian WageSourceCOL-Adjusted (US=100)
Software Developer$134,380Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN$129,710
Information Security Analyst$125,310Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN$120,956
Computer Network Architect$143,800Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN$138,803
Network and Computer Systems Administrator$103,170Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN$99,585
Computer Network Support Specialist$73,340Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN$70,792
Computer User Support Specialist$60,730Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN$58,620
Web Developer$96,870Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN$93,504
Computer and Information Systems Manager$173,760Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN$167,722

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.


East Chicago at a Glance

MetricValueSource
Population26,158Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income$41,071Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+9.9%Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)
Regional Price Parity (US=100)103.6 (above U.S. average)BEA RPP 2024
Technology-related employment in Lake County1,556 workers, 372 establishmentsBLS QCEW 2024 annual

Other East Chicago-Area Cities With Technology Programs


Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited technology schools are near East Chicago, IN?

Accredited schools offering technology programs near East Chicago are listed on this page, ranked by BOC Score and distance from the city center. The list is rebuilt from federal IPEDS and College Scorecard data on every site update, so it stays current as programs open and close.

What are the highest-paying technology roles near East Chicago?

Based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data, the top-paying technology-related roles near East Chicago are: Computer and Information Systems Manager ($173,760), Computer Network Architect ($143,800), Software Developer ($134,380). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Indiana statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.

Should I look at programs in Hammond instead of East Chicago?

Hammond, IN is 2.9 miles from East Chicago 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 East Chicago an affordable place to study technology?

East Chicago’s median household income of $41,071 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in East Chicago while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Indiana 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 East Chicago

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

Data verified: July 23, 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.