Best Online Engineering Programs in Fort Collins, CO (2026)
Fort Collins, Colorado has a population of about 169,705. The city’s median household income is $83,598 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 59.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited engineering programs within 100 miles of Fort Collins, with tuition ranging from $2,090 to $41,943 per year. In the Fort Collins-Loveland, CO metro area, the top-earning engineering-related role is Architectural and Engineering Manager at a median $172,510 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Engineering Schools to Fort Collins
The five accredited institutions below are the closest options indexed in our directory that offer engineering programs. Distances are calculated from Fort Collins city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado State University-Fort Collins | Fort Collins, CO | 1.8 mi | $12,896 - $33,751 | – |
| Aims Community College | Greeley, CO | 17.8 mi | $2,090 - $14,478 | – |
| University of Colorado Boulder | Boulder, CO | 38.9 mi | $16,430 - $41,943 | – |
| Front Range Community College | Westminster, CO | 44.8 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Lincoln College of Technology-Denver | Denver, CO | 54.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Colorado schools on the Colorado engineering page.
Engineering Wages Near Fort Collins
Fort Collins is part of the Fort Collins-Loveland, CO metro area (BLS area code 22660). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Colorado statewide.
| Occupation | Median Wage | Source | COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineer | $97,740 | Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | $96,677 |
| Electrical Engineer | $121,350 | Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | $120,030 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $101,020 | Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | $99,921 |
| Chemical Engineer | $112,010 | Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | $110,791 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $151,570 | CO statewide | $149,921 |
| Biomedical Engineer | $106,690 | CO statewide | $105,529 |
| Environmental Engineer | $102,950 | Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | $101,830 |
| Architectural and Engineering Manager | $172,510 | Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | $170,633 |
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.
Fort Collins at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 169,705 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $83,598 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 59.9% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 101.1 (above U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Engineering-related employment in Larimer County | 3,057 workers, 529 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other Fort Collins-Area Cities With Engineering Programs
- Loveland, CO – 9.1 mi away (76,897 pop)
- Windsor, CO – 9.5 mi away (22,776 pop)
- Johnstown, CO – 15.1 mi away (21,313 pop)
- Greeley, CO – 18.1 mi away (131,900 pop)
- Evans, CO – 21.3 mi away (21,615 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited engineering programs are near Fort Collins, CO?
Our directory lists 5 engineering programs within 100 miles of Fort Collins. The closest is Colorado State University-Fort Collins in Fort Collins, CO (1.8 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Lincoln College of Technology-Denver (54.5 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.
What are the highest-paying engineering roles near Fort Collins?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying engineering-related roles near Fort Collins are: Architectural and Engineering Manager ($172,510), Aerospace Engineer ($151,570), Electrical Engineer ($121,350). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Colorado statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Should I look at programs in Loveland instead of Fort Collins?
Loveland, CO is 9.1 miles from Fort Collins 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 Fort Collins an affordable place to study engineering?
Fort Collins’s median household income of $83,598 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Fort Collins while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Colorado 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
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