Best Online Engineering Programs in Bradenton, FL (2026)
Bradenton, Florida has a population of about 56,289. The city’s median household income is $60,964 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 27.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited engineering programs within 100 miles of Bradenton, with tuition ranging from $2,682 to $10,634 per year. In the North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL metro area, the top-earning engineering-related role is Architectural and Engineering Manager at a median $147,900 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Engineering Schools to Bradenton
The five accredited institutions below are the closest options indexed in our directory that offer engineering programs. Distances are calculated from Bradenton city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manatee Technical College | Bradenton, FL | 0.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| State College of Florida-Manatee-Sarasota | Bradenton, FL | 3.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Suncoast Technical College | Sarasota, FL | 14.9 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| St Petersburg College | St. Petersburg, FL | 19.3 mi | $2,682 - $10,634 | – |
| Pinellas Technical College-St. Petersburg | Saint Petersburg, FL | 19.8 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Florida schools on the Florida engineering page.
Engineering Wages Near Bradenton
Bradenton is part of the North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL metro area (BLS area code 35840). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Florida statewide.
| Occupation | Median Wage | Source | COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineer | $95,100 | North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $92,871 |
| Electrical Engineer | $101,040 | North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $98,672 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $88,250 | North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $86,182 |
| Chemical Engineer | $104,000 | FL statewide | $101,562 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $127,680 | FL statewide | $124,688 |
| Biomedical Engineer | $99,980 | FL statewide | $97,637 |
| Environmental Engineer | $100,040 | North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $97,695 |
| Architectural and Engineering Manager | $147,900 | North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $144,434 |
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.
Bradenton at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 56,289 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $60,964 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 27.7% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 102.4 (above U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Engineering-related employment in Manatee County | 1,072 workers, 284 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other Bradenton-Area Cities With Engineering Programs
- Sarasota, FL – 10.6 mi away (701,487 pop)
- Saint Petersburg, FL – 21.7 mi away (260,999 pop)
- Pinellas Park, FL – 26.7 mi away (52,137 pop)
- Venice, FL – 27.6 mi away (22,465 pop)
- Largo, FL – 31.3 mi away (83,065 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited engineering programs are near Bradenton, FL?
Our directory lists 5 engineering programs within 100 miles of Bradenton. The closest is Manatee Technical College in Bradenton, FL (0.6 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Pinellas Technical College-St. Petersburg (19.8 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.
What are the highest-paying engineering roles near Bradenton?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying engineering-related roles near Bradenton are: Architectural and Engineering Manager ($147,900), Aerospace Engineer ($127,680), Chemical Engineer ($104,000). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Florida statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Should I look at programs in Sarasota instead of Bradenton?
Sarasota, FL is 10.6 miles from Bradenton 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 Bradenton an affordable place to study engineering?
Bradenton’s median household income of $60,964 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Bradenton while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Florida 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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