Estero, Florida has a population of about 37,258. The city’s median household income is $100,459 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 49.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited engineering programs within 100 miles of Estero. In the Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL metro area, the top-earning engineering-related role is Architectural and Engineering Manager at a median $147,130 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
The five accredited institutions below are the closest options indexed in our directory that offer engineering programs. Distances are calculated from Estero city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida Gulf Coast University | Fort Myers, FL | 2.8 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Florida Academy | Fort Myers, FL | 12.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Fort Myers Technical College | Fort Myers, FL | 15.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Cape Coral Technical College | Cape Coral, FL | 19.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Lorenzo Walker Technical College | Naples, FL | 19.9 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Florida schools on the Florida engineering page.
Estero is part of the Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL metro area (BLS area code 15980). 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 | $97,260 | Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | $95,073 |
| Electrical Engineer | $97,430 | Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | $95,239 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $85,200 | Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | $83,284 |
| Chemical Engineer | $104,000 | FL statewide | $101,662 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $127,680 | FL statewide | $124,809 |
| Biomedical Engineer | $99,980 | FL statewide | $97,732 |
| Environmental Engineer | $97,940 | Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | $95,738 |
| Architectural and Engineering Manager | $147,130 | Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | $143,822 |
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 | 37,258 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $100,459 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 49.7% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 102.3 (above U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Engineering-related employment in Lee County | 3,161 workers, 585 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Our directory lists 5 engineering programs within 100 miles of Estero. The closest is Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers, FL (2.8 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Lorenzo Walker Technical College (19.9 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying engineering-related roles near Estero are: Architectural and Engineering Manager ($147,130), 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.
Bonita Springs, FL is 5.0 miles from Estero 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.
Estero’s median household income of $100,459 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Estero while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Florida 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 Florida (2026)