Best Online Engineering Programs in Gardner, KS (2026)
Gardner, Kansas has a population of about 24,020. The city’s median household income is $92,579 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 32.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 22 accredited schools offering engineering programs near Gardner, with tuition ranging from $9,578 to $34,291 per year for indexed programs. In the Kansas City, MO-KS metro area, the top-earning engineering-related role is Architectural and Engineering Manager at a median $158,050 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Engineering Schools to Gardner
The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 22 schools in our directory that offer engineering programs near Gardner. Distances are calculated from Gardner city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Johnson County Community College | Overland Park, KS | 13.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| University of Kansas | Lawrence, KS | 19.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Ottawa University-Ottawa | Ottawa, KS | 23.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| University of Missouri-Kansas City | Kansas City, MO | 24.0 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Rockhurst University | Kansas City, MO | 24.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Metropolitan Community College-Kansas City | Kansas City, MO | 25.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Pinnacle Career Institute | Kansas City, MO | 36.0 mi | Contact school for pricing | ✓ |
| William Jewell College | Liberty, MO | 40.7 mi | $19,890 - $34,291 | – |
| Rasmussen University-Kansas | Topeka, KS | 43.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Washburn University | Topeka, KS | 44.2 mi | $9,578 - $20,949 | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Kansas schools on the Kansas engineering page.
Engineering Wages Near Gardner
Gardner is part of the Kansas City, MO-KS metro area (BLS area code 28140). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Kansas statewide.
| Occupation | Median Wage | Source | COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineer | $97,310 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $105,200 |
| Electrical Engineer | $101,700 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $109,946 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $100,780 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $108,951 |
| Chemical Engineer | $99,440 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $107,503 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $99,410 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $107,470 |
| Biomedical Engineer | $98,450 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $106,432 |
| Environmental Engineer | $94,040 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $101,665 |
| Architectural and Engineering Manager | $158,050 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $170,865 |
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.
Gardner at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 24,020 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $92,579 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 32.3% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 92.5 (below U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Engineering-related employment in Johnson County | 10,593 workers, 767 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other Gardner-Area Cities With Engineering Programs
- Olathe, KS – 7.6 mi away (135,473 pop)
- Lenexa, KS – 12.1 mi away (52,903 pop)
- Overland Park, KS – 13.9 mi away (188,966 pop)
- Shawnee, KS – 15.3 mi away (65,194 pop)
- Leawood, KS – 17.5 mi away (34,565 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited engineering schools are near Gardner, KS?
Our directory has 22 accredited schools offering engineering programs near Gardner. The closest is Johnson County Community College in Overland Park, KS (13.2 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Washburn University (44.2 miles). 1 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying engineering roles near Gardner?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying engineering-related roles near Gardner are: Architectural and Engineering Manager ($158,050), Electrical Engineer ($101,700), Mechanical Engineer ($100,780). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Kansas statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Should I look at programs in Olathe instead of Gardner?
Olathe, KS is 7.6 miles from Gardner 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 Gardner an affordable place to study engineering?
Gardner’s median household income of $92,579 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Gardner while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Kansas 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
Data verified: May 5, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2024; 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.