Best Online Engineering Programs in Apple Valley, MN (2026)
Apple Valley, Minnesota has a population of about 55,696. The city’s median household income is $99,277 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 45.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 35 accredited schools offering engineering programs near Apple Valley. In the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro area, the top-earning engineering-related role is Architectural and Engineering Manager at a median $170,970 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Engineering Schools to Apple Valley
The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 35 schools in our directory that offer engineering programs near Apple Valley. Distances are calculated from Apple Valley city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dakota County Technical College | Rosemount, MN | 6.0 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Normandale Community College | Bloomington, MN | 8.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Inver Hills Community College | Inver Grove Heights, MN | 9.1 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| University of St Thomas | Saint Paul, MN | 13.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Saint Paul College | Saint Paul, MN | 14.8 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Hamline University | Saint Paul, MN | 15.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| University of Minnesota-Twin Cities | Minneapolis, MN | 15.8 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Dunwoody College of Technology | Minneapolis, MN | 16.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Walden University | Minneapolis, MN | 16.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | ✓ |
| University of Northwestern-St Paul | Saint Paul, MN | 20.0 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Minnesota schools on the Minnesota engineering page.
Engineering Wages Near Apple Valley
Apple Valley is part of the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro area (BLS area code 33460). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Minnesota statewide.
| Occupation | Median Wage | Source | COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineer | $102,190 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $97,510 |
| Electrical Engineer | $106,960 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $102,061 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $100,740 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $96,126 |
| Chemical Engineer | $122,110 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $116,517 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $147,940 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $141,164 |
| Biomedical Engineer | $126,780 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $120,973 |
| Environmental Engineer | $108,380 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $103,416 |
| Architectural and Engineering Manager | $170,970 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $163,139 |
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.
Apple Valley at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 55,696 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $99,277 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 45.9% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 104.8 (above U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Engineering-related employment in Dakota County | 1,577 workers, 135 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other Apple Valley-Area Cities With Engineering Programs
- Burnsville, MN – 4.1 mi away (61,290 pop)
- Eagan, MN – 5.2 mi away (66,428 pop)
- Lakeville, MN – 5.3 mi away (61,938 pop)
- Farmington, MN – 6.3 mi away (22,656 pop)
- Rosemount, MN – 6.6 mi away (23,911 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited engineering schools are near Apple Valley, MN?
Our directory has 35 accredited schools offering engineering programs near Apple Valley. The closest is Dakota County Technical College in Rosemount, MN (6.0 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is University of Northwestern-St Paul (20.0 miles). 1 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying engineering roles near Apple Valley?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying engineering-related roles near Apple Valley are: Architectural and Engineering Manager ($170,970), Aerospace Engineer ($147,940), Biomedical Engineer ($126,780). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Minnesota statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Should I look at programs in Burnsville instead of Apple Valley?
Burnsville, MN is 4.1 miles from Apple Valley 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 Apple Valley an affordable place to study engineering?
Apple Valley’s median household income of $99,277 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Apple Valley while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Minnesota 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.
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