Best Online Engineering Programs in Cottage Grove, MN (2026)
Cottage Grove, Minnesota has a population of about 40,124. The city’s median household income is $121,452 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 39.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited engineering programs within 100 miles of Cottage Grove. 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 Cottage Grove
The five accredited institutions below are the closest options indexed in our directory that offer engineering programs. Distances are calculated from Cottage Grove city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saint Paul College | Saint Paul, MN | 12.8 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Century College | White Bear Lake, MN | 15.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| University of Wisconsin-River Falls | River Falls, WI | 15.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| University of St Thomas | Saint Paul, MN | 15.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| University of Minnesota-Twin Cities | Minneapolis, MN | 18.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Minnesota schools on the Minnesota engineering page.
Engineering Wages Near Cottage Grove
Cottage Grove 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.
Cottage Grove at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 40,124 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $121,452 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 39.3% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 104.8 (above U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Engineering-related employment in Washington County | 974 workers, 114 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other Cottage Grove-Area Cities With Engineering Programs
- Woodbury, MN – 6.2 mi away (68,820 pop)
- Inver Grove Heights, MN – 6.5 mi away (35,077 pop)
- Hastings, MN – 6.9 mi away (22,761 pop)
- South Saint Paul, MN – 7.4 mi away (20,217 pop)
- Rosemount, MN – 8.3 mi away (23,911 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited engineering programs are near Cottage Grove, MN?
Our directory lists 5 engineering programs within 100 miles of Cottage Grove. The closest is Saint Paul College in Saint Paul, MN (12.8 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is University of Minnesota-Twin Cities (18.6 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.
What are the highest-paying engineering roles near Cottage Grove?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying engineering-related roles near Cottage Grove 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 Woodbury instead of Cottage Grove?
Woodbury, MN is 6.2 miles from Cottage Grove 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 Cottage Grove an affordable place to study engineering?
Cottage Grove’s median household income of $121,452 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Cottage Grove 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
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