Best Online Engineering Programs in Hastings, MN (2026)
Hastings, Minnesota has a population of about 22,050. The city’s median household income is $92,940 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 28.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited engineering programs within 100 miles of Hastings. 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 Hastings
The five accredited institutions below are the closest options indexed in our directory that offer engineering programs. Distances are calculated from Hastings city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Wisconsin-River Falls | River Falls, WI | 14.0 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Saint Paul College | Saint Paul, MN | 19.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Century College | White Bear Lake, MN | 21.8 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| University of St Thomas | Saint Paul, MN | 22.0 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Normandale Community College | Bloomington, MN | 24.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Minnesota schools on the Minnesota engineering page.
Engineering Wages Near Hastings
Hastings 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.
Hastings at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 22,050 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $92,940 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 28.9% | 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 Hastings-Area Cities With Engineering Programs
- Cottage Grove, MN – 6.9 mi away (36,029 pop)
- Rosemount, MN – 10.5 mi away (23,911 pop)
- Inver Grove Heights, MN – 12.0 mi away (35,077 pop)
- Woodbury, MN – 12.5 mi away (68,820 pop)
- South Saint Paul, MN – 14.1 mi away (20,217 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited engineering programs are near Hastings, MN?
Our directory lists 5 engineering programs within 100 miles of Hastings. The closest is University of Wisconsin-River Falls in River Falls, WI (14.0 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Normandale Community College (24.3 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.
What are the highest-paying engineering roles near Hastings?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying engineering-related roles near Hastings 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 Cottage Grove instead of Hastings?
Cottage Grove, MN is 6.9 miles from Hastings 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 Hastings an affordable place to study engineering?
Hastings’s median household income of $92,940 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Hastings 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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