Best Online Engineering Programs in Oakdale, MN (2026)
Oakdale, Minnesota has a population of about 28,109. The city’s median household income is $90,379 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 33.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited engineering programs within 100 miles of Oakdale. 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 Oakdale
The five accredited institutions below are the closest options indexed in our directory that offer engineering programs. Distances are calculated from Oakdale city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Century College | White Bear Lake, MN | 3.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Saint Paul College | Saint Paul, MN | 7.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| University of St Thomas | Saint Paul, MN | 11.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| University of Minnesota-Twin Cities | Minneapolis, MN | 13.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Dunwoody College of Technology | Minneapolis, MN | 16.0 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Minnesota schools on the Minnesota engineering page.
Engineering Wages Near Oakdale
Oakdale 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.
Oakdale at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 28,109 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $90,379 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 33.6% | 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 Oakdale-Area Cities With Engineering Programs
- Maplewood, MN – 3.0 mi away (40,150 pop)
- White Bear Lake, MN – 5.9 mi away (25,634 pop)
- Woodbury, MN – 6.0 mi away (68,820 pop)
- Saint Paul, MN – 7.4 mi away (302,398 pop)
- South Saint Paul, MN – 7.9 mi away (20,217 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited engineering programs are near Oakdale, MN?
Our directory lists 5 engineering programs within 100 miles of Oakdale. The closest is Century College in White Bear Lake, MN (3.3 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Dunwoody College of Technology (16.0 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.
What are the highest-paying engineering roles near Oakdale?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying engineering-related roles near Oakdale 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 Maplewood instead of Oakdale?
Maplewood, MN is 3.0 miles from Oakdale 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 Oakdale an affordable place to study engineering?
Oakdale’s median household income of $90,379 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Oakdale 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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