Best Online Engineering Programs in Aberdeen, SD (2026)

Aberdeen, South Dakota has 1 accredited school offering engineering programs. Aberdeen has a population of about 28,297. Median household income is $63,715 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 33.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In South Dakota, the top-earning engineering-related role is Architectural and Engineering Manager at a median $164,330 annually (BLS, May 2025).


Closest Engineering Schools to Aberdeen

The accredited institutions listed below are the closest in our directory that offer engineering programs near Aberdeen, ranked by BOC Score and straight-line distance from Aberdeen city center. The list is rebuilt from federal IPEDS data on every site update.

How We Rank Schools

Every school list on this site is ordered by the BOC Score, computed from the most recent school-level data published by the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard and IPEDS). To qualify, a school must be currently operating and accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Each eligible school is then scored on five measures, percentile-ranked against schools at the same credential level:

  • Graduation rate 30%
  • Median earnings, 10 years after entry 25%
  • Average net price (lower is better) 20%
  • Retention rate 15%
  • Fully online availability 10%

Schools without enough outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score. On this page, schools are ordered by distance from Aberdeen. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.

#1

Lake Area Technical College

Watertown, SD 77.3 miles from Aberdeen BOC Score 74.7
  • 2 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 73%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $45,473
Avg net price $15,979/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 37

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#2

South Dakota State University

Brookings, SD 114.4 miles from Aberdeen BOC Score 59.4
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 58%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $55,070
Avg net price $19,841/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 83%
  • Programs offered: 46

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#3

Mitchell Technical College

Mitchell, SD 124.7 miles from Aberdeen BOC Score 78.9
  • 2 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 73%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $50,743
Avg net price $13,460/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 46

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#4

Southeast Technical College

Sioux Falls, SD 155.1 miles from Aberdeen BOC Score 69.7
  • 2 year
  • Campus + Online
  • Accredited
Graduation rate 56%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $46,709
Avg net price $17,400/yr
Tuition
In‑state$7,650
Out‑of‑state$7,650
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 57

Source:Accreditor: Higher Learning CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#5

Western Dakota Technical College

Rapid City, SD 250.2 miles from Aberdeen BOC Score 60.4
  • 2 year
  • Campus + Online
  • Accredited
Graduation rate 54%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $40,240
Avg net price $12,670/yr
Tuition
In‑state$8,294
Out‑of‑state$8,294
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 47

Source:Accreditor: Higher Learning CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#6

Black Hills State University

Spearfish, SD 272.4 miles from Aberdeen BOC Score 43.0
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 44%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $46,674
Avg net price $15,911/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 72%
  • Programs offered: 30

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all South Dakota schools on the South Dakota engineering page.


Engineering Wages Near Aberdeen

OccupationMedian Annual Wage (South Dakota, statewide)
Civil Engineer$98,700
Electrical Engineer$98,980
Mechanical Engineer$88,380
Chemical EngineerN/A
Aerospace EngineerN/A
Biomedical EngineerN/A
Environmental Engineer$98,890
Architectural and Engineering Manager$164,330

Source: BLS, May 2025 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.


Aberdeen at a Glance

MetricValueSource
Population28,297Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income$63,715Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+33.6%Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)
Engineering-related employment in Brown County107 workers, 18 establishmentsBLS QCEW 2024 annual

Other Aberdeen-Area Cities With Engineering Programs


Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited engineering schools are near Aberdeen, SD?

Accredited schools offering engineering programs near Aberdeen are listed on this page, ranked by BOC Score and distance from the city center. The list is rebuilt from federal IPEDS and College Scorecard data on every site update, so it stays current as programs open and close.

What are the highest-paying engineering roles in South Dakota?

Based on BLS May 2025 state wage data, the top-paying engineering-related roles in South Dakota are: Architectural and Engineering Manager ($164,330), Electrical Engineer ($98,980), Environmental Engineer ($98,890). Wages for Aberdeen workers will track these statewide medians, adjusted for local cost of living.

Should I look at programs in Watertown instead of Aberdeen?

Watertown, SD is 74.6 miles from Aberdeen 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 Aberdeen an affordable place to study engineering?

Aberdeen’s median household income of $63,715 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Aberdeen while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and South Dakota 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.


Learn More About Engineering Programs

Other Programs Available in Aberdeen

Compare every accredited online degree program with city-level data for Aberdeen:

Data verified: July 23, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; 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.