Best Mechanical Engineering Schools Near Bettendorf, IA (2026)

Updated September 7, 2026 BLS data College Scorecard On this page

Bettendorf, Iowa has 5 accredited schools offering mechanical engineering programs, with tuition ranging from $36,658 to $51,141 per year for indexed programs. Bettendorf has a population of about 39,297. Median household income is $102,917 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 51.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In the Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL metro area, the top-earning mechanical engineering-related role is Architectural and Engineering Managers at a median $175,030 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Closest Mechanical Engineering Schools to Bettendorf

The accredited institutions listed below are the closest in our directory that offer mechanical engineering programs near Bettendorf, ranked by BOC Score and straight-line distance from Bettendorf 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 Bettendorf. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.

Ranked by BOC Score — U.S. Dept. of Education outcome data. Advertising never affects rankings.

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#1

Saint Ambrose University

Davenport, IA 5.6 miles from Bettendorf
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
  • Accredited
62.5 BOC Score
Acceptance rate 77%
Graduation rate 62%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $59,531
Avg net price $24,691/yr
Tuition
In‑state$36,658
Out‑of‑state$36,658
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 80%
  • Programs offered: 59

Source:Accreditor: Higher Learning CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#2

University of Iowa

Iowa City, IA 55.2 miles from Bettendorf
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
73.5 BOC Score
Graduation rate 72%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $64,762
Avg net price $22,531/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 90%
  • Programs offered: 199

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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#3

Loras College

Dubuque, IA 65.7 miles from Bettendorf
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
67.1 BOC Score
Graduation rate 68%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $58,289
Avg net price $20,716/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 83%
  • Programs offered: 40

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#4

William Penn University

Oskaloosa, IA 113.8 miles from Bettendorf
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
33.6 BOC Score
Graduation rate 41%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $48,936
Avg net price $22,601/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 57%
  • Programs offered: 36

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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#5

Iowa State University

Ames, IA 166.5 miles from Bettendorf
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
76.9 BOC Score
Graduation rate 74%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $63,386
Avg net price $18,589/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 88%
  • Programs offered: 169

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#6

Dordt University

Sioux Center, IA 308.9 miles from Bettendorf
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
62.0 BOC Score
Graduation rate 72%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $52,559
Avg net price $25,807/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 85%
  • Programs offered: 82

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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

Mechanical Engineering Wages Near Bettendorf

Bettendorf is part of the Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL metro area (BLS area code 19340). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Iowa statewide.

Occupation Median Wage Source COL-Adjusted (US=100)
Mechanical Engineers $104,320 Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL $117,082
Architectural and Engineering Managers $175,030 Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL $196,442
Industrial Engineers $104,100 Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL $116,835
Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians $82,220 Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL $92,278
Mechanical Drafters $80,550 Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL $90,404
Engineers, All Other $104,130 Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL $116,869
Aerospace Engineers N/A IA statewide –
Cost Estimators $78,530 Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL $88,137

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.

Bettendorf at a Glance

Metric Value Source
Population 39,297 Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income $102,917 Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ 51.3% Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)
Regional Price Parity (US=100) 89.1 (below U.S. average) BEA RPP 2024

Other Bettendorf-Area Cities With Mechanical Engineering Programs

Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited mechanical engineering schools are near Bettendorf, IA?

Our directory has 5 accredited schools offering mechanical engineering programs near Bettendorf. The closest is Saint Ambrose University in Davenport, IA (5.6 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Western Illinois University (76.6 miles). 5 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.

What are the highest-paying mechanical engineering roles near Bettendorf?

Based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data, the top-paying mechanical engineering-related roles near Bettendorf are: Architectural and Engineering Managers ($175,030), Mechanical Engineers ($104,320), Engineers, All Other ($104,130). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Iowa statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.

Should I look at programs in East Moline instead of Bettendorf?

East Moline, IL is 5.6 miles from Bettendorf and has its own set of local mechanical engineering programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.

Is Bettendorf an affordable place to study mechanical engineering?

Bettendorf’s median household income of $102,917 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Bettendorf while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Iowa 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 Mechanical Engineering Programs

Other Programs Available in Bettendorf

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

Data verified: September 7, 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.

Back to Best Mechanical Engineering Schools in Iowa (2026)