Best Online Technology 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. Our directory has 35 accredited schools offering technology programs near Cottage Grove, with tuition ranging from $18,252 to $34,240 per year for indexed programs. In the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro area, the top-earning technology-related role is Computer and Information Systems Manager at a median $173,630 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Technology Schools to Cottage Grove
The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 35 schools in our directory that offer technology programs near Cottage Grove. Distances are calculated from Cottage Grove city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inver Hills Community College | Inver Grove Heights, MN | 6.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Dakota County Technical College | Rosemount, MN | 9.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Metropolitan State University | Saint Paul, MN | 12.1 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Saint Paul College | Saint Paul, MN | 12.8 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Concordia University-Saint Paul | Saint Paul, MN | 14.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| University of Wisconsin-River Falls | River Falls, WI | 15.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| University of St Thomas | Saint Paul, MN | 15.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Century College | White Bear Lake, MN | 15.8 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Academy College | Bloomington, MN | 18.5 mi | $18,252 - $34,240 | – |
| 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 technology page.
Technology 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developer | $129,430 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $123,502 |
| Information Security Analyst | $129,380 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $123,454 |
| Computer Network Architect | $126,900 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $121,088 |
| Network and Computer Systems Administrator | $96,970 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $92,529 |
| Computer Network Support Specialist | $79,460 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $75,821 |
| Computer User Support Specialist | $64,890 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $61,918 |
| Web Developer | $103,910 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $99,151 |
| Computer and Information Systems Manager | $173,630 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $165,677 |
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 |
| Technology-related employment in Washington County | 610 workers, 104 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other Cottage Grove-Area Cities With Technology 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 technology schools are near Cottage Grove, MN?
Our directory has 35 accredited schools offering technology programs near Cottage Grove. The closest is Inver Hills Community College in Inver Grove Heights, MN (6.3 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is University of Minnesota-Twin Cities (18.6 miles). 0 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying technology roles near Cottage Grove?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying technology-related roles near Cottage Grove are: Computer and Information Systems Manager ($173,630), Software Developer ($129,430), Information Security Analyst ($129,380). 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 technology 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 technology?
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
Data verified: May 5, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2024; 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.
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