NASA taps Minnesota as Midwest aerospace workforce hub
NASA named Minnesota State's Transportation Center of Excellence one of seven national aerospace skilled technical workforce State Hubs, making it the only hub in the Midwest.[1]
The designation brings $1.5 million over three years to build a statewide system of aerospace career pathways through apprenticeships, technical training and work-based learning.[1] NASA highlighted Minnesota's technical college network and named Dakota County Technical College, Pine Technical and Community College, and Ridgewater College as core partners.[1]
Minnesota State said it aims to enroll 1,800 to 2,400 students in aerospace career paths, issue 500 to 700 credentials, create 140 to 200 apprenticeships or internships, and reach 1,000 to 1,400 high school students.[1] Labor postings from 2024 to 2026 show more than 8,000 aerospace-related job listings in Minnesota across over 830 employers, with 99 percent needing less than a bachelor's degree and an average salary of $62,000.[1]
The push taps into long-standing policy ideas that education builds workforce skill and aims to blunt labor shortfalls in skilled technical aerospace roles.
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📌 Key Facts
- NASA selected Minnesota State’s Transportation Center of Excellence as one of seven national aerospace skilled technical workforce State Hubs and the only one in the Midwest.
- The program brings $1.5 million over three years to build a statewide system of aerospace career pathways via apprenticeships, technical training, and work-based learning.
- Minnesota State’s goals include enrolling 1,800–2,400 students in aerospace career paths, issuing 500–700 credentials, creating 140–200 apprenticeships/internships, and reaching 1,000–1,400 high school students.
- Labor data show 8,000+ aerospace-related job postings in Minnesota from 2024–2026 across 830+ employers, with 99% of jobs requiring less than a bachelor’s degree and an average salary of $62,000.
- NASA cited Minnesota’s strong technical college network, naming Dakota County Technical College, Pine Technical and Community College, and Ridgewater College as core partners.
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