Pursuing an Online Master’s of Engineering degree can position graduates for careers across the wide range of growing occupations. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that engineering jobs will increase by 4%, 2018 to 2028, adding 113,300 new jobs. Specialized graduate degrees are available in civil, mechanical, electronic, petroleum, biomedical, and chemical engineering among others. This comprehensive page provides a listing of the best online graduate engineering programs across the country. You’ll also find pertinent salaries, job-growth predictions, admission and GRE requirements, career resources, and licensing and certification information. Make an informed decision in choosing the best school for attaining your career goals.
Search for the best online master’s in engineering programs. We used our custom mathematical formula to evaluate the academic qualities for ranking the best online programs. Here are the results:
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College Name & Address | Tuition | Graduation Rate |
---|---|---|
#1 University of Florida Tigert Hall, Gainesville, Florida 32611 | $10,770 | 90% |
#2 Kansas State University 919 Mid-Campus Drive, Anderson Hall, Manhattan, Kansas 66506 | $10,212 | 64% |
#3 University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Business College Complex 632 Bogue St East Lansing, MI 48824 | $23,890 | 92% |
#4 University of North Carolina Charlotte 9201 University City Blvd, Charlotte, North Carolina 28223 | $4,337 | 59% |
#5 University of Virginia 1827 University Avenue, Charlottesville, Virginia 22903 | $16,578 | 94% |
#6 Texas Tech University Broadway and University Avenue, Lubbock, Texas 79409 | $5,958 | 60% |
#7 University of Wisconsin – Madison 500 Lincoln Dr, Madison, Wisconsin 53706 | $10,728 | 87% |
#8 Oklahoma State University 107 Whitehurst, Stillwater, Oklahoma 74078 | $5,531 | 61% |
#9 Texas A&M University-College Station JKW Administration Building, Suite 200, College Station, Texas 77843 | $6,677 | 82% |
#10 University of Nebraska-Lincoln 14th and R St, Lincoln, Nebraska 68588 | $5,976 | 69% |
#11 University of Arkansas Administration Bldg 425, Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701 | $7,752 | 66% |
#12 Mississippi State University Lee Boulevard, Mississippi State, Mississippi 39762 | $8,800 | 58% |
#13 University of South Florida 4202 East Fowler Ave, Tampa, Florida 33620-9951 | $8,350 | 73% |
#14 Cornell University 300 Day Hall, Ithaca, New York 14853 | $29,500 | 95% |
#15 University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign 601 E John Street, Champaign, Illinois 61820-5711 | $14,997 | 84% |
#16 Florida International 1200 S. W. 8 Street, Miami, Florida 33199 | $8,912 | 58% |
#17 Louisiana Tech University 1310 West Railroad Avenue, Ruston, Louisiana 71272 | $6,592 | 54% |
#18 Georgia Institute of Technology 225 North Ave, Atlanta, Georgia 30332 | $14,064 | 87% |
#19 California State University-Fullerton 800 N State College Blvd, Fullerton, California 92831 | $7,176 | 68% |
#20 New Mexico State University 2850 Weddell Street, Las Cruces, New Mexico 88003 | $4,844 | 47% |
#21 Purdue University Hovde Hall of Administration, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907 | $9,208 | 81% |
#22 Colorado State University 102 Administration Building, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523 | $10,520 | 71% |
#23 Washington State University French Administration Building, Pullman, Washington 99164 | $11,493 | 59% |
#24 University of Central Florida 4000 Central Florida Blvd, Orlando, Florida 32816 | $6,916 | 73% |
Source – Integrated Post Secondary Education Data System & University Data
*Tuition rates are for in-state and per year. Program specific rates may apply.
**NA – data not available
Today’s online master’s in engineering programs offer concentrations that prepare students for careers in the many sub-disciplines in engineering. There are common concepts and principles related to all the concentration areas, including advanced research methodology, analytical and statistical modeling, technology essentials, and evidence-based assessments and solutions. Students can earn a generalist online master’s degree or choose a concentration leading to specific careers in the field.
The following section explores the specializations and degree sub-disciplines that are available for online master’s in engineering students. The descriptions provide insights into the curriculum and skills offered in the concentrations, along with the careers that graduates can pursue with their degree.
Area of Focus | Description | Careers This Concentration Prepares For |
---|---|---|
Civil Engineering | A concentration in civil engineering focuses on the skills required for infrastructure development and construction. Studies apply to readiness and employment in structural, transportation, and geotechnical fields. | Project managers, public and private sector engineers, engineering consultants, cost estimators, and materials engineers. |
Mechanical Engineering | The mechanical engineering specialization prepares grad students in hard skills applicable to the manufacturing of devices, machine design, and power systems. | HVAC designers, thermodynamics consultants, quality inspectors, design analysts, and production managers. |
Petroleum Engineering | A centration in petroleum engineering focuses on data-driven energy modeling, geochemical analysis, horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing, fluid dynamics, and core analysis. | Geo scientists, environmental engineers, drilling engineers, reservoir engineers, chemists, well production consultants, and fixed equipment specialists. |
Engineering Management | The graduate concentration in engineering management includes studies in information systems engineering, engineering administration, reliability engineering, strategic technology management, supply chain, and production systems. | Technical consultants, software engineering leaders, project managers, principal engineers, professional development managers, application engineering and operations managers. |
Electrical Engineering | Graduate electrical engineering studies include coursework in physical electronics, electric power, and energy systems, electromagnetics, microwave circuits, communication and signal processing | Process and product managers, plant maintenance managers, network engineers, broadcast technology specialists, project managers, and data engineering managers. |
Electronics Engineering | Studies in the electronics engineering curriculum include power systems, renewable energy, power system protection. high -voltage technology, digital control systems, and systems analysis and design. | Firmware developers, manufacturing process engineers, quality engineers, electronics designers, and digital communications specialists. |
Biomedical Engineering | In graduate biomedical engineering concentrations, students learn math and statistical methodology, biomaterials, biofluid dynamics, and quantitative systems in biology and disease. | Process development engineers, pharmaceutical and medical device product developers, quality engineers, and R&D scientists. |
Chemical Engineering | Coursework for an online chemical engineering masters includes studies in polymer science, chemical engineering process modeling, enzyme, and microbial kinetics, thermodynamics, and transport phenomena. | Process engineers, test engineers, chemical operations managers, R&D specialists, patent analysts, quality control analysts, and micro lab managers. |
Industrial Engineering | Industrial Engineering a branch of engineering that involves optimization of processes, systems within an industrial and/or manufacturing environments | Industrial Engineers, Manufacturing Engineers, Supply Chain Professionals, Safety Engineers, Logisitcians, Plant Managers. |
Aerospace Engineering | Aerospace Engineering deals with designing, developing, testing and working on aircraft, spacecraft and defense systems. Aerospace engineering graduates work in commercial aviation, space and defense industries. | Aerospace Engineers, Aerodynamic Engineers, Flight Systems Engineers, Aircraft Designers |
Potential students should investigate admission requirements for the online master’s in engineering programs that appeal to their career aspirations. Not all requirements are the same for each university since they’re established by the graduate school and the engineering department. There may be pre-requisites, credit transfer stipulations, and requirements for GRE scores. The following five admission requirements are common to most online engineering master’s programs.
Many online engineering schools require graduate applicants to hold a baccalaureate degree in engineering or a related discipline. But it’s still possible for non-engineers to earn an accredited online master’s degree if they leap through some hoops. Students with undergraduate degrees in technology, mathematics, or biology may satisfy admission requirements. You may be required to complete undergraduate prerequisite courses prior to admission. For example, Boston University’s Late Entry Accelerated Program (LEAP) prepares students with bachelor’s degrees to undertake an engineering degree. Undergrads that majored in Education, Business, Liberal and Fine Arts work with graduate faculty members to design a pre-entry program to build a foundation in engineering. Non-engineering students will find that an online engineering master’s degree is certainly attainable.
Many online master’s degree programs in engineering do not require applicant’s scores from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT). Examine the admissions requirements of prospective programs. Be aware that in order to apply for financial aid, you may need to provide GRE or GMAT scores. Online universities that do not require the GRE or GMAT use other criteria to approve applicants. These can include work experience, undergraduate GPA, the satisfaction of prerequisite requirements, an application essay stating career and educational goals, and letters of recommendation from employers or previous professors. Some require a qualifying interview with department heads and engineering faculty that may be conducted remotely. To understand how non-GRE requirements work, examine these three non-GRE programs:
To get started on your search for non-GRE engineering programs, visit our list of graduate schools on the following page: GRE Resources for Aspiring Master’s Students
To succeed in their engineering niche, students must develop soft and hard skills applicable to all concentrations in the field. These are learned through multiple avenues, including online courses, internships, and hands-on problem-solving. Whether it’s communicating with peers, solving business problems, or leading a research project, graduate engineering students must hone their skill sets for success. Here are five critical engineering skills to pursue no matter your degree specialization:
Accreditation is an essential factor in choosing an engineering school. The accreditation process is voluntary and involves program evaluation by an independent agency with a specialization in engineering. The accreditation review evaluates the content of a university engineering department and determines if the program meets the quality standards required for the professions, including licensing or certification preparation. If a student is seeking Federal financial aid or planning to advance into another degree program, they must be enrolled in an accredited university.
Accreditation is conferred by national or regional agencies. The main distinction between the two is that while nationally accredited institutions accept transfer credits from regionally accredited schools, regionally accredited universities may not accept credits from nationally accredited schools. There are six regional accreditation agencies in the nation. In engineering, the most-important accreditation is from the Accreditation Board of Engineering and Technology (ABET). It is the industry standard. Additionally, universities offering online degrees often obtain accreditation from the Distance Education & Training Council (DETC). To learn all you need to know about accreditation and whether your potential program is accredited, visit our Accreditation Guide.
Unlike student loans, scholarships and research grants do not need to be repaid. Students are encouraged to check with their universities to see if there are institutional or departmental scholarships. Better yet, you should explore the array of graduate engineering scholarships from professional associations that help pay for tuition or engineering research. Here are a few to consider:
Graduates of online Master of Engineering degree programs are qualified for advanced roles in the range of engineering professionals. Based on their experience and specialized learning, they can choose from advanced roles in various engineering fields. Some may choose to prepare for several career pathways. While a graduate degree does not automatically guarantee earnings or specific employment, the following table explores potential earnings, projected employment growth, and professional responsibilities.
Occupation | Median Annual Salary | Job Growth (2016-2026) | Job Description |
---|---|---|---|
Civil Engineers | $87,060 | 6% | Civil engineers with graduate degrees take leadership roles in the planning, development, and maintenance of infrastructure projects in the public and private sectors such as highways, bridges, and waterways. |
Electrical and Electronics Engineers | $101,250 | 2% | Electrical and electronics engineers work in the public and private sector in the design, development, and testing of equipment used in GPS, communication, and power generation systems. |
Chemical Engineers | $108,770 | 6% | Chemical engineers employ skills in physics, chemistry, and biology to create processes and tools for designing, testing, and deployment of manufacturing processes such as bioengineering polymerization and nanomaterials. |
Petroleum Engineers | $137,720 | 3% | Petroleum engineers work in the energy industries to improve the process of the extraction of fossil fuels to increase yield. Roles include completion engineers, drilling engineers, and reservoir engineers. |
Mechanical Engineers | $88,430 | 4% | Mechanical engineers work across a broad spectrum in the design of mechanical and thermal devices and machinery. They participate in testing, deployment, and troubleshooting of mechanical solutions from power generating systems to medical devices. |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Professional licenses in engineering are required in all 50 states. Voluntary certifications are available to benchmark your skills and knowledge base. Investigate the licensing requirements for the state in which you plan to practice and certifications that can widen your career options.
Why is it important to be a certified engineering professional?
The benefits of licensing and certifications and multi fold. The National Society of Professional Engineers reports that professionals with a PE typically earn more, have greater career opinions and flexibility, increased authority, and prestige.
How can I stay up-to-date on my engineering certifications?
According to the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying, engineers are licensed at the state level. Each state creates its own licensing requirements, organizations, and recertification requirements. In general, engineers must complete advanced continuing education to renew certifications.
How do I receive licensure and certification?
There are varied requirements for obtaining licenses and certifications, but the common denominator is successful testing by professional engineering organizations in the discipline. To sit for the exam, applicants must hold the appropriate degree and a minimum number of years of experience.
What are some examples of certifications and licenses I should consider? For those in entry-level occupations, licensing is not generally required. -The Professional Engineering (PE) license is generally required to advance in the field. The following section provides more detailed information about state licensing and certifications:
Online masters of engineering students have access to their university’s resource library and reference materials. At the same time, students can broaden their professional expertise, keep up with engineering trends and standards, use online engineering tools, and view white papers and webinars in their specialty. Here are some resources worth exploring:
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