Why This Matters

  • 18+ CAREER OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO ENGINEERS

    Individuals pursuing a career in engineering can choose from a range of subfields, including civil engineering, biomedical engineering, electrical engineering, chemical engineering, and more.

  • 113K NEW ENGINEERING JOBS EXPECTED BY 2028

    The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 4 percent job growth in the engineering field within the next decade, thanks to rebuilding infrastructure and renewable resource development.

  • INCREASE YOUR EARNING POTENTIAL BY $12,000

    On average, individuals who have a master’s degree earn $72,852 per year. By comparison, those who only hold a bachelor’s degree in their field earn an average yearly salary of $60,996.

Our Research

For this list, we focused on master’s-level degrees in a variety of engineering-related disciplines, including electrical engineering, aerospace engineering, chemical engineering, and more. The majority of these programs grant a Master of Science (MS) in their respective area of engineering.

We concentrated on finding the best online programs to ensure accessibility for all students. Many of the programs on our list are also offered on-campus. Some can be completed through a combination of online and on-campus classes.

As an added measure of quality, we only included schools that have regional accreditation. Many of these programs also have accreditation through ABET, an engineering and technology program accrediting body.

We evaluated each program’s faculty, flexibility, cost, outcomes, coursework, and reputation. Then we calculated an Intelligent Score for each program on a scale of 0 to 100. For a more extensive explanation, check out Our Ranking Methodology.

  • 52 hours to write this article
  • 177 universities and colleges we assessed
  • 427 education programs we compared

The Top 56 Online Master’s in Engineering Programs

Best Online Master's in Engineering Degree Programs
01
Intelligent Pick
Kennesaw State University
01
Best Chemical Engineering Focus
Kansas State University
01
Best Dual MBA Program
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
01
Best Logistics Engineering Focus
Florida International University
01
Best for International Students
Texas A & M University-Kingsville
01
Best On-Campus Labs
University of Florida
01
Most Transfer-Friendly
University of Virginia
01
Best Specialization Options
University of Maryland
01
Best in the West
UCLA
01
Best RIsk Management Focus
University of Michigan
01
Best Dual Degree Option
Stevens Institute of Technology
01
Best Ivy League Program
Columbia University
01
Best for Green Technologies
New York Institute of Technology
01
Best for Operations Research
OSU Online
01
Best Scholarships
Case Western Reserve University
01
Best Mining Engineering Focus
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
01
Best Global Campus
Pennsylvania State University
01
Best in Texas
Texas A&M University Engineering
01
Best Management Focus
Ohio University
01
Best Aerospace Engineering Focus
The University of Alabama
01
Best Public Research University
Old Dominion University
01
Expert Faculty
Arizona State University
01
Best in the South
University of Central Florida
01
Best in Iowa
Iowa State University - Engineering Online
01
Most Affordable
University of Arkansas
01
Best Civil Engineering Focus
University of Alabama at Birmingham
01
Best for Asynchronous Classes
Clemson University
01
Best Industrial Engineering Focus
New Mexico State University
01
Best Interdisciplinary Curriculum
Texas Tech University
01
Best in California
California State University, Fullerton
01
Best Electrical Engineering Focus
Capitol Technology University
01
Best in the Midwest
University of Cincinnati
01
Best Welding Engineering Focus
The Ohio State University
01
Student Recommended
University of Wisconsin-Platteville
01
Best in the Southeast
NC State University
01
Best in the Northwest
Oregon State University
01
Best Biomedical Engineering Focus
Rutgers University
01
Most Flexible
University of Michigan-Dearborn
01
Best in the Southwest
University of Arizona
01
Most Customizable
Purdue University
01
Best Ocean Engineering Focus
Virginia Tech
01
Most Innovative Curriculum
Washington State University
01
Best in the Northeast
University of Delaware
01
Best Robotics Focus
University of Wisconsin-Madison
01
Best Non-Thesis Program
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
01
Leading Research University
Georgia Institute of Technology
01
Best Construction Specialization
New Jersey Institute of Technology
01
Best Systems Engineering Focus
Johns Hopkins Engineering for Professionals
01
Best Thesis Program
University of Minnesota
01
Alumni Recommended
The University of Texas at Austin
01
Best Part-time Program
University of Washington
01
Best Private Research University
Lehigh University
01
Longest-Runnng Program
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
01
Best Student Support Services
University of Southern California
01
Best Research-Based Program
Cornell University
01
Most Experienced Faculty
Illinois Institute of Technology
01
Fastest Completion Time
Northeastern University

What You Should Know About This Degree

Most entry-level engineering jobs can be obtained with a bachelor’s degree. Students may opt to pursue a master’s in engineering as a way to learn new skills, prepare for mid-level or management roles, or transition to a different career path.

Depending on your career goals, there may be other paths available to you. Graduate certificate programs can give you targeted training in specific skills in a shorter time frame than a full master’s degree. Individuals who are seeking leadership roles within the industry may find it more beneficial to pursue a Master of Business Administration (MBA), a management-focused degree that covers business-related related skills. Many engineers can also advance their careers through work experience and on-the-job training. At this time, it’s important to consider your professional goals and all of the options available to you for achieving them.

Overall employment of engineering occupations is expected to continue growing at an average pace during the next decade. However, job growth is expected to slow in a few specific engineering fields, including aerospace engineering, electronics engineering, and nuclear engineering. Contributing factors include the continued automation and outsourcing of manufacturing jobs as well as shifts in energy sources. Job opportunities in these subfields will continue to be strongest in the areas of research and development, as the push for new technologies and systems continues.

What’s Next?

Here are some questions to ask when researching Online Master’s in Engineering programs:

  • Does this program offer the specialization that I want? Even within specific areas of engineering, there are opportunities for more in-depth study. If you are interested in a particular area of focus, be sure to select a program that offers coursework in that area, either through electives, concentrations, or certificates.
  • Am I eligible for this program? Master’s programs usually expect students to have some foundational knowledge of the subject they are studying, either as part of their undergraduate coursework or their professional experience. Look at the eligibility requirements for the program to confirm that you have any necessary prerequisite classes and work experience before applying.

At this time, you should also be taking the following steps: researching admissions requirements and application deadlines; gathering admissions materials, including transcripts and letters of recommendation; and exploring sources of funding for your degree, including student loans, scholarships, assistantships, and employer tuition benefits.

If you have questions about admissions or financial aid, you can contact the school’s admissions and financial aid departments directly.