The American Society for Engineering Education reports that the number of engineering degrees has been growing steadily over the last decade. Explore why engineering is a popular major.
What Is Engineering?
Engineering combines science and math to solve problems to improve the world. Engineers design and build countless things, from the largest buildings to the smallest electronic devices. They communicate technical language to people who are not engineers to define and solve problems. Prospective engineers can choose to pursue a vast array of specializations. Consider just a few of the major areas of engineering:
- Aerospace
- Agriculture
- Bioengineering
- Chemical
- Civil
- Computer
- Electrical and electronic
- Environmental
- Geological
- Health and safety
- Industrial
- Materials
- Mechanical
- Nuclear
- Petroleum
Why Get a Master’s in Engineering Degree?
Opting to pursue a master’s degree is a big decision — one that involves time, money, and effort. The ability to earn a degree online, however, makes the decision easier, because online degree programs are often more flexible and can accommodate your schedule.
A master’s degree can give you better earning potential and show employers you have advanced training and leadership ability. An advanced degree can also expand your knowledge of engineering specializations.
Completing a higher degree is a smart decision if you want to take your career in a new direction. It can provide you with more in-depth knowledge of your current field or allow you to specialize in a new area of engineering. A master’s degree can help prepare you for advanced roles in production, design, and project management, which in turn improves your earning potential.
How Much Does a Master’s in Engineering Degree Cost?
Costs for graduate programs in engineering vary. According to Learn.org, graduate applicants to an engineering program can expect costs from around $19,000 upwards to a cost of over $100,000. This is for tuition, supplies, housing, and other fees included.
These tuition costs depend on several factors such as the prestige of university, a student’s on or off-campus living, and whether the graduate applicant is a resident of the university’s state. There may be additional fees that vary as well, such as health plans, use of recreational facilities, and computer purchases.
Online master’s in engineering degree programs can be less expensive than traditional programs, but their costs also vary considerably. You can expect to pay from $317 per credit hour to upwards of $1,600. An average master’s degree in engineering can require a minimum of 30 credits to graduate. This means that you will pay around $9,510 to over $48,000 in tuition and fees. When considering total costs, it is important to take into account fees associated with your application, testing requirements, and registration, as well as technology and lab fees at some institutions.
16 Online Master’s in Engineering Degree Programs
When you are looking for an online master’s in engineering program, search for a university that offers an online ABET engineering degree. ABET is the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, Inc., a non-governmental organization for accrediting post-secondary education programs in applied and natural sciences, computing, engineering, and engineering technology. An ABET-accredited online engineering degree or ABET-accredited online master’s degree signifies the university meets standards for engineering education.
The following list includes 16 online master’s in engineering degree programs you might want to consider.
Florida International University: Online MS in Engineering Management
Florida International University offers online master’s in engineering in engineering economy, logistics, engineering, advanced engineering project management, quality engineering, and total quality management.
Kansas State University
Kansas State University’s online master’s in engineering programs include nine different options such as chemical, civil, software, electrical and computer, mechanical, industrial, nuclear, engineering management, and operations research.
Missouri University of Science and Technology Online Master’s in Engineering
Missouri University of Science & Technology offers 14 engineering master’s degrees, including civil, aerospace, computer, electrical, engineering management, geotechnics, manufacturing, mechanical, mining, systems, environmental, or technical communication.
Montana Technological University (Montana Tech)
Classes at Montana Tech cover topics such as advanced management, fiscal management of tech enterprises, project engineering legal issues, and project and engineering management.
North Carolina State University
NC State’s College of Engineering offers sixteen online master’s in engineering degree programs. Students may choose aerospace engineering, civil engineering, electrical engineering, or a general degree. The general MS in Engineering degree is a no-thesis or residency program. Classes include engineering leadership and strategic change, managerial finance for engineers, and product life cycle management.
Ohio State University Online Master of Global Engineering Leadership, Master’s in Welding Engineering Online
Ohio State University offers online master’s degrees in global engineering leadership and in welding engineering. The welding master’s is a non-thesis program with courses in diffusion and interface kinetics, corrosion and failure analysis, mechanical behavior of materials, welding design, and welding metallurgy. The global engineering leadership degree program offers an elective certification in the practice of data analytics.
Purdue University
Purdue University offers an online master’s in engineering management degrees, as well as other areas of specialty such as aeronautics and astronautics engineering, electrical and computer engineering, engineering management, or systems engineering.
University of Alabama
Classes include required courses in aerospace and mechanical core such as advanced dynamics of flight, orbital mechanics, intermediate dynamics, and theory of elasticity.
University of Colorado
The University of Colorado offers an online master’s in engineering management, including specializations in commercialization, leadership, general engineering management, project management, quality sciences, and research methods.
University of Illinois
The University of Illinois offers online engineering master’s programs including bioinformatics, chemical engineering, electromagnetics, engineering law, engineering management, and wireless communications and signal processing courses.
University of Maryland Online Master’s in Engineering
The University of Maryland has seven online master’s in engineering degree programs in bioengineering, energetic concepts, cybersecurity, fire protection engineering, project management, reliability engineering, and sustainable energy engineering. Classes may include chemistry of energetic materials, risk assessment for engineers, wind energy engineering, and introduction to project management.
University of South Florida Online Master’s in Engineering Management (MSEM)
University of South Florida’s Online Master’s in Engineering Management (MSEM) offers coursework in engineering management policy and strategies, management of technological change, technology and finance, and principles of engineering management. Electives include courses such as computer simulation, lean Six Sigma, occupational safety engineering, or strategic market assessment.
University of Toledo Master’s in Practice-Oriented Engineering Online
The University of Toledo offers an online engineering degree program focused on technical innovation. The master’s degree is in practice-oriented engineering, requiring 30 semester hours. Classes include management of projects and technological innovation, applied engineering statistics, and methods of engineering analysis. A six-credit business core is required that includes classes in financial and managerial accounting, analysis of manufacturing and service systems, or government and society business.
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia offers chemical, civil and environmental, electrical and computer, materials science, a Meng (mechanical engineering) degree, and aerospace, and systems engineering courses.
Villanova University
Villanova University offers online master’s in engineering programs in nine specialty areas of biochemical engineering, chemical engineering, civil engineering, and computer engineering. They also offer cybersecurity, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, sustainable engineering, water resources, and environmental engineering courses.
Washington State University Online Master’s in Engineering and Technology Management
Courses are for working engineers who need classes while continuing to work full time. Required courses include management classes in finance for technical systems, contract project management, operations research for managers, performance management in technical organizations, and quality control and reliability.
Common Courses in Engineering Degree Programs
Engineering courses vary by school, but common requirements include math, science, and engineering fundamentals such as calculus, physics, linear algebra and statistics, chemistry, geology, and biology.
Other FAQs About Engineering Degrees and Programs
How much do graduates typically earn in salary?
According to a Monster.com report, engineering graduates earn a median of $110,000. Salary varies according to specialization. For example, someone with a master’s degree in electrical engineering can earn a median salary of $124,000 while a software developer has a median salary of $112,000. A project engineer has a lower median salary of $88,300 a year.
What is the job outlook for engineering graduates?
About 146,000 new architecture and engineering jobs are expected to be added between 2020 to 2030, according to the U.S. Bureau for Labor Statistics.
What are some jobs that require a degree?
Engineering includes jobs in computers and industries such as construction and aerospace
How long does it take to get a degree?
An associate degree can take as little as two years, a bachelor’s four years. Advanced degrees can take longer. A master’s degree takes from five to six years to complete, while a doctorate can take up to 12 years or longer to attain.
However long your online master’s engineering takes, the satisfaction you get from your accomplishment is worth the hard work.