The Best Value Online Master’s Engineering Universities

Noted as one of the best online and best value colleges for earning your master’s degree in engineering, Florida State University (FSU) offers students two types of master’s in engineering degrees along with additional specializations:

• Master of Engineering in Civil Engineering
• Specialization in Structural Engineering
• Specialization in Construction and Infrastructure Engineering
• Master of Engineering in Systems Engineering

Core courses for civil engineering students include Sustainable and Green Engineering, Site Development, and Air Pollution Control. Core courses for systems engineering students include Systems Test and Evaluation, Cost Estimating for Engineering Economic Analysis, and Design Considerations for Systems Engineering. Additionally, each program offers several elective courses for students to choose from.

Both of these degree programs consist of 30 credits and can be completed in as quickly as 18 months, though students can take longer if needed. Tuition costs average about $444 per credit for in-state students and $1,075 per credit for out of state. However, scholarship opportunities can lower the cost for non-resident students significantly.

Ranked as one of the best value, most affordable, and best online engineering master’s universities, the University of Central Florida offers multiple advanced engineering degrees. Working professionals can choose one of the following Master of Science degrees from the College of Engineering and Computer Science:

• Aerospace Engineering
• Civil Engineering
• Civil Engineering with an emphasis in Smart Cities
• Civil Engineering with an emphasis in Transportation
• Civil Engineering with an emphasis in Structural
• Civil Engineering with an emphasis in Water Resources
• Engineering Management
• Environmental Engineering
• Healthcare Systems Engineering
• Industrial Engineering
• Materials Science and Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering
• Systems Engineering

Students in the aerospace engineering program can choose guidance control and dynamics, space systems design, or thermofluid aerodynamic systems design and engineering as their focused track. Those in the industrial engineering program can choose from six concentrations:

• Human systems engineering/ergonomics
• Interactive simulation and training systems
• Operations research
• Quality systems engineering
• Simulation modeling and analysis
• Systems engineering

Though tuition for both resident and non-resident graduate students is the same, $288.16 per credit hour, non-resident students also have a fee of a little over $780 that is applied to each credit.

Ranked as one of the best online engineering master’s universities, Florida International University makes earning your graduate degree simple. Each master’s program is 30 credits, and there is no GRE requirement. Florida International University awards a Master of Science in Computer Engineering: Network Security, a Master of Science in Logistics Engineering, and a Master of Science in Engineering Management with the following specialized tracks:

• Systems Engineering
• Quality Engineering and Management
• Production and Manufacturing
• Logistics Engineering
• General
• Enterprise Systems
• Engineering Entrepreneurship
• Construction Management

Each degree program has flexible enrollment, and tuition for each program is $25,000. The MS in Computer Engineering: Network Security takes 10 months to complete, and is distributed across six 8-week terms. The MS in Engineering Management – Enterprise Systems Track prepares students for SAP certification. Florida International University has also been regarded as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education by the National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security.

Ranked as one of the best valued and overall best online engineering master’s degrees, North Carolina State University at Raleigh offers 16 engineering-related master’s programs:

• Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering
• Master of Science in Chemical Engineering
• Master of Civil Engineering
• Master of Science in Computer Engineering
• Master of Science in Computer Networking
• Master of Computer Science
• Master of Science in Electrical Engineering
• Master of Science in Electric Power Systems Engineering
• Master of Engineering
• Master of Environmental Engineering
• Master of Industrial Engineering
• Master of Integrated Manufacturing Systems Engineering
• Master of Materials Science and Engineering
• Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering
• Master of Nanoengineering
• Master of Nuclear Engineering

Programs range from 30-33 credits, and none require a thesis. Residents of North Carolina can expect to pay just under $450 per credit hour. Students pursuing the online master’s in chemical engineering degree will take courses like Transport Phenomena and Advances in Pollution Prevention. Students in the nanoengineering program can choose a concentration in materials science in nanoengineering, nanoelectronics and nanophotonics, or biomedical sciences in nanoengineering.

With over 13 graduate-level engineering degrees available online, the University of Houston (UH) offers students a multitude of paths toward an advanced education in engineering. This is just one reason that UH is ranked among the best valued schools for earning your online master’s degree in engineering. UH students can pursue the following master’s degrees online:

• Master of Science in Civil Engineering
• Master of Science in Construction Management
• Master of Science in Electrical Engineering – Power and Energy Systems
• Master of Science in Engineering Management
• Master of Science in Engineering Technology – Biotechnology
• Master of Science in Engineering Technology – Computational Health Informatics
• Master of Science in Engineering Technology – Mechanical Engineering Technology
• Master of Science in Engineering Technology – Network Communications
• Master of Mechanical Engineering
• Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering
• Master of Petroleum Engineering
• Master of Science in Petroleum Engineering
• Master of Science in Subsea Engineering

While most of these advanced degrees require 30 credits, the civil engineering degree requires 31 credits and the electrical engineering – power and energy systems degree requires 36 credits. Tuition varies based on residency, with in-state students paying between $428-$534 per credit and out-of-state students paying between $937-$1,042 per credit. Some scholarship and fellowship opportunities are also available to help offset tuition costs.

Find out how to earn your engineering master’s degree online at the University of Houston.

Ranked as one of the best value and overall best online universities for earning an engineering master’s degree, the University of Texas at Austin helps students further their engineering career goals with several highly-regarded advanced degree programs. The University of Texas at Austin offers two advanced engineering degrees online, though the format of each degree is different.

The Master of Science in Engineering Management is available online but in a synchronous format, meaning students are expected to attend classes at a specific time. The Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering degree, however, is offered in an asynchronous format, meaning students can log in to classes during a time that’s convenient for them. Mechanical engineering students will take classes such as:

• Applied Thermodynamics
• Introduction to Automation Control
• Engineering Economics
• Engineering management students will complete courses such as:
• Marketing and Negotiation
• Engineering Operations Management
• Managing People and Organizations

Both degrees require the completion of 30 credits and consist of 10 courses. Students in the engineering management program can expect to pay about $4,600 per class, while mechanical engineering students pay about $4,200 per class.

Iowa State University is ranked as one of the best value online master’s in engineering universities. This institution recognizes that the current and future landscape of engineering necessitates advanced degrees, which is why they offer 10 specialized master’s in engineering programs. Students looking to build on previous knowledge can earn a Master of Engineering in the following concentrations:

• Aerospace Engineering
• Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering
• Computer Engineering
• Cyber Security
• Electrical Engineering
• Energy Systems Engineering
• Engineering Management
• Industrial Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering
• Systems Engineering

Most courses are delivered asynchronously, which allows students to continue in their profession as they earn their master’s in engineering. Some degrees require a thesis, such as the aerospace engineering program, while others are strictly course-based, such as the mechanical engineering program. Each specialization requires 30 credits to complete, though the method and coursework vary depending on the selected concentration. Tuition and fees average just above $6,000 for resident students and just below $14,000 for nonresident students. Learn more about the ins and outs of each program, and see which master’s in engineering best suits your career aspirations.

Professionals looking to advance their knowledge and career goals can earn their master’s in engineering from the University at Buffalo, ranked as one of the best online and best value master’s in engineering universities. Buffalo’s School of Engineering and Applied Sciences offers a Master of Engineering in Engineering Management fully online.

The program’s flexible schedule allows students to study part- or full-time and can be completed in as little as one year. This 30-credit program delves into topics such as production planning, process improvement, and sustainable manufacturing. Tuition and fees for an online, in-state graduate student are just over $6,500. For online, non-resident students, tuition and fees amount to a little over $7,600.

After completing the degree, graduates can qualify for diverse leadership positions, including,

• Engineering project manager
• Senior lead analyst
• Cost systems analyst
• Construction management engineer
• Industrial management engineer

With accelerated online master’s degrees and low tuition costs, University of New Mexico (UNM) is ranked one of the best value and most affordable online universities for earning an engineering master’s degree. Since UNM offers multiple start dates for online classes and the courses only run for eight weeks, students can earn their advanced engineering degree in as little as 18 months. Students can choose from the following online engineering degrees at UNM:

• Master of Science in Computer Engineering – Internet of Things
• Master of Construction Management
• Master of Science in Electrical Engineering – Space Systems Engineering
• Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering – Space Systems Engineering

While most of these degrees require completion of 30-31 credits, the mechanical engineering degree is 34 credits. Programs consist of required classes and elective or specialization classes. While most of the courses for these degrees can be taken in any order, the two space systems engineering degrees recommend a sequential order to help students successfully navigate these specialized programs. Students can expect to pay about $394 per credit.

Ranked as one of the best, and best value online engineering colleges, Georgia Institute of Technology (GIT) has several master’s in engineering degree paths for students to choose from. Program options range from a mix of professional master’s degrees to Master of Science degrees. The online professional master’s degrees include:

• Professional Master’s in Applied Systems Engineering
• Professional Master’s in Manufacturing Leadership.

The online Master of Science programs offered include:

• Master of Science in Industrial Engineering
• Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering
• Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering
• Master of Science in Computational Science and Engineering
• Master of Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering

While both of the professional master’s degrees are taught in a hybrid format, meaning they have both online and in-person requirements, the Master of Science degrees can be earned 100% online. The professional master’s degrees consist of 10 courses, or 30 credits, and cost around $1,100 per credit. The course requirements for the Master of Science degrees vary, but online students can expect to pay around $1,100 per credit as well.

Ranked as one of the best value colleges for earning an engineering master’s degree online, the University of Missouri—or Mizzou, as the faculty and students call it—offers students two Master of Science degree paths online. Students can earn either of these degrees—Master of Science in Biological Engineering and Master of Science in Industrial Engineering—100% online. Neither degree program requires a thesis.

Students will typically spend two years completing the 30 credits required for each of these degrees. While online students pay the same rate as in-state students, regardless of their residency, costs differ between the two programs. Biological engineering students pay close to $701 per credit, while industrial engineering students pay about $395 per credit.

Course work for industrial engineering students covers topics like:

• Supply chain engineering
• Advanced integrated production systems
• Manufacturing and supply systems
• Industrial energy efficiency

Biological engineering students can expect to learn about topics such as:

• Biomaterials engineering
• Nanobiotechnology
• Biomedical imaging
• Biomolecular engineering
• Orthopedic biomechanics

Find out how you can earn your advanced engineering degree online at the University of Missouri.

The University of Idaho (UI) is ranked as having one of the best value online engineering master’s degrees. One reason for this ranking is the variety of options available to its graduate students. UI offers several online engineering master’s degrees, some of which allow students to choose between a Master of Science or Master of Engineering. Most also offer additional focus areas. Full-time online students, those completing between 9-20 credits in a school year, will pay about $4,938. The following 30-credit degrees are available online at UI:

• Master of Engineering in Civil Engineering
• Environmental Engineering
• Geotechnical Engineering
• Hydraulics and Water Resources Engineering
• Structural Engineering and Structural Mechanics
• Master of Engineering or Master of Science in Computer Engineering
• Digital Hardware Design
• Digital Systems Design
• Computer Systems
• Master of Science in Computer Science
• Master of Engineering or Master of Science in Electrical Engineering
• Very Large Scale Integrated Circuits
• Supercomputing
• Microwaves
• Communication Systems        
• Integrated Circuit Design
• Electromagnetics
• Control Systems
• Signal Analysis
• Network Synthesis
• Digital Systems Design
• Electric Power Systems
• Master of Engineering in Engineering Management
• Master of Science in Geological Engineering
• Master of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering
• Master of Science in Technology Management

Find out how to get your online master’s degree in engineering at University of Idaho.

Oklahoma State University Online, ranked as one of the most affordable and best value online master’s in engineering universities, offers five master’s degrees:

• Master of Engineering in Electrical Engineering
• Master of Science in Electrical Engineering
• Master of Science in Engineering and Technology Management
• Master of Science in Engineering Technology – Fire Safety and Explosion Protection
• Master of Science in Industrial Engineering and Management

The Master of Science in Electrical Engineering is a research-based program that culminates with a thesis. The Master of Science in Engineering Technology – Fire Safety and Explosion Protection and the Master of Science in Industrial Engineering and Management offer a non-thesis or thesis option. The Master of Science in Industrial Engineering and Management degree requires students to select from one of the following specialties:

• General Industrial Engineering
• Engineering Management
• Operations Research
• Supply Chain and Logistics

Required credit hours range from 30 to 33, and all degrees utilize the Canvas learning platform. Total program cost for in-state students ranges from just under $16,000 to a little above $17,000, depending on the program. Active-duty military can receive in-state tuition no matter their state of residency.

Find out how you can earn an online master’s degree in engineering at Oklahoma State University Online.

Texas A & M University stands out as one of the best value, most affordable, and best colleges for pursuing a master’s degree online in engineering. Students looking to earn an advanced degree in engineering will have 12 options to choose from at Texas A & M:

• Master of Engineering in Aerospace
• Master of Engineering in Biological and Agricultural Engineering
• Master of Engineering in Computer Engineering
• Master of Engineering in Electrical Engineering
• Master of Engineering Technical Management
• Master of Industrial Distribution
• Master of Engineering in Industrial Engineering
• Master of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering
• Master of Engineering in Petroleum Engineering
• Master of Engineering in Engineering (Subsea Engineering)
• Master of Science in Safety Engineering
• Master of Science in Engineering Management

Each of these degrees requires a minimum of 30 credits to graduate, and some offer both a thesis and non-thesis option. Remote student tuition is determined based on each course, with fees ranging from $40 to $550 per credit.