The top engineering bachelor’s online degree programs offer an affordable and flexible path for students to start a new career. There is a growing demand for skilled engineers. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the career outlook for engineers is great for all concentrations in the field.
There are several specializations within the engineering field that students can find work in. For example, some engineers become civil engineers. They work to design, build, or repair roadways, bridges, airports, and also structural buildings. Others may find the need to become mechanical engineers, focusing on research and development while working from the office. Whatever you feel your calling is, when it comes to engineering there are many career opportunities that can take you there. The first step is training.
How We Ranked the Online Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Programs
The editors at Online Schools Guide found schools offering online Engineering bachelor’s degree programs. Then, based on cost and reputation, we ranked the programs.
Below are the top 10 Engineering Bachelor’s Online schools. Each provides a short summary of the credits required for completion, the concentrations offered, the affordability to attend, and also the top rankings and accreditations that make them the Best. Now it is up to You to choose which one will fit your engineering goals.
1. University of Southern Mississippi
The University of Southern Mississippi offers a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Industrial Engineering Technology program. This degree is for students that are ready for a highly motivated career field. The program is a diverse curriculum, providing both technical and management skills, including critical thinking and problem-solving techniques.
The degree requires fifty-one credits of core instruction and twenty-four to thirty-seven additional required credits. USM’s program is career-oriented and offers several opportunities for advanced learning and also credit for graduate school. Courses in the BS in Engineering will cover areas such as quantitative reasoning, production and inventory control, digital graphics, engineering economics, and logistics concepts. In addition, students need several management-level courses to graduate.
The BS Engineering program at Southern Miss is accredited by ABET and also the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools of Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). Highly educated professionals working in the field teach the program. Additionally, the University is Military-friendly and is among the best online undergraduate engineering degrees nationwide.
Program Highlights: 51 credits, Online, renowned faculty, ABET-accredited, military-friendly, 95% of graduates work within a year, and also affordable tuition.
2. Tarleton State University
The Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences (BAAS) in Manufacturing and Industrial Management at Tarleton State University offers a 120-credit-hour program that students can complete in less than four years. Students with skills in manufacturing, construction, and also safety management are ideal for this degree program.
The engineering degree also provides a flexible course schedule, so students can learn at their own pace. Courses in the program prepare students with both technical training and work experience needed for a career in Engineering. Furthermore, students can transfer up to eighty-four credits from any regionally accredited and approved institution or university.
The BAAS program is available online and also on-campus in Fort Worth, Midlothian, and Waco, Texas. Students are required to have completed their TSI assessment and earned a cumulative score of 2.0 GPA or higher. Additionally, the program has accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
Program Highlights: 120 credits, 4-year plan, transfer credits accepted, top accreditations, and also rankings.
3. Eastern New Mexico University
| Degree: BS or BAAS in Electronics Engineering Technology |
Eastern New Mexico University offers students two options for an undergraduate degree in engineering. Students may choose either a BS or a BAAS in Electronics Engineering Technology program. A bachelor’s degree provides both the knowledge and experience needed to become successful in the engineering field.
The 120-credit curriculum covers application skills in computer technology, research and development, and also manufacturing and testing. Both the BS and BAAS programs are designed for working professionals familiar with the EET profession and have a strong mathematical background in solving problems in regard to design, electrical circuits, and also systems.
Students must finish a primary concentration, as well as a secondary concentration to graduate from the undergraduate program. Furthermore, the faculty instructors are highly trained specialists who currently work in the EET field. Students will complete the engineering degree with a sense of achievement and be well-prepared for a career in electronics engineering technology. Also, the college offers several top rankings, including one of the best online engineering degrees available throughout the nation.
Program Highlight: 120 credits, two concentrations, career-ready, and also top rankings.
4. Florida International University
| Degree: BS in Engineering two tracks Computer and the Electrical Engineering |
Florida International University’s online Bachelor of Science in Engineering offers two concentrated tracks. One is the Computer Engineering track and the other is the Electrical Engineering track. Each program will offer an innovative curriculum, full of practical instruction on technology that is useful in any engineering field or business industry. However, they do differ in some aspects.
The Computer Engineering track trains students in hardware architecture, software engineering, hardware-software integration, signal and image processing, instrumentation and filter design, and also computer networking. Whereas the Electrical Engineering track will cover areas such as electronics and electromagnetism, nanotechnology, power energy systems, communications, controls, bio-engineering, and computers.
Each program provides up to fifty core credits as part of the 128 total. Both concentrations are 128 credit hours and come with an affordable tuition rate. Undergraduate engineering start dates are in the Fall, Spring, and also Summer semesters. To enter into the programs, students should be well versed in basic principles of computer engineering and advanced mathematics.
Program Highlights: 128 Credit hours, 50 core credits, and 3 start dates each year.
5. Western Carolina University
Western Carolina University’s BS in Engineering Technology Operations is an online program, designed for students with a career goal in either business or the engineering field.
Courses in the program will instruct students in the knowledge of current industry principles, safety measures, and also technical operations for advancing in the field. Students learn important analytical and communication skills they need to be successful in their Engineering Technology careers.
The ETO program is offered as a four-year degree and is also available on a part-time status. Graduates of the ETO program can partake in technology courses at three of the off-campus sites in Asheville, Hickory, and also Spindale. Furthermore, the BS in Engineering Technology Program with a concentration in Technical Operations requires a total of 124 total hours to graduate. This includes 42 hours in Liberal Studies. However, the ETO concentration program at WCU is not accredited by ABET.
Program Highlights: 124 credit program, 4-year program, part-time status.
6. Colorado Technical University
Colorado Technical University offers a BS in Computer Science program, designed for students with background knowledge of computer programming and computer software. The degree offers the option of two engineering specializations: the Cybersecurity Engineering track and the Software Engineering track.
The cybersecurity engineering curriculum will provide comprehensive knowledge of how a computer’s software works, including the design and development of different levels and also types of computer software. However, the software engineering curriculum will explain how to build computer software solutions through computer programming with the use of algorithmic techniques. The introduction of theoretical and practical knowledge, methods and processes, and also skills are discussed.
Each BSCS degree is 183 credit hours, consisting of 51 general education credits, 88 computer science credit hours, and also 44 credit hours of the concentration of choice. The BSCS programs are offered online and at the Colorado campuses. CTU is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. CTU provides an affordable tuition rate; however, CTU does offer grants and scholarships to all eligible students of the BSCS program.
Program Highlights: 183 credits, majority of credits in computer science courses, 2 engineering concentration tracks, career-oriented degree.
7. Bemidji State University
Bemidji State University’s Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) in Applied Engineering program offers students a clear path to careers in manufacturing, construction, distribution, and also business industries. The curriculum provides a web-based distance delivery format with instruction in applied engineering concepts and also applications.
Courses include 15 common core credits, 21 engineering credits, and also four elective credits. This program has a total of seventy-eight credits in length, with up to thirty-eight transfer credits accepted from an accredited institution. Additionally, students must take forty upper-level credits must be taken to complete the program. To qualify for the program, students must have either an associate degree or a certificate from a technical college. However, you can complete some of the required technical courses at BSU.
The Bemidji State University is named a top-tier Midwest university by the U.S. News and World Report. The college has over 65 undergraduate programs and 14 graduate programs for working professionals to guide them toward a successful career. BSU provides over 100 student clubs and organizations for students to participate in.
Program Highlights: must have earned a certificate or graduated from a two-year technical college, highly accredited, concentrated degree.
8. Arizona State University
| Degree: BS in Engineering programs |
At Arizona State University there are several Bachelor’s degrees in Engineering available to undergraduate students. The BS in Engineering programs prepare for career-oriented goals and also research opportunities for students.
The engineering specialization programs available are cybersecurity engineering, computer systems engineering, industrial engineering, biomedical engineering, and software engineering. The BS programs will teach students how to apply strong principles of engineering, opportunities for entrepreneurship training, and provide knowledge of life sciences for the well-being of humanity.
The courses in the BS in Engineering programs will depend on which concentration is chosen. However, some basic courses may include computer science, informatics, aeronautics, probability and statistics, software and data management, and business analytics. Some BSE programs are available as accelerated programs, making it an easy shot to the Master’s degree in Engineering. ASU provides over sixty engineering organizations for students, including student societies.
Program Highlights: several concentrations, accelerated programs, 60+ clubs and organizations, and Accredited programs.
9. Eastern Kentucky University
Eastern Kentucky University’s BS in Fire Protection and Safety Engineering Technology offers students a fully online, comprehensive program, focused on leadership building and educates students in the latest, cutting-edge science and also technology in fire safety education. The 120-credit-hour curriculum offers eight-week courses and introduces studies such as Fire Behavior & Combustion, Fire & Emergency Scene Operations, Fire Protection, Hazardous Materials, and Disaster & Community Fire Defense Planning.
EKU is a Military-friendly school and is one of the most affordable universities in the state of Kentucky. The University also accepts up to 90 transfer credits, allowing students to complete the BS program in two to three years. Students of the program are taught by nationally-renowned instructors and the program ranks high by U.S. News & World Report for one of the best online undergraduate engineering degrees.
Graduates of the BS in Fire Protection and Safety Engineering Technology program can find employment as fire protection and prevention systems designers, building inspectors, fire safety directors, insurance company consultants, industrial safety specialists, or also fire protection technicians.
Program Highlights: 120 credits, fully online, affordable tuition, Military-Friendly University, generous transfer credits accepted, 8-week classes, regionally accredited.
10. Thomas Edison State College
| Degree: Bachelor of Science in Engineering with 3 concentrations |
Thomas Edison State College offers the Bachelor of Science in engineering in three concentration options. Students can choose to advance in studies of either Electronics Systems Engineering Technology, Nuclear Energy Engineering Technology, or Nuclear Engineering Technology.
Each BS degree program will provide credit hours up to 126, consisting of sixty general education credits, fifteen electives, and 45 to 51 core studies from the chosen specialization track. The course program requires that students take eighteen credits from upper-division level courses. All BS in engineering programs provide students with Intellectual and practical skills, civic engagement, and diversity; however, the core credits will differ on the specialization track.
For instance, the BS in Electronics Systems Engineering Technology program provides courses in computer hardware, avionics, instrumentation and control, and also communications. All BS in Engineering degrees offers accreditations from the Engineering Technology Accreditation Commission of ABET. Thomas Edison State College is one of the best online engineering degrees in the Nation.
Program Highlights: up to 126 credit hours, 18 areas of interest, highly accredited, advanced mathematics required.
How Do You Become an Engineer?
Both Colleges and Universities provide the means for the education needed to reach your career goal in the engineering field. However, basic instruction in engineering can be done by receiving a certificate from a trade school or community college.
These schools provide the foundational courses, such as mathematics and science classes needed for the Bachelor’s degree in Engineering. The next step is earning a BS in Engineering. It is just as important to choose the right school as it is to decide on the right concentration in engineering.
Job Outlook with an Engineering Bachelor’s Degree
So, you decided on the right program from the best college that will give you the most successful engineering career. So now, let’s talk about what positions are out there for a graduate with a BS in engineering.
Engineers with a BS degree have the opportunity to work in a variety of areas. Depending on which specialization take in college will determine your eligibility to be hired for a particular position in the engineering field.
Engineering Careers and Salary
Here is a list of possible career choices for engineers to apply their skills toward. Information provided from the BLS.
Aerospace Engineers
Aerospace Engineers design aircraft, spacecraft, satellites, and also missiles. Most work for manufacturing plants, R & D corporations, and also the federal government.
The average pay rate is $122,270 annually.
Civil Engineers
Civil Engineers design, build and also supervise infrastructure projects and systems. They work for building construction agencies, local or state governments, and also other engineering services.
The average pay salary is $88,050 annually.
Biomedical Engineering
These professionals combine engineering principles with medical sciences to design and create equipment, devices, computer systems, and also software. Most work for medical equipment and supplies manufacturing companies. However, some work for research and development life sciences companies.
The average annual salary is $97,410.
Environmental Engineers
These engineers use principles of engineering, soil science, biology, and also chemistry to develop solutions to environmental problems that occur. Many find employment in engineering services and also corporations.
The average annual salary is $96,820 per year.
Software Developers
Software Engineers are not listed as engineers. However, the job is similar to what defines the engineering position. They work to create applications or systems for computers or other devices. Employed by computer systems services, software publishers, and also manufacturing corporations.
The average salary is $110,140 annually.
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