The 30 Best Master's in Mechanical Engineering Online
Updated October 12, 2022
By BCR Staff
Mechanical engineers design and build the machines and devices that make everyday life possible. An online mechanical engineering master’s degree leads to employment opportunities in some of the newest and most innovative industries.
Through these degrees, graduates are prepared for careers in a variety of manufacturing settings, including transportation and safety, alternative energies, aerospace, healthcare, nanotechnology, robotics, and manufacturing. Online master’s in mechanical engineering programs emphasize mathematical and computer expertise, practical engineering, problem-solving, creativity, and the ability to work well under pressure.
In this ranking, our editors examine our picks of the top 30 online master's for mechanical engineering programs. For more generalized information regarding distance learning visit our ranking of the top online colleges.
Featured Online Schools
#30 - SOUTHERN METHODIST UNIVERSITY
ONLINE MASTER OF SCIENCE IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
Southern Methodist University’s Lyle School of Engineering educates more than 1,000 graduate students every year. The engineering program boasts an 11:1 student-to-faculty ratio. Graduate students in the program select from three concentrations: Design and Dynamic Systems and Controls, Mechanics and Manufacturing, and Thermal and Fluid Sciences. The LOGin learning management system streams video to anywhere in the world.
An M.S. in Mechanical Engineering requires 30 credits, and students can choose from a thesis or a non-thesis track. Students can explore courses like:
- Microfluidics and Microfabrication
- Nontraditional Manufacturing Processes
- Optimal and Robust Control
Tuition Fee: $1,350 per credit hour
#29 - MISSOURI UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
ONLINE MASTER OF SCIENCE IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
Missouri S&T has a Distance and Continuing Education program, through which students can earn a master’s degree, such as the 30-credit MS in Mechanical Engineering online. The program, which has a thesis and non-thesis option, is delivered through live streaming and archived for students to access asynchronously.
Requiring 30 credits, this degree includes courses in control systems, environmental systems, instrumentation manufacturing processes, materials science, mechanical design and analysis, and thermal science. The program is offered completely online, but students can conduct research in the school’s labs and centers under the guidance of faculty.
Admission requirements include a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace, or a related engineering or science field; a minimum 3.0 GPA; and GRE scores.
Tuition Fee: $1200 per credit hour
#28 - MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY
ONLINE MASTER OF SCIENCE IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
This program is a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering at Mississippi State University, with major study areas such as – fluid mechanics, solid mechanics, energy systems, thermal sciences and mechanical design.
- Thesis option: 24 hours of coursework and a 1-hour graduate seminar are required along with 6 hours of thesis research.
- Non-thesis option: 30 hours of coursework and a 1-hour graduate seminar are required.
The student-faculty ratio at Mississippi State University is 20:1, and the school has 34.7% of its classes with fewer than 20 students.
Tuition Fee: Resident - $456 per credit hour | Non-resident and International - $1236 per credit hour
#27 - VILLANOVA UNIVERSITY
ONLINE MASTER OF SCIENCE IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
The Villanova University Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (MSME) program consists of 30 semester credit hours taken over about two years, with the thesis option devoting six of these credits to thesis research. Those who take positions as graduate or research assistants must write a thesis, but other students can choose whether or not they wish to do so. All students in the MSME program must take a course on advanced engineering analysis.
Students with specific industries in mind can take up to six credits' worth of courses outside of the department. These can shore up a student's knowledge of project management, quality management, or a specific industry. Students who want to transfer previous coursework count transfer credits against this limit of courses outside the department, whether those credits come from mechanical engineering or another field. All courses taken outside the Villanova mechanical engineering department must be approved by the graduate committee chair.
Tuition Fee: $1,395 per credit hour
#26 - UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO
ONLINE MASTER OF SCIENCE IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
University of Idaho’s off-campus Master of Engineering degree is designed for engineers with industrial experience and a master's thesis is not required. Students completing this degree would be better prepared to work as a project manager or project engineer in an industrial setting. The degree requires a minimum of 30 credit hours and normally takes 3 to 4 semesters to complete.
The student-faculty ratio at the University of Idaho is 16:1, and the school has 53% of its classes with fewer than 20 students.
Tuition Fee: Full-Time (9-20 credits): $4,432 per credit hour | Part-Time (1-8 credits): $492 per credit hour
#25 - UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN-DEARBORN
ONLINE MASTER OF SCIENCE IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
UM-Dearborn’s 30-credit MS in mechanical engineering has two areas of focus: mechanical science and thermal/fluid science. Students have the option to take half of the program’s credits in an emphasis area. Graduates have experience using the latest technologies in the field, can analyze and solve advanced problems in mechanical engineering, and can apply the latest techniques and tools in their profession. The online master's in mechanical engineering degree has a fully online or hybrid delivery option; both use the Canvas learning management system.
The student-faculty ratio at University of Michigan - Dearborn is 17:1, and the school has 32.7% of its classes with fewer than 20 students. Admission requirements include a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or a similar field with a minimum cumulative 3.0 GPA.
Tuition Fee: Resident - $683 per credit hour | Non-resident - $804 per credit hour
#24 - AUBURN UNIVERSITY
ONLINE MASTER OF SCIENCE IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
The Samuel Ginn College of Engineering at Auburn University offers a non-thesis master's degree in mechanical engineering for students who already hold a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering. Students from other technical backgrounds can also apply, but must complete undergraduate coursework that familiarizes them with the specific demands of mechanical engineering.
This 30 credit hour program focuses tightly on mechanical engineering and science topics. Students complete 21 credit hours of 6000/7000-level coursework in science and engineering, though if a necessary mechanical engineering course is unavailable, substitutions from other engineering and science disciplines can be made with approval. The remaining nine credit hours of coursework can come from any graduate science or engineering department.
Students living near the campus can use the school's research facilities and laboratories. These include a vibration lab as well as robotics, acoustics, and thermal and fluid testing environments.
Tuition Fee: $949 per credit hour
#23 - STEVENS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
ONLINE MASTER OF SCIENCE IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
Stevens Institute of Technology focuses on research and current work in the Department of Mechanical Engineering includes nano/microfabrication, robotics, plastics/polymers, and sustainable energy. A Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering can be completed on campus or fully online. The 30 credits needed for graduation break down into two core classes, four classes in a concentration, and four electives.
The four concentration courses can be chosen from one of seven concentrations: manufacturing; medical devices; micro/nanosystems; pharmaceutical manufacturing; product design; robotics and control; and thermal, fluids, and energy.
Faculty of the institute has held talks on technical writing, formatting a thesis, and many other topics.
Tuition Fee: $1,620 per credit hour
#22 - UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON
ONLINE MASTER OF SCIENCE IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
Students interested in an online mechanical engineering degree from the University of Houston can choose from its Master of Science and Master of Mechanical Engineering programs. These degree paths serve different types of students.
The Master of Mechanical Engineering program improves working professionals' career prospects by giving them greater technical skills. This program requires 30 credit hours, including 21 taken from the MECE department's non-seminar, non-Graduate Project course offerings. The remaining nine credit hours can be taken from a list of approved courses in engineering, science, mathematics, business, or law.
The Master of Science program includes thesis and non-thesis options, and serves a broader range of students than the Master of Mechanical Engineering program. Both the thesis and non-thesis options require 30 credits to complete, with nine hours of thesis credits in the thesis option. Students in this program must take courses in at least three areas out of controls, materials, mechanics, and thermo-fluids.
Tuition Fee: $485 per credit hour
#21 - UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI
ONLINE MASTER OF SCIENCE IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
This program at the University of Cincinnati is an industry-focused, practice-oriented degree that will deepen your engineering skills in design and manufacturing while developing professional skills essential to a thriving business organization. Engineers who complete this degree are prepared to solve complex problems and manage tasks and projects successfully. The coursework, taught by faculty with industry experience, includes the study of production planning and control, design for manufacturability, intelligent systems theory, lean manufacturing, and supply chain management.
This program includes core courses and a capstone experience to comprise a total of 30 credit hours. The required capstone course has students engage in a project, develop a report, and present the findings to faculty and peers. The degree completion can take as less as 18 months.
Tuition Fee: Resident - $761 per credit hour | Non-resident - $ 775 per credit hour
#20 - MICHIGAN TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY
ONLINE MASTER OF SCIENCE IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
Realize your career goal in design, simulation, manufacturing, testing, or one of the many other facets of the mechanical engineering discipline. Students in the Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering program at Michigan Technological University can choose from a broad spectrum of mechanical engineering applications.
Three plans of study are offered for the online master's mechanical engineering degree: the thesis option, which includes required coursework and a thesis; a report option, which includes required coursework and a report with results from an independent project; and the coursework-only option.
Online students engage in an immersive education that utilizes video conferencing, live streaming, and interactive technologies to facilitate learning from a distance. Completion of this degree requires a minimum of 20 credits.
Tuition Fee: $1,078 per credit
#19 - TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY
ONLINE MASTER OF SCIENCE IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
The program has 10 designated core courses, though no specific courses from this list are mandatory. At least 24 classroom hours must come from mechanical engineering courses, and one of those courses must be MEEN 602, which covers modeling and analysis of mechanical systems. The remaining credits can come from any engineering or science department, including non-core MEEN courses.
One distinctive feature of the Texas A&M program is its flexibility in portfolio and project requirements. While students must complete a project and compile a portfolio, the project can come from any course on the degree plan, so long as it received an A or B grade, and the portfolio needs only to consist of graded class or research material.
Tuition Fee: Resident - $2522.99 | Non-resident - $3356.99 | International - $3838.49
#18 - UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON
ONLINE MASTER OF SCIENCE IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
The University of Wisconsin-Madison offers an online master's degree in mechanical engineering with an emphasis in polymer science. This prepares students to work in the plastics industry, which is America's third largest manufacturing industry and still growing. Students typically complete this degree program in about three years.
This program requires 30 credits minimum for graduation, including at least 15 credits of 400 level or higher from within the department. Students must also complete at least one 700-level mechanical engineering course, and while a 600-level independent study course is not required, it is strongly recommended. All students learn about transport phenomena in polymer processing, engineering design with polymers, and one advanced materials-related or polymers-related subject of their choice.
With the education they earn in mechanical engineering, students who graduate from this program are prepared not only for working in traditional plastics but also looking at cutting-edge innovations. Common career trajectories for program graduates include electronics, nanotechnology, and biomedical polymer engineering.
Tuition Fee: $1600 per credit hour
#17 - COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY
ONLINE MASTER OF SCIENCE IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
The Colorado State University mechanical engineering master's degree program takes a practitioner-centric perspective, equipping graduates with both the skills and the outlook that will serve them best in the field. Students learn how to solve problems with engineering skills, but also how to adjust their solutions according to environmental impacts, financial constraints, and design limitations. Students can pursue additional training in areas like manufacturing, mechanical design, or advanced composite materials.
The program offers some flexibility, encouraging students to adjust their plans to their specific educational or career goals. 12 credits of the program can be used to round out a student's degree, whether by familiarizing them with the needs of a specific industry or giving them more generalized engineering knowledge.
Students complete a total of 30 credits before graduation, including 15 core courses which cover materials and manufacturing engineering. The program can be completed within two years.
Tuition Fee: $936 per credit hour
#16 - LEHIGH UNIVERSITY
ONLINE MASTER OF SCIENCE IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
The P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Sciences at Lehigh University considers mechanical engineering a core discipline, and serves professional engineers who want to improve their knowledge of topics like mechanics, materials, and manufacturing. It offers both thesis and non-thesis options that require at least 30 hours of coursework. Its experienced faculty has contributed significantly to engineering knowledge on a global scale.
Two courses from outside mechanical engineering and mechanics can be put toward degree requirements, pending the approval of a student's advisor. This enables students with specific long-term career goals, such as engineering business leadership or engineering in a healthcare context, to learn more about the needs of those positions or industries.
Students in the thesis option must complete a professional-quality poster presentation and contribute to the department's web page. All elements of the thesis, including research, writing, presentation, and web publication, count as a total of six credits toward the degree.
Tuition Fee: $1,500 per credit hour + $100 online access fee
#15 - RENSSELAER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE
ONLINE MASTER OF SCIENCE IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) program in mechanical engineering serves engineers who have already started their careers but want to move on to become team leaders and project managers. As their job duties increase in both scope and importance, these engineers need more than just engineering skills, and RPI's program provides that.
In addition to courses on engineering topics like fluid dynamics and heat transfer, RPI's engineering program covers leadership and project management skills. All students take courses on the demands of engineering project management, Lean Six Sigma, and manufacturing processes. The curriculum also includes two professional projects, allowing students to implement these skills as part of their academic program before taking them into the field.
The RPI master's degree program takes 30 credit hours to complete, split across 10 three-credit courses. While the program has a $75 application fee, students who attend a participatory webinar about the program can have this fee waived.
Tuition Fee: $1,454 per credit hour
#14 - UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN
ONLINE MASTER OF SCIENCE IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
At the University of Illinois, two mechanical engineering graduate degrees can be earned online: the MSME degree and the M.Eng.ME degree. The degree requirements for the online options are the same as the on-campus options. Online students have a maximum of five years to complete the degree requirements.
32 credit hours of formal, graded, graduate-level coursework is required for the non-thesis option, and 24 credit hours with a thesis. Most MS students in Mechanical Engineering, in collaboration with their research adviser, choose the thesis option, and most MS students are supported on research or teaching assistantships.
Tuition Fee: $1,084 per credit hour + $50 per credit hour admin fee
#13 - NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY
ONLINE MASTER OF SCIENCE IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
Convenience and flexibility are key advantages of this program at NC State University. The MSME degree is a 30-credit-hour degree program that does not require a thesis, a final oral exam, or on-campus attendance. It is designed for students with a B.S. degree in mechanical or aerospace engineering or related field. Each student in the MSME Distance Education program must complete a minimum of four core MAE courses from a concentration area and two additional MAE courses at the 500 or 700 level. In addition, each student must complete three credit hours of MAE 586 (Project Work in Mechanical Engineering).
Learners are required to work with an adviser to develop a plan of study before they complete 15 credits. The online master's in mechanical engineering can be taken on a full-time or part-time basis, with a student-faculty ratio of 13:1.
Tuition Fee: $503.56 per credit hour
#12 - BOSTON UNIVERSITY
ONLINE MASTER OF SCIENCE IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
Boston University’s Master of Engineering (MEng) degree in Mechanical Engineering is a professional master’s program with 32 credit hours. It is aimed at:
- Graduating senior students who want a one-year master’s in engineering before they look for industrial jobs
- Mid-career professionals who want to switch careers and would like to complete a one-year master’s degree between jobs
Additionally, there is no master’s thesis required, but there is a substantive project which gives hands-on implementation to your learnings.
Tuition Fee: $1,651 per credit - (Standard fee for any Full-Time student)
#11 - WORCESTER POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY
ONLINE MASTER OF SCIENCE IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
Worcester Polytechnic University’s Online MS in Mechanical Engineering program helps you gain the knowledge and skills needed to push the boundaries of analysis, design, and manufacturing. This is a customizable program, that leverages your professional expertise in mechanical engineering and meets career and lifestyle goals. The MS in Mechanical Engineering is a non-thesis degree with a minimum of 30 credit hours, and you can complete this degree in 2 years.
Even though this is an online program, you will be connected with a Student Support Member from the time you apply. They will be present via phone and email to help you out at each step!
Tuition Fee: $1,513 per credit
#10 - JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY
ONLINE MASTER OF SCIENCE IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
Instructors in the Mechanical Engineering program at Johns Hopkins Engineering for Professionals are leading mechanical engineers whose courses address topics ranging from advanced vehicle technologies and modern energy systems to improved robot control and the integration of modern technologies into manufacturing. Students, who are often practicing engineers, have access to state-of-the-art facilities and a modern, evolving curriculum that prepares them to be leaders in these growing fields. For graduation, at least 10 courses must be completed within five years.
Many students are working engineers, and thus the program can be taken full-time or part-time. Faculty members are also mechanical engineers who are leaders in the field.
Tuition Fee: $5,374 minimum tuition for up to 3 credits; then $1,791 per credit after minimum tuition
#9 - UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
ONLINE MASTER OF SCIENCE IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
The University of Florida offers master's degree programs from seven of its Gator Engineering departments through its UF EDGE initiative, with multiple areas of emphasis within each. Future mechanical engineers can enroll in its mechanical and aerospace engineering program, which offers specializations in mechanics, dynamics, and thermal science.
Regardless of which emphasis area is chosen, all programs require the completion of 30 credit hours of coursework. 18 credits must come from mechanical and aerospace engineering, while the remaining 12 can be from any technical field. Students can use these later credits in the program to broaden their knowledge of STEM topics or become better mechanical engineers, or take up to two six-credit minors.
This program does not require the completion of a thesis. Those who choose the non-thesis track, however, must instead take a comprehensive exam.
Tuition Fee: Resident - $448 per credit hour + $15 Distance Learning Fee | Non-resident - $690 per credit hour
#8 - PURDUE UNIVERSITY
ONLINE MASTER OF SCIENCE IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
The online master's program in mechanical engineering at Purdue University consists of 30 credits of coursework, and can be taken as a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering or an Interdisciplinary Master of Science in Engineering with a mechanical engineering concentration. Students can also choose whether or not they would like to complete a thesis as part of the program.
The Purdue program encourages students to find a balance between work, life, and schooling. Students can take time off from their studies if work or life presents unforeseen challenges, and most students start out taking one course at a time. The school's academic advisors work with each student to create a personalized plan of study. If students take one class per semester, they usually finish in about three years.
Online courses adhere to the same rigorous standards as Purdue's on-campus offerings. Common courses for online students include biomechanics, heat transfer, fluid mechanics, design, automotive systems, and materials processing.
Tuition Fee: Resident - $600.45 | Non-resident - $948.30 | International - 1018.30
#7 - UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
ONLINE MASTER OF SCIENCE IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
The MS in Mechanical Engineering degree from USC provides the technical education needed for engineering professionals in various industries such as aerospace, automotive, energy and power, utilities, petrochemical, design, manufacturing, and transportation. The course program for each track is designed to provide you with an education that is strong in both fundamentals and application, preparing you for doctoral programs, as well as for continuing your engineering career in the industry.
A minimum of 27 units is required for the MS in Mechanical Engineering degree, and a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 is required for graduation.
Tuition Fee: $2005 per unit (Both on-campus and DEN@Viterbi [online] students pay the same fee).
#6 - UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
ONLINE MASTER OF SCIENCE IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
University of Washington’s Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (MSME) degree is intended for students with undergraduate degrees in mechanical engineering or a closely related field, such as aerospace engineering. Students' undergraduate backgrounds should include mechanical engineering core courses in fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, heat transfer, mechanics of materials, dynamics of mechanical systems, systems analysis and machine design. This degree requires 42 credits and is intended for students presenting themselves as professional mechanical engineers, with sufficient academic background.
The student-faculty ratio at the University of Washington is 17:1, and the school has 32.3% of its classes with fewer than 20 students.
Tuition Fee: Resident - $535 per credit | Non-resident and International - $985 per credit
#5 - CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY
ONLINE MASTER OF SCIENCE IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
The online MS in Mechanical Engineering degree consists of nine courses or 27 credit hours. Case Western has a rich history of research and teaching in areas such as fluid mechanics, combustion science, biologically inspired robotics, aerospace engineering, experimental and computational solid mechanics and biomechanics. The faculty brings this expertise and experience to the teaching of the courses in their online curriculum.
- NOTE: Case Western Reserve University School of Engineering offers reduced tuition via automatically applied scholarships for all new online students. No additional paperwork is required.
Tuition Fee: $5571 per credit hour
#4 - STANFORD UNIVERSITY
ONLINE MASTER OF SCIENCE IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
At Stanford’s graduate level, the Mechanical Engineering program aligns academic coursework with research, to prepare scholars in specialized areas within the field of mechanical engineering. Human-centered design and design for sustainability are themes that span all the programs in the department.
This program requires the completion of 45 units which comprise a specific course of study. Students may need to come to campus to complete the requirements if required courses are not offered online. You must complete this degree with all 45 units, within 5 years of starting the program.
Tuition Fee: Ranges from $249 - 1,295 per course, depending on the program.
#3 - COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY
ONLINE MASTER OF SCIENCE IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
Columbia University has offered a mechanical engineering program for more than a century, and in that time has employed many leaders in the field. Its faculty have made historic contributions in the fields of lubrication and kinematics, and more recently contributed to areas like biomechanics and thermofluids.
Columbia's programs are highly personalized, but with specialization in mind. Advisors and students work together to create a course sequence that will equip students for a particular area of practice or the demands of a specific industry. Common choices at Columbia include thermodynamics, manufacturing engineering, kinematics, and power generation, among others. All courses must be at least 4000-level, including six points of 6000-level or higher lecture courses. Students must also take courses in mathematics and statistics early in the program, and at least five courses must carry the school's mechanical engineering designations (EEME, MEBM, IEME, and MECE).
Tuition Fee: $1,936 per credit hour
#2 - GEORGIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
ONLINE MASTER OF SCIENCE IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
Georgia Tech's online mechanical engineering degree serves students who have a mechanical engineering or equivalent undergraduate degree. The Georgia Tech program's offerings are broad, with dozens of courses available. This master's degree program requires 30 credits in total, whether a student has chosen to complete a thesis or not.
The non-thesis option requires 21 credits from the coherent major area, six from the coherent minor area, and three in mathematics. At least 24 of these credits must be 6000-level coursework or above, and at least 18 credits must come from courses with the ME designation. Students in the non-thesis option can also take one three-credit course in special problems.
The thesis option, meanwhile, requires only nine credits from the mechanical engineering field, and only 15 6000-level or higher courses. The thesis counts as nine credits toward the 30 required for the degree.
Tuition Fee: Resident - $575 per credit hour | Non-resident - $1191 per credit hour
#1 - Penn State - WORLD CAMPUS
ONLINE MASTER OF SCIENCE IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
Penn State’s online mechanical engineering program, delivered through Penn State World Campus, is identical to their resident instruction program. The courses in the 32-credit online curriculum can help you gain advanced knowledge for research, analysis, and design in mechanical engineering. You'll study topics such as heat transfer, the foundations of fluid mechanics, automatic control systems, solid mechanics, and engineering optimization.
The online courses are collaborative, allowing you to build strong ties with other students and gain perspectives from other disciplines and industries. The program maintains maximum flexibility to meet both the professional needs of individual students and quality academic standards.
Tuition Fee: $1,100 per credit
Thanks for checking out our ranking of the Top 50 Online Master’s Degrees in Engineering Management for 2018!
Rating and Ranking Methodology
Tuition Points:
- Under $45,000—1 point
- Under $40,000—2 points
- Under $35,000—3 points
- Under $30,000—4 points
- Under $25,000—5 points
- Under $20,000—6 points
- Under $15,000—7 points
- Under $10,000—8 points
- Under $5,000—9 points
US News and World Report Recognition as a Top Online School for Master’s in Engineering Programs
- Top 5— 5 points
- Top 10— 4 points
- Top 25 —3 points
- Top 50 —2 points
- Top 75 —1 point
Customization Options
- Format Customizations (e.g. Hybrid/Online, Full-time/Part-Time, Accelerated, Degree Completion, etc.)—1 Point Per Customization Option
- Content Customizations (e.g. Minors, Concentrations, Specializations, etc.)—1 Point Per Customization Option (5-point cap)
Wow Factor
- 1 point awarded for each unique feature or program that “wowed” us
Our editor started with a list of over 50 colleges, and then use our customized ranking methodology to shortlist the TOP 30. We were able to narrow these initial findings by applying a few factors such as: affordability (average net price is capped at $36,000), program customization, ROI, and career prospects. Finally, we used information from U.S. News & World Report as well as from each school’s website to apply the rating and ranking methodology above. In the event of a tie in points, the school with the lower tuition receives the higher ranking.
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