Published:Dec 15, 2024

Everything You Need to Know about Master’s in Engineering Management Rankings

A Master of Engineering Management (MEM) is a great path to further your education if you want to advance into a leadership role that combines engineering and technology with business administration and management skills.

MEM programs expand upon existing technical engineering knowledge and introduce management skills needed for career advancement. These higher education degrees provide opportunities to develop advanced engineering management and technology management skills while exploring diverse career paths and international engineering projects, all while increasing the probability of earning more over the course of your engineering management career.

This article will help you explore your options and choose the right master's in engineering management degree program for you.

Making Sense of MEM Rankings

U.S. News & World Report typically updates its university and program rankings annually in the fall. Below, we’ll get into why these rankings can be helpful, the rankings’ methodology, and what factors are not a part of the methodology that you should still take into consideration when choosing the right program for your needs and goals.

Pros of Program Rankings

Several factors and data points go into calculating these rankings each year. For the 2024 Best Online Master's in Engineering Programs rankings, U.S. News ranked the programs using five categories. Take a look at each category (and its weight) in the current formula:

  • Engagement (25%): Top-tier online engineering programs encourage active engagement in classes and coursework, providing students with ample opportunities to interact with both their professors and peers — similar to the dynamics of an on-campus environment. As a result, instructors are not only approachable and responsive but also play a key role in fostering an enriching experience that motivates students to remain enrolled and finish their master’s degree within a reasonable timeframe.

  • Faculty Credentials and Training (25%): Effective online programs hire instructors who also teach on-campus or have academic qualifications equivalent to those of their on-campus counterparts. These programs provide the necessary resources to train these educators on how best to teach and connect with online learners.

  • Peer Assessment (25%): A survey of top academic leaders in engineering sheds light on the intangible elements that influence program quality, which are not reflected in statistics. Additionally, degrees from programs that are highly regarded by academics may be viewed favorably by employers.

  • Services and Technologies (12.5%): Programs that use advanced online learning technologies offer students increased flexibility to attend classes and complete labs remotely. In addition to coursework, high-quality programs have robust support systems in place to provide academic assistance, career counseling, and financial aid — on par with the services offered by campus-based programs.

  • Student Excellence (12.5%): Student cohorts with demonstrated skills and achievements are well-equipped to meet the challenges of demanding coursework offered by these programs. Additionally, online degrees conferred by institutions with high standards can carry greater credibility in the job market.

Cons of Program Rankings

While rankings from U.S. News & World Report can serve as a useful starting point, you should be cautious of relying solely on these lists when making decisions about MEM programs. Factors such as cost, personal goals, program fit, and long-term outcomes should also play a critical role in evaluating the true value of a program. Remember to balance prestige with practicality. Programs that rank high may be prestigious but not necessarily the best fit for every student.

When evaluating your master’s in engineering management options, consider:

  • Cost vs. Return on Investment: Highly ranked schools may have high tuition fees, but that doesn’t always translate into a better return on investment for every student.

  • Specialization vs. Generalization: A program focused on a niche area of study might not rank as highly as broader, more generalized programs, even though it might provide a superior education for students interested in that specialty.

  • Long-Term Career Success: How well do graduates do in their careers after a decade in the field? Rankings often fail to reflect the long-term value of a degree in terms of professional growth, job satisfaction, or career advancement.

  • Alumni Networks and Mentorship: The strength of a program's alumni network and the quality of mentorship may be crucial for career growth and is not always captured in rankings.

Explore Online MEM Programs

University of Nebraska - Lincoln

University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Reviews

Nebraska’s MEM program fuses technical, and operational skills with in-demand professional skills to prepare students for a career managing and leading engineering and technical people, projects, and teams.

Washington University in St. Louis

Washington University in St. Louis

Reviews

Designed as a STEM-focused, comprehensive “Engineer’s MBA”, this degree program covers the business cycle essentials, such as leadership and data-driven decision-making, tailored for students with a technical background.

Washington State University

Washington State University

Reviews

Washington State University's Engineering and Technology Management (ETM) program is designed for working professionals aiming to enhance their skills in managing people, projects, and operations in engineering and technology sectors.

Duke University

Duke University

Reviews

This MEM program combines technical and business training, ideal for an early-career engineer. The curriculum includes four technical elective courses, business courses tailored for tech leaders, a seminar series, and an internship.

Discover Top-Rated Master’s in Engineering Management Programs

Some might think an MBA is the only path to pursuing a career in engineering management. However, a Master's in Engineering Management offers a similar — but more specialized path — especially for those wishing to manage engineering teams.

As the primary rankings authority for MEM programs, U.S. News and World Report, we’ve identified the following engineering management programs as the most consistently top-rated:

These reputable MEM programs have several factors in common, including accreditation from recognized engineering and technology bodies and diverse curricula, specializations, or tracks to choose from based on your interests and career goals. An engineering management master’s degree from one of these universities can also enable you to explore and advance within evolving fields, like artificial intelligence, supply chain management, and computer science.

Explore Cost-Effective Master’s in Engineering Management Programs

While grants, scholarships, federal aid, and employer tuition reimbursement may be available as you’re exploring your MEM program options, you’ll likely pay out of pocket for some of your tuition. With this in mind, you may want to consider some of the lower priced — but still high quality — master’s in engineering management programs. 

To help narrow your search for master’s programs, we’ve outlined several cost-effective, accredited engineering management programs based on published tuition rates.

Arkansas State University

Arkansas State University
Location: Jonesboro, Arkansas
Total Tuition: $10,200
Format: 100% Online

offers an accelerated online Master of Science in Engineering Management program you can complete within a year. The program requires 30 credit hours for graduation and focuses on both engineering and management fundamentals. The total tuition cost for the program is $10,200 for the 2024-2025 academic year. The online MSEM program coursework includes:

  • Engineering statistics

  • Quality control and improvement

  • Advanced project management and practice

  • Advanced engineering economy

  • Finance and budgeting for engineering

  • Advanced facilities management

  • Engineering capstone

Louisiana Tech University College of Engineering and Science

Louisiana Tech University College of Engineering and Science
Location: Ruston, LA
Tuition: $15,675
Format: 100% Online

offers a reasonably priced online Master of Science in Engineering and Technology Management program that requires 33 credit hours to complete. Tuition for online students is $1,425 per three credit hours, so the total is approximately $15,675 for the 2024-2025 academic year. The program offers four concentrations:

  • Engineering management 

  • Technology management 

  • Construction 

  • Data science

University of South Florida

University of South Florida
Location: Tampa, FL
Tuition: $13,140 (In-State) / $26,490 (Out-of-State)
Format: 100% Online

which claims to offer one of the lowest tuition rates in the U.S., delivers a 30-credit Master of Science in Engineering Management (MSEM) program. The program covers topics like technical management, process optimization, quality and continuous improvement, safety, entrepreneurship, and engineering analytics. If you enroll in the MSEM program, you may pursue courses on campus or through distance learning.

University of Purdue

University of Purdue
Location: West Lafayette, IN
Tuition: $37,587 (In-State) / $48,147 (Out-of-State)
Format 100% Online

offers an on-campus dual degree that allows you to earn your master’s degree in engineering from the College of Engineering plus your MBA from the Mitchell E. Daniels, Jr. School of Business in just two years — a year less than if you earned them separately. The dual MSE+MBA degree program covers areas such as project management, financial management, and strategic management. The streamlined time frame saves you time and reduces costs.

Kansas State University

Kansas State University
Location: Manhattan, KS
Tuition: $24,780
Format: 100% Online

offers an online Master of Engineering Management program that comprises 30 credit hours and costs an estimated $841 per credit hour for the 2024-2025 academic year. The master’s program is designed for working professionals and provides advanced training in topics such as project management, resource allocation, and quantitative problem-solving.

Oregon State University

Oregon State University
Location: Corvallis, OR
Tuition: $28,485
Format: 100% Online

offers an online Master of Engineering in Engineering Management (45 credits) or a Graduate Certificate in Engineering Management (18 credits) — the latter being ideal for anyone with a bachelor’s degree in a STEM field and those who are already working as professional engineers. The program costs an estimated $633 per credit hour for the 2024-2025 academic year.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for engineering managers is steadily growing — estimated to increase 6% between 2023 and 2033, which is faster than average. Earning an MEM degree can help ensure you are on the right path toward a career with a positive job outlook — and some of these more reasonably priced programs can make furthering your education more attainable as well.

You can also save on your tuition by exploring alternatives like:

  • Employer reimbursement, i.e. your employer refunds the tuition you spent to advance your knowledge and skills. In most cases, your employer will expect you to complete the program and work in the company for a given period of time after completion.

  • Private grants and scholarships

Find Accelerated Master’s in Engineering Management Programs

An engineering management degree can raise your salary potential, and if you pursue an accelerated MEM program, you can enjoy these salary benefits sooner. When looking for an accelerated engineering management program, you should consider the scheduling and financing of that program and weigh the pros and cons before choosing one that fits your needs.

One advantage of accelerated MEM programs is they cost less than traditional programs as they typically require less lab time. However, you will probably be attending the program full-time, as you have to study the same amount of coursework for the program in a shorter period of time. However, some accelerated MEM programs offer flexibility for full-time workers or those who still need time for other personal obligations.

Notable accelerated master’s in engineering management programs include:

Stevens Institute of Technology

Stevens Institute of Technology
Location: Hoboken, NJ
Tuition: $55,920
Format: 100% Online

offers a 100% online Master of Engineering in Engineering Management that can be completed in two years or less, depending on the number of credits taken each semester. The program comprises 30 credits spread out over 10 courses. The estimated cost of attendance is $57,900 for the 2024-2025 academic year.

Vanderbilt University

Vanderbilt University
Location: Nashville, TN
Tuition: $70,470
Format: 100% Online

offers a 12-month, accelerated online Master of Engineering in Engineering Management (M.Eng.) which features live, weekly courses and doesn’t require the GRE or GMAT for admission. The estimated cost of attendance is $70,470 for the 2024-2025 academic year.

University of Louisville

University of Louisville
Location: Louisville, KY
Tuition: $23,730
Format: 100%

offers its Master of Engineering in Engineering Management in accelerated eight-week terms which can be completed in one to two years. The program requires 30 credit hours to graduate and costs $830 per credit hour. The coursework covers topics including project management, human resources management, marketing, law, and more.

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Location: Edinburg, TX
Tuition: $26,790
Format: 100% Online

offers an accelerated, online Master of Science in Engineering Management program that comprises 30 credit hours. Scholarships are available. The program focuses on skills needed to manage other engineers in technical or production environments. Students evaluate economic and financial structures and their implications for engineering systems, and they develop skills in negotiations, marketing, decision analysis, and risk assessment.

Explore Master’s in Engineering Management Programs by Return on Investment

A master's degree in engineering management is a great way to advance your managerial and technical skills and become a competitive candidate for engineering and management roles. What’s more, the MEM program you choose can have a significant influence on your job prospects upon graduation.

Unless you have a tuition reimbursement arrangement with your employer, it is likely top-of-mind to identify those MEM programs that have the highest return on investment — as measured by high employment rate post-graduation, high starting salary post-graduation, or lowest time required to pay back on the program tuition. 

When exploring your engineering management master’s program options, you should consider the following questions:

Make sure to check (and inquire) about the program’s job placement rates and other employment data such as starting salary, employers hiring, and positions secured.

Do employers regularly recruit MEM graduates?

Are there any alumni working in the fields, industries, or specialization areas you plan to seek employment in?

We’ve identified several highly acclaimed master’s in engineering management programs that can provide a strong ROI (depending on the factors previously mentioned):

In general, accreditation is a factor you should strongly consider when evaluating master’s in engineering management programs. Accreditation from the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) ensures that an engineering management program meets or exceeds industry standards. These standards are usually strict, and universities have to renew their accreditation every few years. Choosing an accredited program allows you to obtain high-quality education and skills that contribute to improving your employability.

How to Choose a Top-Ranked Master’s in Engineering Management Program?

Selecting the best master’s in engineering management program will depend on the career path you intend to take — you can pursue roles in industrial engineering, electrical engineering, civil engineering, and more. The right MEM program for you also depends on your employment history, academic background, skills, and your current lifestyle. It’s a very personal choice. However, while you’re searching, be sure to consider these factors as well: accreditation, reputation, affordability, student support, and program flexibility. 

All of the MEM programs we have outlined are strong options, and each has its own distinct advantages and disadvantages to weigh as you are making your decision. We hope this compilation has helped you narrow your search — and has helped you understand what you need to look for, based on your financial considerations, professional background, and future career goals.

Sources:

1. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Architectural and Engineering Managers, at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/architectural-and-engineering-managers.htm. (visited October 24, 2024)

2. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Computer and Information Systems Managers, at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/computer-and-information-systems-managers.htm. (visited October 24, 2024)