Published:Dec 15, 2024

Why Pursue an Online Engineering Management Degree?

With demand for engineering management professionals slated to grow 6% faster than average over the next decade, adding an average of 11,600 jobs per year, engineering management degrees are becoming an increasingly profitable educational investment.¹

Whatever your particular interest, there are a wide variety of specializations within the engineering manager career field to explore, including roles in industries like:

Aerospace engineering
Mechanical engineering
Electrical engineering
Construction management
Systems engineering
Technology management

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Still, going back to school for an engineering management degree can seem daunting, especially if you lack flexibility in your life and career to become a full-time student. The solution? Getting an online engineering degree.

As it becomes more and more common for professionals to earn their degrees via an online program, studying engineering management online is an increasingly popular choice. Pursuing an online engineering management degree is a flexible, cost-effective way to advance in the field and grow your career in engineering leadership and management.

Popular Online Engineering Management Programs

You’re ready to get online and start learning, but how do you find the engineering management program that works for you? Here are a few online engineering management programs offering online engineering management degrees to help you begin your search:

Each online college degree program offers flexible learning schedules that allow you to get a general education before you start focusing on a particular interest, such as project management, systems engineering, or computer science. Before you apply, explore each program’s financial aid options and start dates to find out which may be the best fit for your own situation and needs.

Most Affordable Online Engineering Management Degrees

There are plenty of affordable options available for returning to graduate school, especially if you pursue an online education. Here are some of the most affordable and popular programs to consider:

Offering a popular engineering management technology degree, Purdue has a joint program with the Kelley Business School at Indiana University. In-state tuition for the two-year Master of Engineering Management with Professional Practice is $17,640, while out-of-state tuition is $45,360. Purdue grads command an average salary of $101,530.

Graduate admission requirements include having an undergraduate degree from an ABET-accredited engineering program or one with equivalent standards with a minimum GPA of 3.0. If you hold a bachelor's degree in a related area like science, mathematics, or technology, you must have completed college-level calculus courses, including engineering calculus and one completed differential equations or linear algebra course. To apply, submit your personal statement, resume, and letters of recommendation along with the application fee.

Known for online engineering economics and leadership courses, Texas A&M requires two courses in engineering calculus, one course in linear algebra, one additional mathematics course that requires first-semester calculus as a prerequisite, one course in engineering mechanics or calculus-based physics, one course in calculus-based probability and statistics, and one course in computer programming as a prerequisite to apply, and the school prefers applicants with a 3.25 GPA.

The student-faculty ratio at Texas A&M University is 19:1, with the total tuition of the program costing $54,000 as of the 2024–25 academic year.2 Grads command an average salary of $80,556. You do not need to submit GMAT/GRE scores to apply.

With a specialization in construction engineering and management, Iowa State University costs $23,460 for both in- and out-of-state graduate students. To apply, you’ll need a four-year bachelor's degree in engineering or an equivalent with a minimum GPA of 3.0. On average, grads command a salary of $79,333.

With a specialization in project management, this is a great program if you’re interested in becoming an engineering manager. Tuition for OSU's online engineering program is $16,960 for out-of-state students and $15,648 for in-state students. To apply, you’ll need to have a Bachelor of Science degree or higher in engineering, technology, or physical/mathematical sciences with a 3.0 GPA, plus a personal statement, resume, and application fee. The average salary earned by OSU engineering grads is $66,558.

Offering a popular systems engineering major, Louisiana Tech University’s program annual full-time tuition cost is $4,806 for in-state students and $9,537 for out-of-state students. Part-time annual tuition is $2,322 for in-state students and $2,322 for out-of-state students.3 To apply, you’ll need a bachelor’s degree in engineering, science, or engineering technology or equivalent work experience, and an application fee. On average, graduates earn around $65,000.

How to Lower the Cost of an Online Engineering Management Degree

Even if you decide to attend one of the more affordable online education options, higher education of any kind can be expensive. Fortunately, there are plenty of resources available to make your graduate certificate less pricey.

Many schools have robust financial aid programs and scholarships. There are also a wide variety of scholarships available for engineering students, including employer scholarships. Many companies may provide tuition reimbursement for your online engineering or technology management degree. Since going back to school can increase your value as an employee, it’s worth checking if your company has a scholarship plan you can access.

There are also many things that you can do to reduce your costs as a student by minimizing the number of credits you need to take. Transferring credits for relevant coursework you’ve completed in the past can reduce overall costs, while accelerated programs give you the option to complete your degree faster and more affordably. By combining these strategies and resources, you can keep your degree cost at a minimum.

Application Fees

As you are considering which programs to pursue, it’s also important to budget for application fees, which can run from around $25 on the low end to $125 on the high end. Some schools offer assistance with application fees or will even forgive them entirely if you’re a low-income student.

Career Outlook for Engineering Management Graduates

The career prospects for someone receiving an online master’s degree from an engineering program are bright overall, with employment rates and salaries varying depending on your specialty and background experience.

An online engineering management degree prepares you for a career in engineering leadership and business administration in a variety of engineering-related fields. Different roles are experiencing different levels of growth, but secure prospects include advancing your career as an engineering manager, in construction management, or in project management for fields including industrial engineering, aerospace engineering, environmental engineering, or electrical engineering.

After completing your online engineering management degree, your salary will vary by experience level. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported engineering management salaries in 2023 ranged from around $107,000 to $233,000, with the average salary falling around $165,370 per year.⁴

Accreditation and the Importance of Choosing an Accredited Program

When seeking out an engineering management program and beginning the next stages of graduate admission, you should make sure the programs you’re considering have been accredited by organizations such as the Higher Learning Commission.

Accreditation is an assurance that the education your engineering technology program will provide is high quality and will be recognised by potential employers, state licensing boards, and other colleges or universities in case you decide to transfer or pursue a higher degree.

Your program’s accreditation status will impact your eligibility for financial aid, professional certifications, and recognition in the industry. An unaccredited program may not be able to advance your career in a meaningful way and can cost you time and money.

Choosing the Right Online Engineering Management Program

With so many good online program options to choose from, picking the right graduate school for you can feel a bit tricky.

For many people, cost considerations are at the forefront of their decision-making processes as they determine the right degree program to meet their needs. Tuition fees vary widely, from $9,000 on the lower end all the way up to $40,000 or more.⁵

But that doesn’t necessarily mean that lower-cost options are the only good fit for your budget. Many engineering management technology programs offer comprehensive financial aid and scholarship options for engineering leadership graduate students. If you’re in a group that’s underrepresented in the engineering fields or are low income or a military veteran, you’re especially qualified for scholarships. You can talk to a representative from each school’s financial aid office to get a better sense of the options available to you.

Another consideration when it comes to picking a program is whether you prefer to attend full- or part-time and whether you prefer programs that are entirely online or those with a hybrid component where you’ll be on campus with your cohort some of the time. Do your research and determine which might be a better fit for your level of flexibility and learning style, as some people prefer the more adjustable schedule of a part-time online program, whereas others appreciate the opportunity to connect with professors and peers in the real world.

One of the most important things to keep in mind as you begin your program search is the type of specialization you’d like to focus on in your degree and subsequent career. Programs offer concentrations in specific areas like construction engineering, mechanical engineering, technology management, and engineering economics.

You might have an idea of the specialization you’d most like to pursue already, or you might need to do a little research to determine which area of engineering management interests you the most. Either way, it’s a good idea to spend some time considering the specific areas of focus your prospective program is best at to ensure they’re a good fit for your interests and future career plans.

Last but not least, don’t overlook the importance of student support services. Each school’s career services department, mentorship networks, and networking opportunities will be different, so it’s worth doing some research to make sure that the career support they offer will be both useful and relevant to your future career.

Schedule a talk with the career center prior to applying to get an idea of how their career support functions, or browse message boards for current students where people discuss their personal experiences and you can post any relevant questions.

Steps to Enrolling in an Online Engineering Management Degree

Every online engineering management program has different requirements for graduate admission, so before you begin the application process for your engineering degree, you should check specific requirements. As a prospective student, you can even schedule a meeting with a program’s grad school admissions team to get a better sense of what they need to see in your application materials and how you can best tailor them to show yourself in your best light.

Here are some general requirements that you should check off your list as you begin your application process:

Bachelor's degree in engineering or a related field
Minimum GPA requirements
Relevant work experience
Test scores on exams like the GRE or GMAT
Letters of recommendation from past colleagues, bosses, or professors familiar with your qualities as a student and engineer
Personal statement covering your career goals and professional interests, as well as why you’re interested in this particular program
Professional CV presenting your relevant work experience

To make sure your application is as strong as it can be, it's a good idea to schedule a check-in with the admissions team. We also suggest making sure you tailor your application to suit each program, highlighting the skills and interests that make you a good fit for their particular academic concentration and community.

Lastly, staying on top of your schedule can be challenging when you’re applying to programs with a wide variety of deadlines. We recommend putting all key deadlines into a calendar or spreadsheet and scheduling reminders to ensure you don’t miss any important dates.

Top Schools Offering Online Engineering Management Programs

We’ve covered the most affordable options, but if you’re ready to reach for the stars, you might also be interested in the top-ranked engineering management program options. Here are some of the nation’s best online college degree program options for graduate students interested in furthering their higher education in the areas of engineering management:

Described as one of the school’s most innovative and expansive departments, Stanford’s Management Science and Engineering programs integrate depth in conceptual and analytical foundations; comprehensive coverage of functional areas of application; and interaction with other Stanford departments, the Silicon Valley industry, and organizations throughout the world of telecommunications.

Auburn’s Master of Engineering Management degree is hosted by the university’s Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering and the Thomas Walter Center and is specifically designed for students already working in an engineering-related field who want to expand their career potential. If you’re a working professional in the aerospace, biosystems, chemical, civil, computer science and software, electrical and computer, industrial and systems, materials, mechanical or wireless industries, this program might be a good fit.

Missouri’s graduate engineering management degree program is the founding member of the American Society for Engineering Management (ASEM). The program is designed for students interested in stepping into leadership roles in engineering, business and education, balancing engineering preparation with a complementary education in business and management methods.

Created with professionals with a STEM background in mind, OSU’s Master of Engineering degree in engineering management brings together the business, financial, and management knowledge needed to become an effective leader along with marketable engineering-specific expertise.

Offering two tracks, construction management and project management, Rowan’s online program provides working engineers with the leadership skills they need to advance to management-level roles and allows them to explore administrative procedures such as organizational behavior and teamwork, strategic decision-making, and supervising, balancing advanced technical concepts and managerial skills with a focus on project management.

A founding member of the Master of Engineering Management Programs Consortium, Duke’s online program positions itself as a tech savvy alternative to traditional MBA programs. Interdisciplinary and flexible, the program has a global focus and is focused on practical applications within the modern workplace.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Labor statistics don’t generally differentiate between the salaries of workers with online or in-person degrees, but on average, the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that people with engineering management degrees earn $165,370 per year.⁴

Yes! The unparalleled flexibility of online education means that you won’t have to relocate or reorganize your life to complete graduate school. You’ll be able to keep working, and a supportive employer may even encourage you to complete your degree faster than you would have otherwise.

It varies by online program, but most programs require applicants to have a bachelor’s degree in a discipline related to engineering and a minimum GPA. Some also have additional requirements including GRE scores, letters of recommendation, and professional experience.

Most engineering management degrees require students to earn 30 to 36 credits, meaning that a full-time student could complete the program in two years while parttime students may take longer.

Conclusion: Is an Online Engineering Management Degree Right for You?

Pursuing an online engineering management degree can be a wise choice for career advancement. Providing flexible learning options, an online graduate school program will allow you to further your professional and educational goals and step into engineering leadership roles without requiring you to relocate or leave your employer.

Take the time to do your research before you apply and explore schools that align with your career goals and financial situation. With more and more higher education programs offering online engineering management degrees, there are plenty of options to consider, and you’re sure to find the perfect program for your unique interests and needs.