Online MEM Market Research: 2026 Edition

What is Engineering Management?

Engineering management is a unique field that lives at the intersection of technology and business. Engineering managers are qualified practitioners who acquire further training and experience to effectively manage large-scale technical projects and teams. They are systems thinkers fluent in both management and engineering. They bridge the gap between business strategy and operations, providing integrated leadership that improves productivity and efficiency.

Engineering managers work in diverse settings across all industries and sectors. While many rise through the ranks of engineers, most seek further higher education beyond the bachelor’s degree. The gold standard is the Master of Engineering Management (MEM) degree. It is the specialized degree that teaches key business skills and how to apply them in an engineering, production, or technology-focused setting. Engineering professionals can also pursue comparable programs, such as an MBA in Engineering or Technology Management and a Master’s in Technology Management.

Degree Demand

According to the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), 5,476 MEM degrees were conferred in the 2023-24 academic year, a 55% increase from 2019-2020.

There are 139 degree-granting MEM programs offered in the US. Among those programs, about 89 (64%) are offered in a fully online or hybrid format. In fact, while the total number of MEM programs grew by 13% over the past five years, the number of online programs grew by 35% — indicating the popularity of the online modality among working professionals who require the flexibility of an asynchronous, fully online program.

MEM Degree Conferrals Grew 55% From 2019-20 to 2023-24

Demand for the MEM can also be seen in the Google search volume. In 2025, there were 184,000 searches for keywords related to a master’s in engineering management, representing 11% growth over 2022.¹

MEM Search Volume 5-Year Trend

The following table shows the 12 largest MEM programs in the US, ranked by conferrals. All but one program saw positive growth over 2023.²

Some of the country’s best universities offer online MEM programs. In fact, 84% of online MEM programs are offered by universities ranked nationally by US News and World Report, and 10% are ranked in the top 50.

This diversity is reflected in the wide range of pricing. The per-credit tuition rates range from $340 to $2,440, and total tuition ranges from $10k to $87k. Price also varies by region of the country. The following table shows the average tuition rates by region.

While most MEM programs offer a general curriculum of business and technical coursework, about 25% allow students to focus on a concentration. The following chart shows the most common specializations offered in online programs.

Prospective students should research the most in-demand skill sets employers seek before selecting an area of concentration. The following section discusses the labor market and demand for engineering managers and skills.

Employer Demand

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), in 2024, there were 212,500 engineering managers and 667,100 computer managers employed in the US. There is significant overlap between these two occupations, so it is beneficial to consider both when looking at employment data.

It should be noted that among the job postings that required a master’s degree, the average salary was $170,800, $15k higher than the average salary across all job postings.

The top posted job titles for engineering managers in 2025 were:

• Engineering Managers
• Directors of Engineering
• Chief Engineer
• Principal Engineer
• Engineering Program Managers
• Vice Presidents of Engineering
• Program Managers
• Vice Presidents of Operations

Demand for managers varies by engineering specialization.

Engineering managers work in a diverse range of industries and companies. The top employers in 2025 were:

• GPAC
• Amazon
• Northrop Grumman
• Apple
• Actalent
• Lockheed Martin
• Lumen Technologies
• Raytheon Technologies
• CyberCoders
• Black & Veatch

The states with the most job postings for engineering managers in 2025 were: California, Texas, New York, Florida, and Illinois.

Engineering Manager Job Postings by State

As mentioned above, when researching MEM programs, it is important to understand which skills are most in demand for engineering managers. The following chart shows the top specialized skills advertised in job postings.

Professional Accreditation and Certification

The leading professional accreditation body for engineering management is the American Society for Engineering Management (ASEM). ASEM publishes A Guide to the Engineering Management Body of Knowledge (EMBOK) and administers a number of certifications for engineering managers. The EMBOK contains 11 domains that represent the foundational knowledge for the certification exams and the practice of engineering management. This would be a helpful resource for prospective students when comparing MEM programs to ensure their curricula cover all domains. ASEM maintains a directory of ASEM-certified programs and a comprehensive directory of MEM programs.

The two key certification exams are the Certified Associate in Engineering Management (CAEM) and the Certified Professional in Engineering Management (CPEM). CAEM is geared toward early-career professionals who have completed the required education (a bachelor’s or master’s in an engineering or technology field) but lack 4 years of experience. The CPEM is geared toward mid-career professionals with at least 4 years of experience. Professionals who hold an MEM from an ASEM-certified program or a PhD in technology, industrial & systems engineering, or engineering management do not have to sit for the certification exam.