Key Information:
- Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University is the #1 online engineering bachelor’s degree.
- Online Bachelor’s of Engineering programs offer online courses that allow students to balance their studies with personal or professional commitments.
- Various engineering fields are covered, giving students options to focus on areas like electrical, mechanical, or civil engineering.
- Most programs mentioned are accredited by the ABET, ensuring they meet high educational standards.
Engineering is a large scientific branch focused on the practical design and building of structures or machines. Web technology has enabled online students to earn their online ABET engineering degree. Although some on-campus labs may be required, online engineering programs are primarily online for flexibility.
Originally published in February 2023, our top bachelor’s in engineering picks were updated in January 2024.
Engineering is one of America’s most popular science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) majors. Studying engineering online will make you marketable for jobs in various well-paid specialties. To help you as you look for the educational foundation, work experience, and other qualifications for employment as an engineer, we’ve outlined the Top 10 Online Bachelor’s of Engineering Degrees in the United States.
To make our list, we began by researching the latest online education rankings published by the U.S. News and World Report. We looked for ranked colleges and universities with respected online bachelor’s degrees. Schools were narrowed down based on their availability of engineering education mainly online.
All colleges had to be regionally accredited, but preference was given to those approved by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). Average yearly undergraduate tuition was recorded based on the NCES College Navigator database. Other important factors were class size, specializations, lab learning, financial aid, job placement, transferability, and faculty credentials.
Consider these Top 10 Online Bachelor of Engineering Degrees in your college search for greater convenience, quality academics, and affordability:
1. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Endowed for $114 million, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University is a popular private, non-profit technical institution in Daytona Beach, Florida, that provides excellent aviation education for many aspiring engineers.
Among them is a Bachelor of Science in Engineering Technology. This 122-credit online degree satisfies the requirements for taking the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) Fundamentals of Engineering exam. Available concentrations include:
- Aviation Safety
- Helicopter Operations
- Logistics Management
- Transportation
- Unmanned Aerial Systems
Tuition: $40,564
Learn more about Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s Online Bachelor’s of Engineering Degrees.
2. Arizona State University
This online ABET engineering degree from Arizona State University offers three engineering majors. Listed among the Princeton Review’s “Colleges That Create Futures,” Arizona State University enrolls over 82,000 students as a public, metropolitan RU/VH research institution in Tempe.
Aspiring engineers could pursue a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering, Engineering Management, or Software Engineering online. The Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) accredited Fulton School of Engineering spreads the 120-credit curriculum over 10 terms with virtual, real-world simulation labs.
Tuition: $11,618 (in-state) or $30,592 (out-of-state)
Learn more about Arizona State University’s Online Bachelor’s of Engineering Degrees.
3. Old Dominion University
Named a “Best Buy” on GetEducated.com, Old Dominion University is distinguished for having the 49th Best Online Bachelor’s Degree nationally by the U.S. News and World Report.
The Batten College of Engineering offers six online concentrations for a Bachelor of Science in Engineering Technology. Students can focus on:
- Civil Engineering
- Computer Engineering
- Electrical Engineering
- General Engineering
- Mechanical Design
- Nuclear Systems
Each Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) accredited program leads to engineering licensure in Virginia.
Tuition: $11,220 (in-state) or $31,170 (out-of-state)
Learn more about Old Dominion University’s Online Bachelor’s of Engineering Degrees.
4. Lamar University
With Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) and Accreditation Board of Engineering and Technology (ABET) accreditation, Lamar University is a public, space-grant research institution educating over 14,900 students in Beaumont and online.
The College of Engineering provides a unique 2+2 Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering online for transfers. The 66-credit curriculum is delivered wholly online except for a three-day lab in Southeast Texas. Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering majors can specialize in:
- Manufacturing
- Mechanical Reliability
- Operations Research
Tuition: $8,690 (in-state) or $18,482 (out-of-state)
Learn more about Lamar University’s Online Bachelor of Engineering degree programs.
5. American Military University
Celebrating its 25th anniversary, American Military University is a regionally accredited private, for-profit higher learning institution located in Charles Town, West Virginia, to educate around 55,000 active duty and veteran service members.
One notable online ABET engineering degree is the Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering (BSEE). This 126-credit curriculum engages the military in virtual lab instruction with concentrations in:
- Mechatronic Systems
- Electrical Communications
The online study culminates in a senior electrical design project.
Tuition: $20,022
Learn more about American Military University’s Online Bachelor’s of Engineering degrees.
6. The University of Alabama
Located in Tuscaloosa along the Black Warrior River, the University of Alabama is a flagship public, space-grant research powerhouse serving over 37,000 students yearly.
Bama By Distance offers an Association Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) accredited Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering (BSME). Consisting of 128 credits, the program is primarily online with only three on-site, laboratory courses in Tuscaloosa, Dothan, or Gadsden.
Tuition: $11,940 (in-state) or $32,300 (out-of-state)
Learn more about The University of Alabama’s Online Engineering Bachelor’s degree.
7. Eastern Kentucky University
Established in 1906, Eastern Kentucky University is a public, state-assisted teaching and research institution in Richmond endowed with $54 million to educate over 16,500 students.
Among the 40+ online majors is a Bachelor of Science in Fire Protection and Safety Engineering. Holding Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) and International Fire Services Accreditation Congress (IFSAC) accreditation, the program features accelerated, eight-week online sessions. Graduates understand how fire behaves to design effective prevention.
Tuition: $9,844 (in-state) or $20,222 (out-of-state)
Learn more about Eastern Kentucky University’s Online BS in Fire, Arson and Explosion Engineering degrees.
8. National University
Enrolling over 24,400 students, National University is California’s second-largest private, non-profit teaching institution with a main campus in La Jolla and 28 national locations.
The School of Engineering and Computing grants its Bachelor of Science in Construction Engineering Technology online. This 180-unit program covers the engineering principles applied in construction trades. Online courses from soil mechanics to CAD design culminate in an engineering senior project.
Tuition: $13,320
Learn more about National University’s Online BS in Construction Engineering degree.
9. University of North Dakota
Nestled within the Red River Valley in Grand Forks, the University of North Dakota is the state’s flagship public, space-grant RU/H research institution with 14,900 students.
Online learners can complete an Accreditation Board of Engineering and Technology (ABET) accredited Bachelor of Science in:
- Chemical Engineering
- Civil Engineering
- Electrical Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
- Petroleum Engineering
Each 134-credit track integrates online, recorded lectures with minimal on-campus labs.
Tuition: $10,951 (in-state) or $15,570 (out-of-state)
Learn more about the University of North Dakota’s Online Bachelor of Engineering degrees.
10. Stony Brook University
Belonging to the SUNY system, Stony Brook University is a premier public, sea-grant research institution located on Long Island’s North Shore to educate over 25,200 total students.
With Accreditation Board of Engineering and Technology (ABET) accreditation, there’s a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering available online. This upper-division, asynchronous program provides flexibility for learning to design electrical systems. Online courses are taught by PhD-level faculty from Stony Brook, Buffalo, and Binghamton.
Tuition: $10,560 (in-state) or $28,480 (out-of-state)
Learn more about Stony Brook University’s Online Bachelor of Engineering degrees.
Why Should I Get an Online ABET Engineering Degree?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, engineering careers are expected to grow faster than the average of other occupations between now and 2032. That’s excellent news because engineering occupies 13 spots on PayScale’s highest-paying bachelor’s majors. Engineering graduates glean average yearly salaries of $83,700.
Online engineering degrees can be the perfect fit for working, non-traditional students seeking technical training. Finishing a bachelor’s degree is considered paramount for succeeding in today’s rather competitive engineering market. Students can improve their future marketability by studying in-demand specialties like environmental, civil, computer, petroleum, and biomedical engineering.
ABET accreditation tells you you can trust an online program. There are ABET-accredited programs online in many specializations:
- Systems Engineering
- Applied Science
- Computer Science
- Information Technology
- Aerospace Engineering
- Cybersecurity
- Electronics Engineering Technology
- Nuclear Engineering
Engineering students look to accredited online engineering degree programs for quality.
Related: