Best Online Bachelor’s in Engineering Degrees

Engineering explores how things work and how to create mathematical and scientific solutions to problems. Our daily lives use engineering marvels, from elevators to indoor plumbing, regularly. Humanity has used engineering for thousands of years, with the first engineer on record being Imhotep, a pyramid engineer from around 2550 BCE.

The field of engineering has evolved since ancient times and now involves an array of industries like aerospace and computing. As engineering is a broad field, specialized career paths and educational programs have expanded over the past decades.

Professionals in this discipline require specialized knowledge. Below, we highlight common engineering degrees and what they can offer.

Online engineering bachelor’s programs can offer both general and specialized engineering degrees. General engineering graduates may pursue a wider variety of jobs, but workers with specialized degrees are typically more qualified to pursue careers in specific subfields. Disciplines within engineering include:

It can be confusing for prospective engineering students to navigate these many specialized subfields. Below, we discuss ten common types of engineering program to help learners understand these disciplines.

General engineering programs explore an array of topics. Enrollees take courses in math, science, and engineering. These programs aim to teach learners about identifying complex engineering problems and communicating solutions effectively. Professionals with this degree can pursue engineering, process engineering, or product engineering roles. According to Payscale, engineers earn an average salary of $88,310 as of December 2023.

Students that want to understand engineering principles and have more flexibility in their job search may find a generalized degree best fits their needs. Individuals can specialize later in their studies or career.

Biomedical engineering combines biology and medicine with engineering to prepare students for careers that advance the medical industry. Learners take courses in engineering, chemistry, and biomedical design. These classes help qualify graduates for jobs designing biomedical devices, including roles like biomedical engineer — a career with a median salary of $100,730 in 2023, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

In addition to careers designing life-saving technology, this field of study can also help learners apply for med school.

Civil engineering programs prepare students to become civil engineers. These professionals often work with governments to design infrastructure like bridges, roads, and waste management systems. Civil engineering courses often cover surveying, hydraulics, and design. According to the BLS, the median salary for civil engineers was $95,890 in 2023.

Learners who enjoy designing and executing large-scale projects may thrive in a civil engineering program.

Applicants with an interest in building electronic devices can pursue a degree in electrical engineering. Classes in this field explore topics like electromagnetic fields, microprocessors, and hardware designs. Graduates can pursue roles like electrical engineer. These professionals design electronics, antennas, and semiconductor devices. Electrical engineers received a median salary of $109,010 in 2023, according to the BLS.

Because the world has become increasingly reliant on electronics, these engineers play a crucial role in the continued function of society and the further advancement of technology.

Electronics engineering programs explore the design and development of electric circuitry, telecommunications, and integrated circuits. While electrical engineering focuses more on heavy current applications of electricity, electronics engineering usually deals with smaller-scale applications like handheld devices. Graduates usually pursue roles as electronic engineers or technologists. As of March 2024, electronic engineers receive an average salary of $88,170, according to Payscale data.

People that appreciate solving complex problems and have an interest in electronic circuits may thrive in electronics engineering programs.

Engineering management programs teach students a combination of engineering, math, and business principles. Course topics include risk management, project management, and systems engineering. Engineers with business knowledge can align their organizations’ engineering goals with corporate needs and budgets. Degree-holders can pursue multiple jobs, including construction manager, which had a 2023 median income of $104,900, according to the BLS.

Applicants who want to combine engineering knowledge with management skills can benefit from a degree in this subfield.

Environmental engineering, the study of how the environment and engineering interact, works to reduce negative impacts from manmade and natural environmental issues. Students learn traditional engineering skills alongside biology, ecology, and public health topics. According to the BLS, environmental engineers earned a median salary of $100,090 in 2023.

Prospective students who want to pursue eco-conscious engineering can benefit from a degree in this field.

Industrial engineering updates existing industrial processes to save time, money, or resources. Learners study engineering innovation, manufacturing planning, and general chemistry. Graduates can pursue roles like industrial engineer, a job which focuses on production planning, facilities layout, or workplace design. Industrial engineers earned a median salary of $99,380 in 2023, according to the BLS.

This subdiscipline may appeal to students who like to solve problems and optimize processes with an eye for efficiency.

Mechanical engineering — the design and creation of machines, processes, and systems — plays an important part in multiple sectors. For example, industries like aerospace, construction, and transportation rely on mechanical engineering to make advanced systems and move projects forward. Mechanical engineers earned a median salary of $99,510 in 2023, according to the BLS.

Mechanical engineering may be ideal for students interested in topics like engineering fluids, construction techniques, and basic computer programming.

Software engineering programs concentrate on coding, logic, and modeling. Attendees learn about programming and computing. After graduation, they can pursue roles in areas like software development, application development, and systems administration. In 2023, software engineers earned a median salary of $130,160, according to the BLS.

Software engineering enrollees spend more time learning about programming compared to other engineering disciplines, which means this degree may be ideal for students with a passion for technology.

When researching engineering bachelor’s degrees, prospective students should only apply to accredited schools. When a school holds institutional accreditation, it has met academic standards from an accrediting organization. All accrediting organizations must gain approval from the Council for Higher Education Accreditation, the U.S. Department of Education, or both.

Prospective enrollees can also look for programmatic accreditation. This means a specific program’s courses meet industry standards for career readiness. Unlike institutional accreditation, programmatic accreditation is not required. Bachelor’s in engineering programs may hold accreditation from agencies like ABET.

Students applying to a bachelor’s program in engineering typically submit materials like high school transcripts, test scores, a personal essay, and letters of recommendation. Schools may set specific admission requirements for engineering programs: For example, some institutions require learners to complete prerequisite courses either in high school or through undergrad coursework before enrolling in the engineering major.

To graduate from an engineering bachelor’s program, students must complete about 120 semester credits.

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Colleges and universities set their own curriculum requirements, so schools offering similar engineering degrees may not require the same courses.

In addition to core engineering requirements, degree-seekers must complete specialized classes relating to their major. For example, civil engineering students may take courses like environmental engineering and structural design. While specific classes vary, many engineering programs feature the courses like the following:

This course introduces linear regression analysis, non-linear regression, and experimental designs. Students learn to interpret confidence intervals, monitor charts, and design their own experiments using statistics and engineering principles. This course often builds on previous general statistics coursework.

Chemistry courses cover fundamental topics like states of matter, chemical reactions, atomic structure, and chemical bonding. Learners also study chemical thermodynamics and equilibrium. Most engineering fields use basic chemistry, so many schools require chemistry as a core course for all engineering students.

Electromagnetism covers the concept of electromagnetics, from static and dynamic fields to photon behavior. Students also apply mathematics to electromagnetics, including vectors and partial differential equations. By the end of the course, learners can understand and calculate electromagnetic fields.

Many engineering undergraduates take an upper-division course in differential equations. The class builds off fundamental math topics like statistics, calculus, and geometry. Students learn to use quantitative reasoning as they analyze and interpret data sets. Coursework covers first-order differential equations and higher-order linear differential equations. Many professional engineers use differential equations to visualize and interpret information.

Sometimes split into multiple courses, mechanics covers topics like force and the behaviors of statistically determinate structures. Degree-seekers learn to calculate forces in static structures with computer programs and mathematics. While typically required specifically for mechanical engineering majors, mechanics teaches important skills that all engineers can apply.

Aside from entry-level careers like engineer technician or technologist — which often only require an associate degree, according to the BLS — most engineering jobs require applicants to hold at least a bachelor’s degree in engineering.

Engineering roles that require a bachelor’s degree pay higher average salaries than jobs that require only an associate degree. For example, the BLS reports a $64,020 median salary for mechanical engineering technicians — a role that only requires an associate degree — in 2023. In contrast, mechanical engineers, who need at least a bachelor’s degree, earned a median salary of $99,510 in 2023.

Students can also earn certifications or join professional organizations to boost their employability and potential earnings.

Some engineering positions require certifications or licensure. These requirements vary by state, position, and industry. Even if specific roles do not need certification or licensure, earning these professional certifications can help workers qualify for higher pay or more advanced jobs.

Yes. The BLS reports bachelor’s graduates can qualify for many engineering roles. Though some positions require only an associate degree or a technical certificate, most employers require at least a bachelor’s degree for engineering jobs.

Engineering bachelor’s degree-holders can pursue a diverse array of jobs, including aerospace engineer, civil engineer, maintenance engineer, and mechanical engineer.

Learners can complete bachelor’s in engineering degrees, including specialized programs, online. Students should consider the pros and cons of distance learning: For example, the increased flexibility of online degrees also means that classes often lack the rigid structure of in-person courses, so enrollees must be self-sufficient.

Though most full-time students complete bachelor’s degrees in four years, learners in online bachelor’s degree programs can shorten their graduation timeline by attending an accelerated program or by taking the maximum number of courses each semester. Individuals who study part time, need to retake courses, or pursue double degrees may take longer to graduate.

As with any field of study, an engineering degree can be challenging. An online bachelor’s in engineering degree usually follows the same curriculum as in-person degrees. Learners who struggle with subjects like math and science may have a harder time studying engineering.