The Best Online Bachelor’s in Electrical Engineering Programs

Online electrical engineering programs open a variety of career opportunities to graduates. The program often leads students to other specialized master's programs in areas including aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, and industrial engineering. Many of these careers boast impressive salary opportunities, with electrical engineers earning an annual mean wage of $97,970, aerospace engineers earning an annual mean wage of $113,030, and mechanical engineers earning an annual mean wage of $85,880. If you are interested in an engineering career that allows you to enjoy impressive salary opportunities and specialized career options, you should consider enrolling in an electrical engineering program.

For more degree and career info, jump to:

• Choosing a Online Electrical Engineering Degree Program
• What Will I Learn in an Online Bachelor's in Electrical Engineering Program?
• Online Bachelor's in Electrical Engineering Careers
• Educational Paths for Online Electrical Engineering Bachelor's Programs

Best Online Bachelor's in Electrical Engineering Programs

Online Bachelor's in Electrical Engineering Degree Program Ranking Guidelines: We selected the degree programs based on the quality of program and range of courses provided, as well as school awards, rankings, and reputation.

RANKING METHODOLOGY

Methodology for College Rankings

The motto of TheBestSchools.org is Finding the best school for you. Here is how we do it:

The value of any ranking list of schools and/or degree programs depends on having a methodologically sound assessment of each school’s/program’s characteristics, especially insofar as these can be objectively measured. A college or university is a complex entity, with numerous factors to consider, and distilling these down to the place where meaningful comparisons can be made to form a defensible ranking list becomes part science and part art.

To meet this challenge—and thereby provide you with the most useful and insightful educational rankings on the Internet — TheBestSchools.org formulates our rankings based on five informational categories (six, when considering online schools). The major metrics and qualities for which we rank are these (with expanded, detailed considerations and weights listed):

1. Academic excellence based on a school’s curriculum generally or within the selected discipline [weight = 25%]

• Weighs school against known leading schools in that discipline
• Weighs number of core curricula listed as advanced courses within that discipline and compares against introductory courses
• Weighs school’s curriculum against known knowledge needs of major employers in that discipline
• Considers number and types of specializations offered within that discipline
• Considers faculty expertise in that discipline
• Considers range of electives within that discipline
• Considers quality of online environment offered to students (if applicable), particularly within that discipline

2. Strength of faculty scholarship [weight = 25%]

• Considers education background of the faculty
• Considers years of faculty experience both inside and outside of academia.
• Considers faculty membership and leadership within relevant, prominent associations
• Considers academic papers published by faculty in relevant, prominent periodicals
• Considers awards and recognitions given to faculty members from prominent organizations and from other sources

3. Reputation [weight = 20%]

• Considers a school’s reputation among academic peers and employers regarding the following:
  • Faculty
  • Curriculum
  • “Freshness” of academic knowledge
  • Adaptability to changes in employment sectors
  • Suitability of graduates for the workplace

4. Financial aid [weight = 10%]

• Mandatory: Requires full accreditation from an agency endorsed by the U.S. Department of Education and listed on the federal register to accept student federal financial aid
• Considers range of school-sponsored financial aid such as scholarships and grants

5. Range of degree programs [weight = 20%]

• Considers range of degree levels: associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral and professional
• Considers range of degree subjects offered, such as art & design, computers & technology, education & teaching, criminal justice, and business

6. Strength of online instruction methodology (if applicable) [weight = 25%; subtract 5% from each of the above for online schools/programs]

• Considers the following of the online classes:
  • Types of online technology used to deliver content
  • Pedagogy style: asynchronous, synchronous, or both (depending on the degree)
  • Extent and quality of the online, community learning environment, including options for communication, interactivity, and collaboration between students and also between students and instructors
  • Variety, breadth, and depth of coursework, and its support, including project options and online tutoring
• Considers the following of instructors:
  • Extent of training for teaching within an online learning environment
  • Amount of timely, consistent feedback to students
  • Extent of collaboration with prospective employers to ensure suitability of instructional materials for achieving desired skills
  • Ratio to number of students in a class
• Number and quality of internships in a student’s geographical area for applicable degrees

Because students tend to review a variety of information when choosing a school, the weight a student gives any one criterion will vary. For instance, it’s not enough to offer a carefully constructed ranking of great schools if many are too expensive or too difficult to get into.

To better serve the needs of prospective students, we are therefore increasingly offering filters that help you better use our rankings to find the schools that match your specific needs. These supplement our ranking criteria and include:

• Accreditation
• Public or private status
• Acceptance rate
• Retention rate
• Graduation rate
• ACT/SAT requirements
• Cost in-state / out of state
• Undergrad, grad, or both offered
• Region
• State
• City

Get the best rankings here AND get them to suit your personal needs. That’s TheBestSchools.org advantage!

If you have any questions about our ranking methodology, please contact us.

Citations: For a broader account of our ranking methodology, especially as it relates to TheBestSchools.org’s underlying educational philosophy and, in other ranking articles, looks beyond academic excellence (as here) to such factors as return on investment or incidental benefit, see our article “ Ranking Methodology: How We Rank Schools at TBS.” Reputation of schools and degree programs can at least in part be gauged through the rankings of other well-known educational ranking companies. At TheBestSchools.org, we keep track of such social and peer validation: “ Making Sense of College Rankings.” For nuts-and-bolts information about colleges and universities, we look to the National Center for Education Statistics and especially its College Navigator. Insofar as salary and inflation data are relevant to a ranking, we look to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Finally, nothing beats contacting schools and degree programs directly, which our researchers often do, with the result that all the entries in this article should be considered as belonging to this citation!

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1. Clemson University

Clemson, South Carolina

Founded as an agricultural college in 1889, Clemson University in Clemson, South Carolina has research centers throughout the state. Currently, Clemson offers academic programs to more than 18,000 undergraduate and over 4,500 graduate students.

The online bachelor's degree in electrical engineering completion program allows learners to combine coursework from outside institutions with classes offered at Clemson. The electrical engineering undergraduate degree includes 126 credit hours designed for professionals working in the engineering industry. Students must complete prerequisite coursework in chemistry, calculus, and physics prior to admission.

Learners complete 48 courses including seven laboratory classes. Students in the program can complete lab courses at a school near them or through distance learning if they purchase lab equipment. The electrical engineering degree also includes two capstone courses where learners complete team-based projects.

2. Stony Brook University

Stony Brook, New York

Now part of the State University of New York system, Stony Brook University was founded in 1957 as a teaching college. Based in Long Island, New York, Stony Brook University offers more than 60 undergraduate majors, including electrical engineering. Learners can complete Stony Brook University's bachelor's degree in electrical engineering completely online.

Ideal for working professionals and students with electrical engineering experience, Stony Brook University's online electrical engineering degree program includes 120 credit hours. Learners complete 39 credits in prerequisite science, mathematics, and technical classes before major-specific coursework in signals and systems, electromagnetics, and engineering design. Students also complete several laboratory classes and electives in subjects including electric machinery and computer communications. Learners complete collaborative projects during laboratory and design classes as they apply curriculum content to practical experiences.

3. University of North Dakota

Grand Forks, North Dakota

The University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, North Dakota traces its origins to 1883. Founded before North Dakota became a state, the institution now provides educational programs to more than 13,000 students. UND offers more than 225 academic programs, including an online electrical engineering degree.

Most learners complete UND's online electrical engineering degree in 4-5 years. Coursework in subjects including embedded systems, circuit analysis, and computer-aided measurement and control provide students with advanced knowledge and skills in electrical engineering. The program offers specializations in computer science, aerospace engineering, or biomedical engineering as well.

The 125-credit hour curriculum prepares students to design and conduct experiments, analyze data, and apply critical thinking skills to issues in the electrical engineering industry. Students also develop electrical engineering products, processes, and competencies while exploring real-world organizational and budgetary constraints.

4. Arizona State University - Tempe

Tempe, Arizona

Founded as the Territorial Normal School in 1883, Arizona State University was the first institution of higher education in Arizona. Based in Tempe, Arizona, ASU took its current moniker in 1958. ASU's engineering school was created three years later.

Named for the noted ASU alumnus and benefactor, the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering offer a 120-credit hour undergraduate degree in electrical engineering online. Learners gain competencies applicable to careers in energy production and distribution, electronic instrumentation, and electrical engineering management. Students can transfer up to 64 community college credit hours into the program before completing 45 upper-division credit hours.

Students study physics, mathematics, and electromagnetics in preparation for area pathway and technical elective classes. Area pathways courses include analog and digital circuits and properties of electronic materials, while electives include courses in fiber optics, digital systems, and electrical machinery. Students also complete two senior design classes during which they apply knowledge and skills to project design, creation, and implementation.

5. Thomas Edison State University

Trenton, New Jersey

Thomas Edison University, chartered in 1972, is one of the oldest schools in the United States designed specifically for adult learners. From its main campus in Trenton, New Jersey, TESU offers academic programs to more than 17,000 students worldwide.

Online undergraduate and graduate programs at TESU include a 124-credit hour bachelor's degree in electrical systems engineering technology. Learners can transfer up to 80 credit hours from a two-year institution and apply up to 117 credit hours from a four-year programs. Transfer options give students flexibility when completing laboratory coursework for the program.

TESU's online electrical systems engineering technology degree requires learners to complete 18 credit hours in upper-division coursework. Students complete classes in electrical circuits, electrical devices, and communication electronics in addition to electives in areas including industrial electronics and network technology. Learners also complete a Capstone course at the end of the program.

6. Eastern New Mexico University

Portales, New Mexico

Eastern New Mexico University, founded as the University of Portales in 1927, transitioned from a two-year to a four-year degree-granting institution in 1940. With campuses in Portales, Roswell, Ruidoso; extensions in Hobbs and at Cannon Air Force Base; and online offerings, ENMU offers more than 60 undergraduate and graduate programs to learners around the world.

The online bachelor of science in electronics engineering technology at ENMU includes 120 credit hours of coursework. Students can apply transfer credits to lower-division requirements, including general education classes. Learners complete 40 credit hours of upper-division classes in subjects such as renewable energy technology, control systems, and microcontroller programming before a final capstone course.

ENMU's online electronics engineering technology program helps students prepare for careers in electronics and computer technology design, research, management, and testing. Designed for working professionals, the program offers students with strong mathematical foundations and problem-solving skills opportunities to advance their competencies in the implementation of electrical and electronic applications.

7. Southern Illinois University - Edwardsville

Edwardsville, Illinois

Founded to provide academic programs to students in the proximity of St. Louis, Missouri, Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville opened its first residence centers in Alton and East St. Louis, Illinois in 1957. SIUE currently offers undergraduate and graduate programs to more than 13,000 learners throughout the greater St. Louis metropolitan area.

The online bachelor's degree in electrical engineering technology at SIUE provides working adults and students with associate of applied science degrees flexibile, convenient coursework to build knowledge and experience in the field. Designed for learners with previous coursework in digital electronics and circuit theory, SIUE curriculum incorporates advanced classes in controls, electronics, machinery, and circuits. The online program incorporates portable test instruments and design and software simulations into the 120-credit hour degree. Students complete additional physics and mathematics classes alongside laboratory courses and a Capstone sequence prior to degree completion as well.

8. Morgan State University

Baltimore, Maryland

Established as the Centenary Biblical Institute by the Methodist Church in 1867, Morgan State University became a public institution in 1939. MSU promotes excellence, diversity, integrity, innovation, and leadership to its urban community from its main campus in Baltimore, Maryland. Online degrees and classes, including MSU's bachelor of science in electrical and computer engineering offers flexible educational options to working professionals and students with associate degrees in the field.

As a 2+2 program, MSU's online electrical and computer engineering degree gives learners an associate degree ease of transfer to a bachelor's program. The 2+2 in electrical and computer engineering allows students to complete the final two years of a baccalaureate program online, either through MSU's course offerings or through Maryland Online, a consortium of Maryland institutions of higher education.

Choosing a Online Electrical Engineering Degree Program

Students studying electrical engineering online can often tailor their degree to their interests by choosing a concentration or focus. Electrical engineering programs sometimes feature focus areas, including mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, automotive engineering, and industrial engineering. Depending on a student's career goals and personal interests, they can consider which focus area best suits their goals. Some electrical engineering programs require senior students to complete a thesis project to successfully graduate from the program, while others include requirements such as capstones or a comprehensive exam.

Though electrical engineering programs differ depending on the school, they all aim to equip students with the skills and knowledge they need to thrive in their career after graduation. Course topics often include subjects like electric machines and electromagnetic components. Typically, colleges and universities feature program websites outlining sample curriculums, including course descriptions, degree requirements, and costs. This allows students to review their options at each school before settling on a particular program.

What Will I Learn in an Online Bachelor's in Electrical Engineering Program?

Courses may differ slightly between schools, but there will be some commonalities when it comes to subject matter and required areas of knowledge. A sample curriculum has been listed below.

• Electrical Machines: In the electrical machines course, students learn about the operating principles and design concepts of a variety of electrical machines. They focus on machine circuits, DC motors and generators, single-phase and three-phase transformers, three-phase alternators, single-phase motors, induction motors, and synchronous motors.
• Electromagnetic Compatibility: Students in the electromagnetic compatibility course learn about the issues involved with designing electronic and electrical systems to accomplish electromagnetic compatibility. Coursework focuses on government regulations limiting radiated and conducted emissions, interference sources, shielding, filtering, grounding, and the spectral analysis of electromagnetic interference.
• Communication Systems: The communication systems course teaches students to understand the methods used in electronic communication systems. Students focus on energy and power spectral density, Fourier transform, frequency modulation, and digital line coding and modulation.

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Online Bachelor's in Electrical Engineering Careers

Graduates with their online electrical engineering degree can pursue a variety of careers after graduation depending on their particular area of interest, including electrical, industrial, and mechanical engineering. While these careers are all grounded in engineering, they vary in focus, allowing graduates to pursue a career that best suits their skills and knowledge. Some examples of possible career paths are listed below.

1. Electrical Engineer: Electrical engineers develop, design, test, and supervise the manufacturing of electrical equipment, including radar and navigation systems, electric motors, communication systems, and power generation equipment. They develop and design electronic equipment, including portable music players and global positioning system devices.
   • Median Annual Salary: $97,970
   • Projected Growth Rate: 7%
2. Industrial Engineer: Industrial engineers are responsible for finding ways to eliminate waste in the production process. They also devise efficient systems to integrate workers, materials, machines, energy, and information to provide a service or make a product.
   • Median Annual Salary: $85,880
   • Projected Growth Rate: 10%
3. Mechanical Engineer: Responsible for analyzing problems to see how thermal and mechanical devices might help solve a particular problem, mechanical engineers develop and test prototypes they design. They also oversee the manufacturing process for devices.
   • Median Annual Salary: $85,880
   • Projected Growth Rate: 9%

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

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Educational Paths for Online Electrical Engineering Bachelor's Programs

Students pursuing online electrical engineering degrees often have the opportunity to transfer into a master's program after graduation. Master's programs allow students to further specialize their skills and knowledge in the area they want to base their career. In many occupations, earning an advanced degree unlocks more varied opportunities for students. Many schools offer five-year programs combining a bachelor's degree and a master's degree, allowing engineers to work as university instructors or conduct research and development. Below, are some of the paths an engineering major might want to take if they decide to pursue a master's degree.

• Master of Science in Industrial Engineering: Students with an engineering bachelor's degree interested in enhancing their training in scheduling, inventory control, production planning, and industrial economics can enroll in a master of science in industrial engineering program.
• Master of Science in Management Science and Engineering: Bachelor's in electrical engineering graduates can pursue a master of science in management science and engineering degree if they want to work on the management side of engineering.
• Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering: The master of science in mechanical engineering program proves a great fit for electrical engineering bachelor's graduates who hold an interest in pursuing mechanical engineering professionally.

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Last Updated: February 18, 2019