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.
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.
The Best Online Bachelor’s in Electrical Engineering Degree Programs
| Rank | School | Location | Apply | More Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Clemson University |
Clemson, SC | ||
| 2 |
Stony Brook University |
Stony Brook, NY | ||
| 3 |
University of North Dakota |
Grand Forks, ND | ||
| 4 |
Arizona State University |
Tempe, AZ | ||
| 5 |
Thomas Edison University |
Trenton, NJ | ||
| 6 |
Eastern New Mexico University |
Portales, NM | ||
| 7 |
Southern Illinois University |
Edwardsville, IL | ||
| 8 |
Morgan State University |
Baltimore, MD |
End of list, bravo!
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.
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 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.
- 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%
- 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%
- Mechanical Engineer
- Responsible for analyzing problems to see how thermal and mechanical devices might help solve a 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
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.
