There is no single best online engineering degree for every student: the right choice depends on your engineering discipline, state licensure plans, transfer credits, total cost and the amount of hands-on work you can complete remotely. A useful starting list is Arizona State University’s online electrical engineering program, the University of North Dakota’s online electrical and mechanical engineering programs, and Old Dominion University’s online computer engineering program. The schools report programmatic ABET accreditation for the examples below; verify each exact degree in ABET’s directory and confirm current delivery, costs and requirements before enrolling.
Program details below reflect official school information summarized as of October 4, 2026. They are options to investigate, not a universal ranking. The programs cover different disciplines and publish different kinds of information, so their credit totals and features are not direct measures of quality or value.
Online engineering programs to compare
| School and degree | What the school reports | Questions to resolve before applying |
|---|---|---|
| Arizona State University — online B.S.E. in Electrical Engineering | ASU reports EAC-ABET accreditation, 120 credit hours and a two-semester team capstone. | Ask how the capstone is delivered, which lab activities require equipment or scheduled participation, and whether the current program meets your intended state’s educational requirements for licensure. |
| University of North Dakota — online B.S. in Electrical Engineering | UND reports EAC-ABET accreditation, 126 credits and an estimated completion time of four to five years. It says students complete remote labs using lab kits and do not need campus visits. | Request the current lab-kit bill of materials and ask whether any course has synchronous attendance or other in-person requirements. |
| University of North Dakota — online B.S. in Mechanical Engineering | UND reports EAC-ABET accreditation and lists concentrations in mechanical design, thermal sciences, and manufacturing/materials. | Confirm the current online format, lab arrangements, and whether the concentration you want is available to online students. |
| Old Dominion University — online B.S. in Computer Engineering | ODU reports EAC-ABET accreditation, 128 total credits and a degree-completion route for students with prior college work. It says up to 90 credits may transfer, subject to evaluation. | Get a written transfer-credit evaluation and ask which remaining courses must be taken in sequence and how often they are offered. |
These are examples, not a complete inventory of online engineering degrees in the United States. A school’s description is a useful starting point, but it is not a substitute for checking the exact program’s current accreditation listing and asking the department about your circumstances.
How to decide which program is best for you
Start with the engineering discipline
Choose the field before comparing schools. Electrical, mechanical and computer engineering have different curricula and lead toward different kinds of work; a degree in one is not a substitute for another simply because both are called engineering. Compare required courses, design projects and available concentrations with the work you want to do. Also distinguish engineering from engineering technology: check the exact degree title and the ABET commission that accredits that specific program.
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Verify accreditation at the program level
ABET says, “We accredit programs, not institutions.” A university’s accreditation does not automatically mean every degree it offers is ABET-accredited. Search ABET’s current directory for the exact program, degree level and discipline, then confirm the result with the school. The schools named above report EAC-ABET accreditation for their listed degrees, but status should be checked again when you apply.
ABET says it evaluates programs delivered on campus, online or through a mix of formats against the same criteria. Its definition of a “100% online” program is one in which students can meet graduation requirements while receiving all course content online. That label does not, by itself, tell you whether there are equipment requirements, synchronous sessions or other practical arrangements to investigate. ABET also notes that the meaning of “online” can be unclear and that the percentage of online content may change.
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Find out what “online” means in practice
Ask the department to describe the format for required courses and labs, not just the program’s headline delivery label. Get specific answers about:
- Whether any campus visits, proctored sessions or scheduled live classes are required.
- Which labs use home equipment, mailed lab kits, remote-access equipment or local facilities.
- What equipment and consumables students must buy, and whether those expenses are included in listed fees.
- How students get technical help, access to faculty, advising and support for team projects.
UND’s electrical engineering program is a concrete example of remote lab work using kits. Do not assume a kit for that program—or a product marketed as an electrical engineering lab kit—will satisfy another school’s requirements. Obtain the program’s current bill of materials before buying equipment.
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Compare the full cost, not just the advertised tuition
The examples above do not provide a shared, comparable set of current prices, so there is no evidence here to identify a lowest-cost program. Tuition may depend on residency, enrollment status and course load; a personalized estimate is more useful than comparing headline rates alone. Ask each school for an estimate based on your likely schedule and transfer evaluation.
Build a side-by-side budget that includes:
- Tuition at your residency and enrollment status, plus mandatory fees.
- Lab kits, equipment, software, supplies and any travel or lodging for required in-person work.
- Credits the school will accept, credits you must still complete, and any residency requirement.
- Likely time to degree, including prerequisites and course sequencing that could add terms.
- Grants, scholarships, employer assistance and other aid for which you may qualify.
Transfer limits are not the same as guaranteed transfer credit. For example, ODU’s stated maximum is subject to its evaluation; request a course-by-course decision before relying on a shorter or cheaper completion plan. Compare the cost of finishing your actual remaining credits, not the published maximum transfer allowance.
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Check licensing requirements for the state where you plan to work
ABET accreditation can be relevant to an engineering licensure pathway, but it does not grant a Professional Engineer license or establish that every state’s education rules are satisfied. ASU specifically cautions that completing its program may not meet licensure requirements outside Arizona. If licensure matters to your career, check the relevant state board’s rules and ask the university for a written explanation of how its degree fits them.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.A practical application checklist
- Choose the discipline and degree level. Make sure the curriculum matches the engineering work you intend to pursue.
- Check ABET’s directory. Confirm the exact program, degree and accreditation commission; do not rely only on a university-wide accreditation statement.
- Get delivery details in writing. Ask about campus visits, live attendance, lab equipment, kits and any format changes expected before your start date.
- Request a transfer evaluation. Have the school identify accepted credits, remaining requirements and course sequencing.
- Build an individualized cost and time estimate. Include tuition, fees, equipment, aid and the likely number of terms to graduate.
- Check state rules if licensure is a goal. Compare the degree with the requirements of the state where you expect to seek a license.
Use the answers to compare programs against your own priorities—discipline fit, accreditation, schedule, hands-on access, transferability and total cost—rather than treating unlike degrees as a single ranking.
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