20. University of South Florida
Score: 66
Cost per credit: $913 (out-of-state), $467 (in-state)
The University of South Florida teaches graduate students the ins and outs of the engineering industry, including analytics, process optimization, and entrepreneurship. Students can find courses recorded and archived on the school's website at their leisure.
19. University of North Carolina at Charlotte (Lee)
Score: 67
Cost per credit: $824 (out-of-state), $203 (in-state)
UNC Charlotte offers a fast-track option for students to complete online graduate degrees in engineering in one year, with concentrations in energy systems, lean Six Sigma, systems analytics, and logistics and supply-chain management. The school also offers a PhD in infrastructure and environmental systems.
16. TIE: University of Maryland (Clark)
Score: 69
Cost per credit: $1,066
Grad students studying engineering at UMD's Clark School of Engineering have over 100 online classes to choose from, including niche courses like cybersecurity, project management, fire protection engineering, and bioengineering.
16. TIE: Texas Tech University (Whitacre)
Score: 69
Cost per credit: $270
The online graduate engineering program at Texas Tech is over 23 years old, but the school's distance-learning technology isn't. Classes are recorded and delivered using state-of-the-art multimedia equipment, and all the technical support and software needed to connect is free. The degree is more affordable than most at just $270 per credit.
16. TIE: California State University at Fullerton
Score: 69
Cost per credit: $731 (out-of-state), $359 (in-state)
CSU at Fullerton doesn't offer online labs for its distance-learning degree, but the program is designed for professionals already working in the computer-science field who want to advance their careers with a graduate degree. Students work at their own paces and communicate online with instructors to complete the master's in software engineering program.
12. TIE: University of Nebraska at Lincoln
Score: 70
Cost per credit: $900 (out-of-state), $401 (in-state)
The University of Nebraska at Lincoln offers a master's in engineering management for students with one engineering degree already who are looking to focus on their technical degree with a business lens. The degree can be completed entirely online, with some optional electives available on campus.
12. TIE: North Carolina State University
Score: 70
Cost per credit: $870 (out-of-state), $385 (in-state)
One hundred percent of North Carolina State University online engineering grad students are employed at the time of enrollment, and the application deadline is rolling. The workload is manageable, with no thesis requirement, and class recordings are available online no more than 30 minutes after the class has ended.
12. TIE: New York University (Tandon)
Score: 70
Cost per credit: $1,546
NYU is known for having one of the best engineering schools in general, and the school's online program is equally as good. Tandon Online (formerly NYU e-Poly) was named an outstanding online program by the Online Learning Consortium.
12. TIE: Arizona State University (Fulton)
Score: 70
Cost per credit: $896
The Fulton Schools of Engineering at Arizona State offers a "portfolio" of part-time online degrees students can choose from, including electrical and industrial engineering, and engineering management. The school's online degrees have no requirement for on-campus residency.
11. Johns Hopkins University (Whiting)
Score: 71
Cost per credit: $1,237 (out-of-state), $717 (in-state)
Johns Hopkins' Whiting School of Engineering calls its online program "Engineering for Professionals," which makes sense given that the program is part-time to allow for students' work schedules. Faculty are experts in their fields, and come from government, industry, and private organizations.
9. TIE: Virginia Tech
Score: 73
Cost per credit: $1,391 (out-of-state), $717 (in-state)
There are no online labs available for Virginia Tech online graduate engineering students, but all lectures are recorded, archived, and available online. The department of aerospace and ocean engineering is particularly strong, blending aerospace and underwater-vehicle design and mechanics.
9. TIE: Missouri University of Science & Technology
Score: 73
Cost per credit: $1,194
Tied at No. 9 with Virginia Tech, Missouri S&T cites "customer service" as one of its top priorities when it comes to its online-degree students. Technical and academic support is always available, and "no differentiation is made between distance and on-campus instruction" on students' diplomas.
8. Cornell University
Score: 75
Cost per credit: $2,038
Cornell's program offers the best of both worlds: an Ivy League degree with the flexibility of an online setting. Every student in the online program is employed while pursuing their degrees, and many work at Fortune 500 companies.
7. Mississippi State University (Bagley)
Score: 76
Cost per credit: $411
Bagley College of Engineering online at MSU, which ranked No. 20 last year, took a giant leap forward this year. It was also highly ranked for both cost and quality by GetEducated.com. The school offers both master's and PhD programs.
6. University of Wisconsin
Score: 78
Cost per credit: $1,600
The online engineering school at UW offers interactive technology that's available 24/7 as well as the structure of semester schedules. Graduates find employment at organizations like GE, IBM, the US Department of Defense, and NASA.
5. Purdue University
Score: 84
Cost per credit: $1,163 (out-of-state), $1,053 (in-state)
The application process for Purdue's online degree programs is rolling, so prospective students can pursue their degrees the moment they're ready. Students who opt to earn their degree from a distance are subject to the same stiff admittance criteria as on-campus students; they also take the same classes and receive the same degree.
4. Pennsylvania State University — World Campus
Score: 86
Cost per credit: $930
Penn State's online school offers five part-time online master's degrees in engineering (engineering management, nuclear engineering, software engineering, systems engineering, and mechanical engineering) that are identical to the on-campus programs offered. Students also have access to student-support services, academic and career advisors, and more.
3. Columbia University (Fu Foundation)
Score: 93
Cost per credit: $1,782
So-named in 1997 after a gift from the Fu Foundation, Columbia's School of Engineering and Applied Science is a part of the Columbia Video Network, which allows students to complete the same classes as their on-campus peers through digital video.
Engineering disciplines available include industrial and systems engineering, biomedical engineering, chemical engineering, applied mathematics, and more.
2. University of Southern California (Viterbi)
Score: 97
Cost per credit: $1,774
Viterbi School of Engineering at USC ranked No. 3 last year, but this year it jumped a spot to second place. Because 86% of students are employed when they enroll in Viterbi's online program, the school archives its courses online so that students with daytime or other obligations who can't "attend" at the time of the class can still review the information at another point. Viterbi offers non-credit courses online as well.
1. University of California at Los Angeles (Samueli)
Score: 100
Cost per credit: $962
For the second year in a row, U.S. News ranked the Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science Master of Science Online Program at UCLA as the best online graduate program in engineering. Since the summer of 2013, students have been able to participate in classes on their computers, on tablets, or on their smartphones, giving them the flexibility to get a great degree from anywhere.
