If you are interested in engineering courses, you can find many degree programs offering online classes.
Engineering is a vast discipline with a variety of specialties, including mechanical engineering, civil engineer, and electrical engineering.
Being able to study engineering online can give you the opportunity to learn additional skills, get a degree (or a second degree), and start a brand new career.
There are two main ways in which you can get engineering training online:
- College education
- Continuing education
This article will primarily focus on online college education opportunities for engineers. It is therefore primarily written for people who are interested in starting a career in engineering.
However, if you are an existing engineer and perhaps want to take additional courses or get a Master’s degree, you might find some helpful information here.
School | Image | Price |
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Siena Heights University | ||
Eastern Michigan University | ||
Texas A & M University-College Station | ||
Indiana State University | ||
Missouri State University | ||
Holmes Community College | ||
East Mississippi Community College | ||
University of Southern Mississippi | ||
Bemidji State University |
7 Top Online Engineering Courses
Here are seven of the top online engineering programs. Of course, if you want to pursue a specific specialty, some engineering schools will be better than others, even if they are not on this particular list.
Siena Heights University
Physically located in Adrian, Michigan, Siena Heights University is by far the most expensive out of this list.
Additionally, they offer nine online engineering programs. This is an award-winning private Catholic University founded by the Adrian Dominican Sisters in 1919. It is also the number one ranked school in Michigan for online excellence.
Eastern Michigan University
Here is another Michigan school with an online educational option. Eastern Michigan University is based in Ypsilanti, MI. Additionally, they have three online programs. You can get a Master of Science in Engineering Management degree through their online courses at in-state tuition rates.
Finding Affordable Online Engineering Degree Programs
If you are just looking at affordability, then you have a lot of options to choose from. Some great online engineering programs cost $12,000 per year or less. We listed quite a few affordable options above.
Some of these schools are online only. Check with their accreditation and your state licensing guidelines to make sure the degree will be applicable for your location and the field you want to work in.
Here are two more schools you might want to check out:
The Limitations of Taking Engineering Courses Online
Before we continue, you should understand one thing if you are new to the field: Engineering is not one of those disciplines where you can take a few online courses and then put a shingle up on your door to get freelance work.
The profession of engineering requires a formal college education.
Engineering is a College-Level Discipline
Rather than watching a few webinars, to take engineering courses online, you will likely need to enroll in a college university. Also, some might offer a few standalone engineering courses you can take as an auditor.
But most of the time, you will need to be enrolled in a degree program to learn engineering on the Internet.
Think about it: Would you want someone designing a bridge who had simply gone through a bunch of webinars offered by a shady online huckster?
Would you want the next NASA rocket to be developed by someone who had never gotten a college degree?
Engineering is simply one of those professions where you absolutely have to get a formal education.
Furthermore, you need to be able to demonstrate a thorough understanding and proficiency in engineering. Lives literally hang in the balance.
It is a Licensed Profession
Because engineering involves real people’s lives, engineers usually need professional licensing, which depends on the state. Additionally, each state will have its own requirements and possibly an exam you must pass in order to be able to practice engineering.
You will need a Bachelor’s degree, at minimum, to legally practice engineering in most geographic locations.
Therefore, you are not likely to find standalone engineering courses offered individual engineering “experts.” Engineering is not one of those disciplines that would easily fit into a “Learn Everything You Need to Know About Engineering in 7 Weeks” type of online course.
Continuing Education Opportunities Online
Once you get your degree in engineering, you will need to keep your skills and knowledge up-to-date through continuing education.
Furthermore, you can partake in continuing education for engineers online, although the offerings are still somewhat limited.
The National Society of Professional Engineers offers webinars for continuing education of engineers.
General Professional Development Online Courses
As a professional engineer, you may want to improve your skills in other areas of business, such as project management, accounting, organization, and general productivity. You can find many online courses and webinars that can help you with these areas of business.
Taking courses such as these, once you have completed your college education in engineering, is a great way to make yourself a well-rounded professional.
One avenue you might want to explore in engineering is getting a certification as a project manager. Once in a while, you can find a hybrid course that teaches skills such as project management in an engineering context, such as “Project Management of Engineering Projects: Preparing for Success.”
What Type of Engineering Do You Want to Learn?
There are many different types of engineering and engineering specialties. These include everything from Environmental Engineering to Materials Engineering. You can find a lot of data online about the various salaries you can expect from each engineering field.
Here are just a few of the engineering specialties you might want to pursue:
Aerospace Engineering
If you love flight, from airplanes to spaceships, then you may want to become an aerospace engineer. Your starting salary may be more than $65,000, and you can earn $100,000 or more per year in this field.
Biomedical Engineering
If you are interested in the intersection of technology and healthcare, then you might enjoy becoming a biomedical engineer. This growing field will probably become more needed in the years to come as demand for medical technologies increases.
Chemical Engineering
This is a high-paying engineering career where you work in manufacturing and research for chemical companies as well as other general manufacturing companies.
Civil Engineering
Civil engineering is all about the infrastructure that makes cities livable. If you are interested in building highways, bridges, airports, and buildings, then you should learn civil engineering.
Electrical Engineering
Electrical engineers can make a starting salary of more than $57,000. They design and test electrical equipment such as circuit boards.
Mechanical Engineering
Are you good at physics? Then you might be a good mechanical engineer. Mechanical engineers analyze and design mechanical systems, which are important in so many things, from cars to buildings.
Mining & Geological Engineering
The average annual salary of mining and geological engineers is around $100,000. Manufacturers need raw materials in order to produce goods, and often, these raw materials must be mined and culled from the earth.
What is Your Ultimate Goal in Taking Engineering Courses?
If you want a bachelor’s degree with a “brand” university, then an online degree may not be good enough for you.
However, one strategy would be to start your college learning online, when it is cheaper and more convenient, and then transfer into an in-person school to complete your degree.
Additionally, be sure to check out the accreditation of each school you are considering applying to. There may be no point in obtaining a degree from a specific school if the accreditation is not valued and doesn’t meet your state guidelines for licensing.
Moreover, if you just want to learn some new things and aren’t worried about getting licensed, you need to be less discerning in choosing schools. You may find some interesting online courses or degree programs to take.
Whether or not they are accredited properly won’t matter if you are just taking classes for your own personal edification.
Finding the Right Online Program for You
Before putting down any hard-earned money, make sure you have found the right engineering courses and program for your needs.
Programs are constantly changing, so you will want to do your homework and check with the admissions team of each school to get as much information as possible.
Here are a few questions to ask:
Is Your Program Entirely Online?
Some programs may only be partially online and require some in-person classes.
Should You Check The School Accreditation?
Not only should you find out if the school is accredited, but who the accrediting agency is. Anyone can set up a company to “accredit” a school. So, you need to make sure the accrediting organization is one that is reputable.
How Much is Tuition?
Make sure you get clear on what the tuition is as well as what your potential costs might be for books and supplies.
What is the Expected Workload?
Just because a school is online, it does not mean that it won’t take up your time. Is the program meant as a full-time program? Or can you take it as a part-time option? Some schools will require you to go through a program according to a specific schedule
Does The School Provide Support?
Are there career counselors available? Who can you speak with if there is a problem? Is any technical support available for the online class system?
Who are the Teachers?
Just because a course is online, that doesn’t mean you want inexperienced, ineffective teachers. Find out the credentials of some of the professors at the school to gauge its value.
What Happens if I Need to Reschedule or Cancel?
Will you get a refund or partial refund if you need to drop out of a class for an issue or emergency? What if you need to put the program on pause, can you do that?
All of these questions are important when assessing online schools
Find College-Level Engineering Courses Online
Finally, more and more colleges and universities are offering degree programs online.
You can find many good college-level engineering courses and programs through the Internet. This is sure to expand as more schools see the benefits of putting courses online for adult learners and telecommuters. You may also find a school where you can take part of your training online.
In conclusion, with so many terrific options, you are sure to find a decent online school to help you obtain your engineering degree.