Can I Get an Engineering Degree Online?

Earning an engineering degree online is often the ticket to leading a successful, fascinating, and lucrative career ensuring the safety and smooth functioning of our everyday society. Within an engineering degree program, students receive the necessary problem-solving, decision-making, mathematical, scientific, technical, and leadership skills needed for successful innovation. Not only do the majority of engineering positions offer a sizeable six-figure salary, working as an engineer involves intriguing work with state-of-the-art technology and a large amount of respect. Since it can be quite difficult to set aside time to earn the degree in a traditional setting with work and/or family obligations, an online engineering degree is the perfect solution for math-savvy students hoping to jump into the thriving field. With many academic routes for pursuing a degree in an engineering specialization, the following have been named as the top three online engineering programs by the U.S. News and World Report for 2014.

1. University of Southern California

As a world-renowned private research institution in the heart of downtown Los Angeles with more international students than any other school nationwide, the University of Southern California is recognized as the 23rd best college, 37th best value school, and 10th up-and-coming university in the country. Within the USC Viterbi School of Engineering, students have the option to advance their engineering graduate education online in niche areas with a Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Astronautical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Financial Engineering, and Industrial Systems Engineering.

2. Penn State University

Currently ranked as the 37th best college, 8th top public school, and 1st best college for veterans, Penn State University is an elite public institution located in the heart of University Park in what is known as Happy Valley. Within the innovative World Campus delivering quality education to nearly 12,000 students each year, the university offers a Master’s degree in Engineering Management, Systems Engineering, and Software Engineering. Recognized as the 2nd best online education programs in the country, students can gain the Penn State advantage to develop the knowledge and skills in engineering that employers demand.

3. Columbia University

Located in the Morningside Heights neighborhood of downtown Manhattan in New York City, Columbia University is a private institution that is currently ranked as the 4th best college and 6th top value school in the United States. It is also recognized for having the 15th best engineering school with the top 3rd online engineering degree programs. Within the Columbia Video Network (CVN), the graduate online learning program of the School of Engineering and Applied Science, global students have the ability to earn a fully accredited Master’s degree in Biomedical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Materials Science, and Mechanical Engineering.

Although these have been listed as the best of the best, there are many other engineering degrees available that can be earned completely online from anywhere in the world with an Internet connection. When searching for an online engineering degree, it is important to remember to be on the lookout for proper accreditation by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET), a program that suits your schedule, and a degree in the specific type of engineering of your career goals. After choosing the perfect engineering degree online for you, you will be on the right track to a fascinating specialized career in engineering with very little disturbance to your current life and superior flexibility.