5 Things to Look for in an Online Bachelor’s in Engineering Degree Program

Image of two engineers for our article on 5 Things to Look for in an Online Bachelor’s in Engineering Degree Program

Online Engineering Degree Program Qualities

  • Institutional and Programmatic Accreditation
  • Favorable College Rankings
  • Affordability
  • Academic Flexibility
  • Options of Engineering Disciplines

Do you know what to look for in an online bachelor’s in engineering degree program? Research is essential for picking the right online undergraduate engineering program to fit your needs. Below you’ll find the top five things to consider when choosing an online engineering degree program.

1. Institutional and Programmatic Accreditation

One of the first things you should look for in an online bachelor’s in engineering degree program is accreditation. Enrolling in an unaccredited program could:

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  • waste your time
  • tuition dollars
  • hard work

For one thing, you can’t transfer credits earned at an unaccredited school to another program. A degree earned from an unaccredited program carries little weight with prospective employers. In fact, you may not even be able to attain your Professional Engineering (PE) license if your school didn’t have the right accreditation.

Look for an online bachelor’s in engineering program that has ABET (Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology) accreditation and at a school that has earned regional accreditation.

2. Favorable College Rankings

Not every school can rank number one. Even a school that does rank well might not be the best choice for you. However, looking at lists of college rankings can help you determine what quality of education you will receive in that program. It will also give you an idea as to how prospective employers will view your degree.

Make the best use of rankings by looking at lists of overall school quality. Also look at the quality of online bachelor’s in engineering program.

3. Affordability

For many college students, the cost of an education matters. Many schools offer a great education at a great value. Affordability is one important thing to look for in an online bachelor’s in engineering degree program.

Some schools have policies of meeting student financial need – sometimes even without loans. This means even a school with a higher tuition rate may allow you to earn your degree debt-free.

4. Academic Flexibility

Online college is known for offering students a flexible study schedule, but some programs also offer flexibility in terms of academic choices. For example, the Online Bachelor of Applied Science degree program at Siena Heights University is general in nature. However, it’s customizable enough that aspiring engineers can take courses to help them meet their individual career and education goals. If you really want to make your education your own, flexibility is something to look for in an online bachelor’s in engineering degree program

5. Options of Engineering Disciplines

Maybe you want to study:

  • mechanical engineering
  • electrical engineering
  • industrial engineering
  • another discipline

Make sure you choose a school that offers the engineering majors that most appeal to you, rather than any school that has an engineering path.

When you choose these five things to look for in an online bachelor’s in engineering degree program, you can be sure you’re choosing the program that’s the right fit for you.

Related Resources:

20 Cheapest Online Electrical Engineering Degree Programs

25 Best Online Bachelor’s in Engineering Degrees

Is Software Systems Engineering a Good Career Choice?

Top 30 Affordable Online Bachelor’s in Computer Engineering Degrees

What is the Difference in Engineering Degrees and Which Are the Best

Brenda Rufener
Author

Julie McCaulley
Expert

Carrie Sealey-Morris
Editor-in-Chief