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Were you the kid who always took toys apart in order to see how they worked? Consider yourself enterprising and good with machines? Do you excel at fixing issues with existing processes and creating news ways of making things work more efficiently? If you answered affirmatively to these questions, chances are you would be a good mechanical engineer. Wondering how you could get that advanced degree while still working and taking care of all of your current commitments? Online! This article will help you find your online mechanical engineering program, because we have culled through the available information on current master’s programs to bring you details on the best online Master of Mechanical Engineering degrees. We discovered that this online degree is not only one of the 50 most popular online master’s degrees, but also a great financial investment (according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Mechanical Engineers make more per hour than others in similar professions). Additionally, most online programs boast the same rigorous curriculum and experienced faculty as the on-campus programs, just offered entirely online, making the convenience hard to beat.

A field for professionals who like to make things work, mechanical engineering is one of the oldest and broadest engineering disciplines. Mechanical engineering really begin to thrive during the Industrial Revolution when new manufacturing practices were being developed on a larger scale than ever before. Now, mechanical engineers utilize principles of engineering, mathematics, science, and physics to scrutinize, plan, construct, and improve upon machinery and mechanical systems and structures. A very exciting field, mechanical engineering professionals can specialize in a multitude of research areas. Additionally, there is a great deal of diversity in potential employment, for there are many other fields in which mechanical engineering can intersect, such as aerospace or nuclear engineering, biomechanics, or nanotechnology.

We have examined many programs offered online, and by focusing on the history behind the degree, we have assurance that all of the programs listed in our ranking are reputable and from schools that have been perfecting both the content and the delivery for decades (and some for more than a century!). Many good programs are offered online, and you’ll see that we offer you a list of the best of the best. To find one that fits your needs, read on to discover the best online mechanical engineering graduate programs currently available!

See Also: 10 Best Master’s in Industrial Engineering

In addition to the Master’s Programs Guide Core Methodology, this criteria helped develop this ranking:

• Program history– the extent to which the subject matter or degree has been offered historically, determined by the founding of the school or college of engineering, the mechanical engineering department, the point in the university’s history that the ME program was established, or the year specific engineering classes were first offered

See Also: Aerospace Engineering Master’s Programs 

#1. Purdue University

Online Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering

Program Details: Purdue Online College of Engineering offers both a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (MSME) degree program and an interdisciplinary Master of Science in Engineering (MSE/MS) with a concentration in Mechanical Engineering completely online. Both degrees are 30-credit hours and allow students to craft a Plan of Study with their advisor in order to customize the degree—and there are twelve research areas from which to choose for a great deal of flexibility and customization. The MSME and the MSE/MS degrees are housed within the School of Mechanical Engineering, which was founded in 1882 and the first of the engineering schools at Purdue. In addition to the experienced faculty, Mechanical Engineering students benefit from a dedicated Office for Industrial Experience. This Office provides a “connection to industry” for students, with career resources through a Center for Career Opportunities, project design help, and other services. Two Mechanical Engineering graduate certificates are also offered online: Noise Control or Applied Heat Transfer.

Admissions website

Purdue University is known as “Indiana’s Land-Grant University,” meaning that the school was founded in part with assistance from the federal Morrill Act of 1862. Another component that aided the establishment of this public research university was the support of John Purdue and Tippecanoe County residents—they provided additional funds and land to serve as the campus in West Lafayette, Indiana. John Purdue was the major benefactor of the school and stipulated that it be named in his honor, thus the ground was broken for Purdue University in 1871. Three years later the first classes were held with 39 students in attendance. Now over 40,000 students are enrolled in more than 250 academic degree programs that are offered through Purdue’s ten colleges and online. The original campus in West Lafayette is the flagship of the Purdue University System, and this institution of higher education also has designation as a sea- and space-grant university. Regional accreditation is provided by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

#2. University of Southern California

Online Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering

Program Details: The Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (MSME) degree program at the USC Viterbi School of Engineering is provided entirely online through the online delivery method DEN@Viterbi. Requiring a minimum of 27-credit hours and offering a thesis or non-thesis option, as well as several concentration tracks (Thermal and Fluid Sciences, Engineering Design, and Mechanics and Materials), the MSME program dates back to the earliest days of engineering classes first held at USC in 1905. Award-winning faculty head up the MSME program’s coursework, and provide additional mechanical engineering degrees online as well—such as the MS in Aerospace & Mechanical Engineering (Computational Fluid and Solid Mechanics). Distance education has been provided by USC Viterbi for nearly half a century, and the attention to online students’ needs are reflected in the comprehensive “student services and IT services in wide ranging areas of advisement, homework and exams, technical support, and more.”

Admissions website

A local judge in Southern California in the late 1800s advocated for an institution of higher education, which would become the University of Southern California (USC). Judge Robert Maclay Widney also recruited the financial support of three businessmen who supplied acreage in Los Angeles for the school. USC was officially established in 1880, and the doors opened to 53 students and ten instructors. Now this private research university enjoys an enrollment of over 45,000 students—it is the oldest university in the state of California. The seventeen colleges of USC provide more than 200 academic degree programs, and the school has designation as both a sea-grant and a space-grant institution. A member of the elite Association of American Universities, USC’s motto—“let whoever earns the palm bear it”—speaks to the triumphant nature of the school and its students. USC has regional accreditation provided by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

#3. Stanford University

Online Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering

Program Details: Stanford’s comprehensive, part-time Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (MSME) degree is provided online program through the Stanford Center for Professional Development. The 45-unit degree is housed within Stanford’s Department of Mechanical Engineering, the roots of which were present when the first three mechanical engineering professors came on board when Stanford was founded in 1891. The faculty today is comprised of respected and knowledgeable professionals, and students choose from a specific research group or “depth” to construct their customized course of study. There are fourteen pre-approved depth areas from which students can choose, ranging from Automatic Controls to Fluid Mechanics to Dynamics to Robotics and Kinematics, just to name a few. The degree can be completed in about three years and some on-campus requirements must be met. A dedicated Mechanical Engineering Student Services Office provides support, and many complimentary webinars, course previews, and archived lectures are provided to prospective students.

Admissions website

Leland Stanford Junior University—more commonly known as Stanford University—was established as a tribute to a child lost to typhoid fever in 1884. Wealthy California senator Leland Stanford and his wife, Jane, lost their only child just before his sixteenth birthday. They determined to build something positive and beneficial out of their grief, and so developed the school with their fortune and livestock farm of over 8,000 acres, in what is now Stanford, California. The school opened in 1891 with more than 550 students. Due to the growth of technological entrepreneurialism in the area that was fostered and advanced by Stanford faculty and graduates, Silicon Valley was developed and the school has become one of the top universities in the nation. A private research university, Stanford now serves more than 16,000 students with over 65 undergraduate majors and nearly 100 graduate programs in the seven academic schools and colleges, and regional accreditation comes from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

#4. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Online Master of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering

Program Details: Through the College of Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign’s Engineering Online provides both a Master of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering (M.Eng.ME) degree and a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (MSME) degree completely online. Housed with the Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering (now known as MechSE but first referenced at the school in 1870), both degrees have coursework taught by esteemed faculty members “who are all active in research and publish in high-impact journals.” The two degrees match their on-campus counterparts in terms of rigorous coursework and student expectations. The M.Eng.ME is a non-thesis, coursework-based degree requiring 32-credit hours and can be completed in just two semesters on a full-time basis. The 32-credit hour MSME program offers both a thesis and a non-thesis option, and students generally complete the degree in eighteen months to two years. Regardless of the program chosen, all online MechSE students have access to dedicated engineering student resources.

Admissions website

One of the first schools to be established in response to the passage of the Morrill Act of 1862, the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign (University of Illinois or UIUC) was founded in 1867 as the Illinois Industrial University. Located in the twin Illinois cities of Champaign and Urbana, the institution welcomed 77 students to the first classes in 1868. A tension between the first president, John Milton (who wanted a liberal arts institution) and other school leaders, (who desired an industrial arts and agricultural approach), led to Milton resigning in 1880. His influence remains, however, as the school has strong liberal arts leanings in addition to being a research university. The flagship campus in the University of Illinois System, UIUC has over 45,000 students enrolled in more than 250 academic degree programs in the sixteen schools and colleges. A public land-, sea-, and space-grant school, the Higher Learning Commission grants full regional accreditation.

#5. The Pennsylvania State University

Online Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering

Program Details: The Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (MSME) online degree program at Penn State is delivered entirely online through Penn State World Campus. The 32-credit hour program promotes a “collaborative” academic experience in which students “build strong ties with other students and gain perspectives from other disciplines and industries” for a comprehensive, advantageous degree. Students work with advisors to craft the degree to fit their needs and professional goals, and can choose from a wide selection of classes such as “Engineering Optimization,” “Principles of Turbomachinery,” and “Finite Elements in Engineering.” Student testimonials and praise dot the program website, and the program and faculty credentials speak for themselves. Mechanical engineering was one of the earliest offerings of Penn State (the first classes being offered in 1868), and Penn State has pioneered online education through the World Campus since 1998, so students have assurance that the discipline and the delivery of their education is teeming with quality.

Admissions website

Known most commonly as Penn State, the school officially named “The Pennsylvania State University” was originally established as the Farmer’s High School of Pennsylvania in 1855. With a location in Centre County, Pennsylvania, the school was instrumental in the development of the Morrill Act of 1862. Evan Pugh, Penn State’s first president, advocated for the Morrill Act, also known as the Land-Grant Act, which enabled state schools to be developed with funds from the selling of federal lands. When the Act passed in 1862, Penn State became a land-grant university, and still remains the only one in the state of Pennsylvania (as well as also being a space-, sun-, and sea-grant school). The main campus in University Park is the flagship of the 24 campuses across the state and enrolls nearly 50,000 students. Penn State (as named since 1953) is a public research university with regional accreditation from the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.

#6. University of Virginia

Online Master of Engineering in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Program Details: Virginia Engineering Online (VEO) provides the Master of Engineering (ME) in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering degree program from the UVA School of Engineering and Applied Science Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE). It’s the same degree earned as in the on-campus program, and students enrolled in the online format offered through this first engineering school in the South (established as the School of Civil Engineering in 1836) are connected to a long history of “engineering excellence.” Additionally, UVA is part of the Online Graduate Engineering Consortium, allowing online students to take up to half of their 30-credit hours from five other excellent universities. The award-winning MAE faculty honors “a tradition of excellence and a pioneering spirit of entrepreneurship in both education and research” through the coursework offered in two tracks: Mechanics and Thermofluids. Students construct a plan of study with guidance from dedicated Virginia Engineering Online Student Academic Advisors and Graduate Coordinators.

Admissions website

Founded in 1819 by Thomas Jefferson as “a public university designed to advance human knowledge, educate leaders and cultivate an informed citizenry,” the University of Virginia (UVA) held its first classes in 1825. Located in Charlottesville, Virginia, the school very intentionally did not affiliate with any religious denomination at its inception and has remained nonsectarian. UVA is comprised of eleven academic schools and the College at Wise in Southwest Virginia, and is the first southern university elected to membership in the elite Association of American Universities. Classified by the Carnegie Foundation as having very high research activity, UVA is a public research institution with nearly 25,000 students enrolled in over 120 academic degree programs. The scenic and iconic campus covers almost 1,700 acres and is designated as a World Heritage site. Recognized for its secret societies and history, UVA is the flagship university of the state and has regional accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

#7. University of South Carolina

Online Master of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering

Program Details: The University of South Carolina (which was reestablished in 1880 as the South Carolina College of Agriculture and Mechanical Arts and offered engineering classes since the beginning) offers both a Master of Science (MS) and a Master of Engineering (ME) in Mechanical Engineering degree entirely online (the ME degree provides a non-thesis option, and students in the MS program culminate the degree with a thesis). Both degree programs require 30-credit hours and are available in the College of Engineering and Computing Mechanical Engineering Department. Seven specialization areas are provided specifically in mechanical engineering, such as Thermo-fluids, Mechanics of Materials and Nondestructive Evaluation, and Nanotechnology. Typical coursework includes classes such as “Intro to Finite Elements Analysis in Mechanical Engineering” and “Advanced Mechanics of Materials,” and the curriculum is presented online by the research-focused and dedicated faculty. The department employees “forerunners” in the field, evidenced by the department doubling in the last decade to become the largest in the college.

Admissions website

The University of South Carolina began as South Carolina College in 1801 in Columbia, South Carolina. Classes for the nine students began in 1805, and there were just two professors on staff. The institution was very successful until the financial devastation suffered by the state after the Civil War forced it to close briefly. Reopening in 1873 as the University of South Carolina (USC), the school was quite progressive, admitting women and students of color. Closing and reopening again as a segregated college, the school grew to become the USC of today and is now the flagship of the University of South Carolina System. A public coeducational sea-grant university with high research activity, USC serves more than 34,000 students at the main campus, with sixteen academic schools and colleges offering degree programs. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission provides the regional accreditation for USC.

#8. Texas A&M University

Online Master of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering

Program Details: The Texas A&M J. Mike Walker ’66 Department of Mechanical Engineering’s Master of Engineering (MEng) in Mechanical Engineering degree program can be completed entirely online, and students are allowed up to seven years to finish the 30-credit hour program. Housed within the College of Engineering (the largest college at Texas A&M and one which has been in existence since the school opened in 1876), the degree has core courses that are offered as options and not required, covering topics such as “Theory of Elasticity,” “Advanced Product Design,” and “Advanced Engineering Thermodynamics.” All students will compile a final portfolio (prepared during the duration of study) to showcase what has been learned and how well the student has incorporated the learning outcomes. Faculty members head up many research opportunities for students and have a wide range of publications and awards to prove their experience, and students benefit from the field-specific student resources offered by Engineering Online.

Admissions website

Founded under the name Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas, Texas A&M University (Texas A&M) was established in 1871 and benefited from the Morrill Act of 1862. Classes began in 1876, and the campus was located in Brazos County on more than 2,400 acres of donated land. Gaining its current name in 1963, Texas A&M’s main campus in College Station, Texas has doubled in size and is supplemented by another campus in Galveston. Along with the land-grant designation, Texas A&M is also a sea- and space-grant university, and this public research institution of higher education enrolls more than 66,000 students currently, making it the largest campus by student enrollment in the Texas A&M University System as well as nationally. There are nineteen schools and colleges within Texas A&M, which provide nearly 400 academic degree programs. Regional accreditation is granted through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

#9. University of Texas at Austin

Online Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering

Program Details: The fully online Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (MSME) degree through UT Austin’s Texas Engineering Executive Education is housed within the Cockrell School of Engineering, which can trace its roots to the day the cornerstone was laid for the university in 1882. The “industry-relevant and immediately applicable” 30-credit hour curriculum does not require a thesis and is rich with courses such as “Statistical Methods for Process Control and Manufacturing,” “Materials Science and Engineering,” and “Applied Thermodynamics.” Students progress through the program as a cohort, which provides them with built-in community support. The faculty members are readily available, and their collection of publications and patents is impressive. The unique and thoughtful online learning model is ideal for working professionals who have an undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering (or related degree) and at least one year of relevant work experience. Student support is provided, with resources such as the Cockrell School’s Engineering Career Assistance Center to help students be successful.

Admissions website

The University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin) is the flagship school of the University of Texas System, and its establishment was put into motion by the state legislature in 1876. The first brick was laid in Austin, Texas in 1882, and just a year later in 1883 221 students were welcomed to class in the year of the school’s founding. A public research university, more than 51,000 currently enrolled students participate in nearly 400 undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs offered in the eighteen colleges and schools that comprise UT Austin. With the desire to “transform lives for the benefit of society,” UT Austin has a mission to “achieve excellence in the interrelated areas of undergraduate education, graduate education, research and public service.” Considered a Public Ivy school, UT Austin is a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities and is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

#10. University of Florida

Online Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering

Program Details: The Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (MSME) degree program at UF is housed within the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE) in the Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering (which was one of the four colleges of UF when it moved to the Gainesville campus in 1909). Provided entirely online through the UF Electronic Delivery of Graduate Engineering (EDGE) distance learning delivery method, the 30-credit hour program offers a thesis and a non-thesis option. Students follow one of three plans of study (“Dynamics, Systems, and Control,” “Solid Mechanics, Design, and Manufacturing,” or “Thermal Science and Fluid Dynamics”), and an External Advisory Board supports the expert faculty and provides guidance and “continuous improvement” to the programs and MAE Department. In addition, the MAE Department presents six online graduate certificates via EDGE for professionals who don’t desire a full master’s degree. All certificates are made up of three courses, which are available to students asynchronously.

Admissions website

With a history that can be traced to several schools in areas of Florida, the University of Florida (UF) has grown to become a doctoral university with the highest research activity (as designated by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education). Located in Gainesville, Florida, UF had a clear start when the Florida Legislature passed an Act that consolidated the state’s public institutions of higher education and the State University System of Florida was instituted. This was in 1905, and the University of the State of Florida opened the doors to over 100 students for the first classes in 1906. Becoming simply “university of Florida” in 1909, UF now enrolls almost 55,000 students and is a land-, sea-, and space-grant institution. Over 300 programs are offered in sixteen academic schools and colleges, and UF is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

#11. John Hopkins University

Online Master of Mechanical Engineering

Program Details: The Johns Hopkins University part-time online Master of Mechanical Engineering degree program is called Johns Hopkins Engineering for Professionals. Through the Department of Mechanical Engineering in the Whiting School of Engineering, the 30-credit hour program provides four focus areas to customize the degree: Manufacturing, Robotics and Controls, Solids/Mechanics of Materials, or Thermofluids. The required core course “Mathematical Methods for Engineers” is taken the first semester, and classes based on the students’ focus then follow. Mechanical Engineering was one of the first concentrations offered by Johns Hopkins in the 1900s, and online programming has been offered by Johns Hopkins Engineering since 2001—students can therefore be assured of both the reputation and the quality of the online program. Additionally, the faculty’s expertise and the available student services guarantee a highly-rewarding and supportive environment. Online Information Sessions are held periodically to introduce prospective students to faculty and current students and learn about the program.

Admissions website

Johns Hopkins University, located in Baltimore, Maryland, was named for the man who helped finance the establishment of the institution of higher education (as well as The Johns Hopkins Hospital). The Quaker, known for his philanthropy and for being an abolitionist, was a bachelor without any heirs when he passed away in 1873. The legendary amount he left in his will for the school and medical center was an outrageously large amount ($7 million) by late-19th century standards, and thus Johns Hopkins will be forever remembered for his philanthropy. The doors opened to students in 1876, and the university is one of the founding members of the American Association of Universities. The ten academic schools provide programs to over 24,000 currently enrolled students, and Johns Hopkins is a private university with a Carnegie Classification of doctoral university with the highest research activity. The Middle States Commission on Higher Education provides regional accreditation.

#12. University of California Los Angeles

Online Master of Science in Engineering – Mechanical

Program Details: The Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science (HSSEAS) Master of Science in Engineering (MSE) – Mechanical degree at UCLA is provided as a Master of Science Online (MSOL) program. The MSE degree is located in the Department of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering (MAE) and open to students who do not have an undergraduate degree in mechanical or aerospace engineering (but who must take two additional classes: “Aerodynamics” and “Advanced Strength of Materials”), several focus areas are provided for customization (such as the multidisciplinary Mechanical Engineering in Medicine). A coursework-based, 27-credit hour program, the impressive “research experience of . . . faculty is reflected in the classroom experience, enabling . . . ME students and graduates to go out and address the world’s grand challenges.” Students are required to complete the program in three years, but the comprehensive resources and services provided help students achieve that goal successfully.

Admissions website

The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) was begun as the University of California’s “Southern Branch” in 1919 and originally offered two-year undergraduate programs. The programs were so successful that the school quickly outgrew its initial name and location, becoming the University of California at Los Angeles in 1927 and moving to a new campus in the Westwood district of Los Angeles in 1929. Over 5,000 students attended classes the first year in the new location, and the school would officially replace the “at” in the name with a comma in 1953. A public research university (with the highest research activity as recognized by the Carnegie Foundation) within the University of California System, UCLA offers over 300 academic degree programs to the nearly 45,000 enrolled students through seventeen schools and colleges. A land-grant university and member of the Association of American Universities, UCLA is regionally accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission.

#13. University of Delaware

Online Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering

Program Details: The UD College of Engineering offers an online Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (MSME) degree program in the Department of Engineering. The 30-credit hour program, which is the same as the on-campus program, can trace its roots back to 1891 when the first mechanical engineering degree was provided at UD. The broad mechanical engineering discipline can be customized through the five areas of research focus offered by the Department (Biomechanical Engineering, Clean Energy and Environment, Composites and Advanced Materials, Nanotechnology, and Robotics and Control). The curriculum is provided online by the award-winning faculty, who are “recognized as global leaders in research and education,” and includes classes such as “Intermediate Solid Mechanics,” “Linear Systems,” and “Orthopedic Biomechanics.” Resources at every level are provided to online students to help them succeed, and for professionals who do not desire a full master’s program, an online Graduate Certificate in Composites Manufacturing & Engineering is available.

Admissions website

Established in 1743 as the Free School in New London, Pennsylvania, the University of Delaware (UD) would grow to become classified by the Carnegie Foundation as a very high research institution of higher education. The school was founded by Presbyterian minister Reverend Dr. Francis Alison, and it would go through name and location changes before settling in Newark, Delaware as the Academy of Newark in 1769 (Delaware was part of Pennsylvania until 1776). Several more name changes would occur before the institution merged with the Women’s College of Delaware in 1921, and finally UD was born. More than 300 academic degree programs are provided through seven colleges that comprise the university, and UD enrolls over 23,000 students currently. As its mission, UD “exists to cultivate learning, develop knowledge and foster the free exchange of ideas,” and is a land-, sea-, and space-grant university with regional accreditation through the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

#14. Missouri University of Science and Technology

Online Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering

Program Details: The Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Missouri S&T, recently celebrating the centennial (established in 1916 as the Department of Mechanical Engineering), provides an online MS in Mechanical Engineering degree with both a thesis and a non-thesis option. Both options require 30-credit hours, and all coursework is delivered online synchronously through streaming video (although archived for students to review). Classes offered include varied topics such as “Advanced Fractured Mechanics,” “Viscous Fluid Flow,” and “Compliant Mechanism Design.” The faculty provide expertise in many research areas, and online students have support through Missouri S&T’s Global Learning – Distance Education Student Support Services. For students who do not wish to pursue a full degree (or who would like to start with a certificate before pursuing the MS), five online graduate certificates are offered through the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering: Composite Materials and Structures, Control Systems, Energy Conversion & Transport, Engineering Mechanics, and Manufacturing Automation.

Admissions website

Claiming distinction as “as one of the first technological institutions west of the Mississippi,” Missouri University of Science and Technology (“Missouri S&T”) was established in 1870 as the Missouri School of Mines and Metallurgy. A Morrill Act of 1862 land-grant university located in Rollo, Missouri, Missouri S&T welcomed 28 students to class for the first time in 1871. Now, nearly 9,000 students are currently enrolled in just under 100 academic degree programs, and Missouri S&T offers all students the unique opportunity to conduct research in one of four “Signature Research Areas” (Advanced Manufacturing, Advanced Materials for Sustainable Infrastructure, Enabling Materials for Extreme Environments, or Smart Living) regardless of their major or academic program choice. A member of the University of Missouri System, Missouri S&T is also a space-grant institution of higher education, and regional accreditation for this coeducational public university is granted by the Higher Learning Commission.

#15. Iowa State University

Online Master of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering

Program Details: The Master of Engineering (MEng) in Mechanical Engineering degree program at Iowa State University is provided online through Engineering-LAS Online Learning (the online delivery hub for College of Engineering and College of Liberal Arts and Sciences programs). The coursework-only MEng degree is located in one of the “University’s crown jewels,” the Department of Mechanical Engineering (ME), which has been an important part of Iowa State since the school first classes were offered in 1869 (in fact, the first degree ever awarded was in mechanical engineering). The curriculum is constructed of 30-credit hours and the core coursework is clustered into four discipline areas for students to choose an emphasis (Design and Optimization, Dynamic Systems and Controls, Materials Processing and Mechanics, and Thermo-Fluid Sciences). The extensive ME faculty is impressive and has experience in many research areas and collectively many publications between them. Students are provided with resources and services through online and engineering-specific student support.

Admissions website

Iowa State University (officially named “Iowa State University of Science and Technology” in 1959, but known most commonly as Iowa State) was established in 1858 as the Iowa Agricultural College and Model Farm. The first graduating class of 26 coeducational students would be welcomed to class for the first time in 1869, and since the Morrill Act of 1862 was passed while campus was being constructed, Iowa State became a land-grant university. Located in Ames, Iowa, campus originally covered 650 acres but has now grown to more than 1,800 acres, and the current student enrollment has increased to more than 35,000 students. This public university is also a space-grant institution, and nearly 300 academic degree programs are offered through the ten schools and colleges that make up Iowa State. The largest university in the state and Carnegie Foundation classified as having the highest research activity, Iowa State is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

#16. Auburn University

Online Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering

Program Details: Auburn Engineering Online and Continuing Education, provided through the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering offers a non-thesis MS in Mechanical Engineering degree program. The 30-credit hour program, in the historic Department of Mechanical Engineering (established in 1885), gives “students opportunities to obtain the skills necessary to define, formulate and solve novel problems” in a convenient, online format. Designed for students with an undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering (or a bachelor’s in a similar, relevant field), the MS degree allows for a great deal of customization—students choose all of the coursework to construct the degree. The “ever-increasing list of faculty patents and inventions” should serve as confirmation that the program is strong and will be rigorous, but the student services provided should provide reassurance that online ME students will receive the support they need. For students who do not desire to pursue a full degree, the ME Department also provides a Tribology Engineering graduate certificate online.

Admissions website

Chartered in 1856 as the East Alabama Male College, a private liberal arts school, Auburn University was originally affiliated with the Methodist Episcopal Church South. The school became a public institution when it became a land-grant school in 1872 and was renamed Agricultural and Mechanical College of Alabama (it would change names again in 1899 and then became Auburn University in 1960). The first school in the South to participate in the benefits of the Morrill Act of 1862, Auburn is additionally designated as a sea- and space-grant university. One of the two flagships of the state of Alabama, Auburn is located in Auburn, Alabama and is comprised of twelve academic schools and colleges. Just under 30,000 students are currently enrolled in over 140 programs, and the Carnegie Classification states the coeducational school is at a “higher research activity” level. Regional accreditation for Auburn comes from the Higher Learning Commission.

#17. University of Arizona

Online Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering

Program Details: The Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering (AME) at the University of Arizona’s College of Engineering (established when UA was founded in 1885) provides an entirely online MS in Mechanical Engineering degree program. The 32-credit  program offers four core focus areas (dynamics and control systems, fluid mechanics, solid mechanics and dynamics, and thermal sciences) from which students can choose an emphasis, and students can opt between a Master’s Thesis, a Master’s Report, or a Coursework-only plan of study. Additionally, students “learn from and work alongside professors internationally renowned for their research” just as their on-campus counterparts, with coursework in subjects such as mechanics of deformable solids, thermodynamics and radiation, and engineering mathematics. Student support is comprehensive—online students receive a personal Student Academic Success Specialist and have access to an enrollment team, tutoring, alumni career mentorships, and other resources to help them succeed.

Admissions website

Prior to Arizona becoming a state in 1912, the Arizona Territory Legislative Assembly voted in 1885 to institute a state university as a response to the federal Morrill Act of 1862. Tucson was chosen as the campus location, and construction on the University of Arizona (UA or “Arizona”) began in 1887. The oldest institution of higher education in the state, UA offered the first classes to the initial enrollment of 32 students in 1891. Now the school boasts an enrollment of over 44,000 students and more than 350 academic degree programs. Twenty schools and colleges provide the programs to students either on-campus in Tucson (on a 380-acre main campus) on one of three other campus locations, or online, and Arizona has designation as very high research university from the Carnegie Foundation. A public land-grant university, the University of Arizona is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

#18. Georgia Institute of Technology

Online Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering

Program Details: Georgia Tech’s Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (MSME) degree program is provided entirely online through Georgia Tech Professional Education. Located within the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering (the oldest at Georgia Tech, with classes being offered for the first time in 1888), the degree is designed for students with an undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering or similar discipline. Requiring a minimum of 30-credit hours, the degree offers twelve research areas, such as Mechanics of Materials, Automation, Robotics & Control, and Manufacturing. Students choose between a thesis and a non-thesis option and participate in classes like “Computer-Aided Design,” “Vibration-Mechanical System,” and “Combustion.” In addition to the online learning support and the array of student support services, the renowned faculty at the School of Mechanical Engineering is a collection of full-time, tenure-track professors (nearly 100) who have many years of research experience and publications to attest to their knowledge and skill in the field.

Admissions website

Established to provide an opportunity to promote technological education in an area that was mostly agricultural, the predecessor to Georgia Tech was founded in 1885 in Atlanta, Georgia. Known as the Georgia School of Technology, the institution opened its doors in 1888 to 84 male students. Mechanical Engineering was the only degree offered at first, but throughout the years more programs were added and in 1948 the name of the school was changed to highlight the broader academic focus: Georgia Institute of Technology (known largely as Georgia Tech). A member of the University of Georgia System, Georgia Tech has additional satellite campuses domestically and overseas. This public research university has a current student enrollment of nearly 30,000 and is comprised of six academic colleges. With “very high research activity” as classified by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, Georgia Tech is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

#19. North Carolina State University

Online Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering

Program Details: The Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (MSME) at NC State is provided entirely online through Engineering Online. The 30-credit hour MSME program is rooted in a rich history since NC State was started as an Agriculture and Mechanic Arts school and engineering distance programs have been offered since 1978. Housed within the College of Engineering’s Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE), six research areas are provided for students to pursue their particular area of interest (such as “Nanoscale Science and Engineering,” “Thermal Sciences and Energy Systems,” and “Structural Mechanics, Materials and Manufacturing”). Extensive, field-specific student resources are available through the NC State Online and Distance Education engineering department, and many tips and guides are provided to help MSME students succeed. The faculty members are not only highly experienced and reputable, but also exceedingly adept at online instruction. In addition, Engineering Online provides news and information for current and prospective students.

Admissions website

North Carolina State University (NC State or NCSU) was founded as the North Carolina College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts in Raleigh, North Carolina in 1887. The land-grant institution welcomed 72 students in 1889 with one building and six professors that first year. NCSU sent representatives to remote areas of the state to train farmers in best agriculture practices, which helped the school grow. Officially renamed in the 1960s, North Carolina State University at Raleigh (“at Raleigh” is not often used, even in official settings) is the flagship member of the University of North Carolina System and the largest institution of higher education in the state. Offering over 250 academic degree programs through twelve colleges to more than 35,000 currently enrolled students, NCSU is also a sea- and space-grant school and has earned the Carnegie Foundation classification of highest research activity. Regional accreditation comes from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

#20. Stevens Institute of Technology

Online Master of Engineering – Mechanical

Program Details: Offering the first mechanical engineering degree in the history of the United States (available since the school was founded in 1870), Stevens provides a Master of Engineering – Mechanical degree program that can be accessed online. There are only two required core courses in the 30-credit hour program (“Modeling and Simulation” and “Engineering Analysis I”); the remaining classes can be customized based on the student’s choice in concentration (Product Design; Manufacturing; Thermal, Fluids, Energy; Pharmaceutical Manufacturing; Medical Devices; Robotics & Control; Micro/Nano Systems) and elective choices. The degree is located in the Department of Mechanical Engineering (the oldest and largest department at Stevens) in the Schaefer School of Engineering & Science, and students can opt to make it a thesis or a non-thesis degree. The faculty are experienced, currently holding patents, serving on task forces, and participating in cutting-edge research. Online students benefit from resources such as the Continuing and Professional Student Care Center to help them “flourish.”

Admissions website

In 1868 in Hoboken, New Jersey, the Stevens family had proven themselves to be adept at engineering, innovation, and philanthropy. The natural outgrowth of these qualities and talents led to the creation of the Stevens Institute of Technology (Edwin A. Stevens had passed away and bequeathed money specifically to establish the school). With a distinct focus on mechanical engineering, Stevens opened as a private institution of higher education in 1870 and has grown to consist of four schools and colleges: Schaefer School of Engineering & Science, School of Systems & Enterprises, School of Business, and College of Arts & Letters. More than 100 academic degree programs are offered to nearly 7,000 students currently, and the Carnegie Foundation recognizes Stevens as having a higher research activity level. The main campus is still located in Hoboken, but is joined by an additional location in Washington, D.C. The Middle States Commission on Higher Education provides regional accreditation.

#21. Columbia University

Online Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering

Program Details: Housed within the Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Sciences and offered entirely online though the Columbia Video Network (CVN), the MS in Mechanical Engineering degree at Columbia is a reputable, well-established (the department came into being in 1897) program. Requiring a minimum of 30-credit hours, the degree can be shaped by the student along with their advisor from among classes such as “Thermofluid Systems Design,” “Manufacturing Enterprise,” and “Intro to Control Theory.” Created for students with a bachelor’s of engineering background, the coursework is provided by faculty engineers with impressive credentials replete with publications and patents. Students services and resources through both the School of Engineering and the CVN are available to students, and for individuals who do not wish to pursue a full MS in Mechanical Engineering degree, two fully online twelve-credit hour certificate options are provided: Manufacturing Engineering and Mechanical Engineering—Sustainable Energy.

Admissions website

Established as King’s College by a royal charter from King George II of England in 1754, Columbia University is the oldest university in the state of New York and the fifth oldest nationally. The school was affiliated with the Anglican church and set up residence in New York, New York; eight students were the first in attendance. After the American Revolution, the school reopened in 1784 as Columbia College and gained university status in 1896 (the official name is Columbia University in the City of New York). In 1897 Columbia moved to its permanent campus in Morningside Heights, and it has grown to become one of the most selective and competitive schools in the country. Twenty academic colleges provide the programs for nearly 30,000 currently enrolled student, and this private Ivy league school has the Carnegie Foundation’s highest research activity classification. The Middle States Commission on Higher Education regionally accredits Columbia.

#22. University of Arkansas

Online Master of Science in Engineering

Program Details: U of A Online offers a Master of Science in Engineering (MSE) degree through the College of Engineering for students who desire a comprehensive, multi-discipline program (engineering has always been an important field at the University of Arkansas—the first mechanical engineering degree was awarded in 1891). Providing the foundational basics in core requirements of mathematics, computer applications, technical communications, and management, the 30-credit MSE degree integrates other traditional engineering discipline coursework along with mechanical engineering for a well-rounded program (students can choose mechanical engineering as their emphasis and focus nine credit hours towards it). The impressive faculty cover a wide range of research areas, and mechanical engineering emphasis classes include “Fundamentals of Aerodynamics,” “Thermal Systems Analysis and Design,” and “Advanced Fracture Mechanics and Structural Integrity.” Students typically complete the degree in under two years and are provided with specific engineering resources to help the find success.

Admissions website

The University of Arkansas (“U of A”) was founded in 1871 in Fayetteville, Arkansas in order to benefit from the federal Morrill Act of 1862. Originally named The Arkansas Industrial University, this land-grant university established a campus on a former farm site and opened its doors in 1872 to eight students. Though the first classes were held in an old barn, the school grew its curricular focus and became the University of Arkansas in 1899 due to a student-led petition. Over 27,000 students are currently enrolled, and eleven schools and colleges provide more than 200 academic degree programs. In addition to being a land-grant institution, U of A is also a space-grant university, as well as the flagship in the University of Arkansas System. A public doctoral research university with the highest research activity designation from the Carnegie Foundation, U of A is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

#23. University of Alabama

Online Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering

Program Details: Identical to the on-campus program, the online MS in Mechanical Engineering degree from The University of Alabama is a non-thesis, 30-credit hour program offered through the renowned Bama By Distance. Housed within the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the historic College of Engineering (founded in 1909), the MSME degree program provides a wide array of focus areas, ranging from Additive Manufacturing to Computational Fluid Dynamics and Heat Transfer to Fatigue and Fracture Mechanics to Mechatronics. The faculty have impressive research experience and provide the environment that allows students to be “vital to the Department of Mechanical Engineering’s research efforts.” Specific courses include “Classical Thermodynamics,” “Nonlinear Control Systems,” and “Intermediate Gas Dynamics,” just to name a few, and the distance program requires a comprehensive exam in lieu of a thesis. Online students have the same student services and resources provided to residential students, as well as their own dedicated Student Services Team.

Admissions website

Prior to becoming a state, the Alabama Territory lobbied the United States Congress in 1818 to provide township designation for the area so a university could be established. Two years later in 1820, The University of the State of Alabama was founded—and it would be located in Tuscaloosa. The first classes were held in 1831, and 52 enrolled students graced the school in its first year. After the devastation of the Civil War, the university had to regroup and reorganize. Reopening as The University of Alabama (Alabama, “Bama,” or UA) in 1872, this institution of higher education is the oldest public university in the state and the flagship of the University of Alabama System. Over 38,000 students are currently enrolled within the thirteen academic colleges, and UA is both a sea- and space-grant school. Granted by the Carnegie Foundation with higher research activity designation, Alabama is provided with regional accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

#24. Texas Tech University

Online Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering

Program Details: The Whitacre College of Engineering Distance Learning Program at Texas Tech offers a fully online Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (MSME) degree program. Provided through the Department of Mechanical Engineering (ME), the roots of which were established when Texas Tech was founded in 1925, the MSME degree requires 36-credit hours, and students can choose between a coursework only option or a Master’s Report. Students also can customize the degree through their choice in advanced mathematics classes, electives, and Concentration and Breadth requirements, in the areas of Dynamics and Controls, Thermal Sciences and Fluid Mechanics, Solid Mechanics and Materials, and Design. Support is provided from the beginning with a Distance Student Orientation, and continues with advising services and career resources. The credentials of the ME faculty are impressive, and online students receive the same academic benefits and attention as their on-campus counterparts.

Admissions website

Texas Tech University was established by the Texas Legislature as the Texas Technological College in Lubbock, Texas in 1923. Two years later classes began, and there were over 900 coeducational undergraduate students enrolled that first year (graduate classes were added two years later in 1927). The name changed to Texas Tech University (Texas Tech or TTU) in 1969, and Texas Tech is the flagship in the Texas Tech University System. The sixth-largest institution of higher education in the state, the campus covers almost 2,000 acres and over 36,000 students are currently enrolled. More than 300 academic degree programs are offered in the twelve schools and colleges that comprise Texas Tech, and the Carnegie Foundation has classified this public research university as having the highest research activity (one of only 115 schools to receive that designation). Regional accreditation for Texas Tech is provided by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

#25. Colorado State University

Online Master of Engineering with a Mechanical Engineering Specialization

Program Details: The CSU Master of Engineering (ME) degree with a Mechanical Engineering Specialization is offered completely online asynchronously through the Canvas online learning platform. Housed within the Department of Mechanical Engineering, the 30-credit hour program is comprised of fifteen core courses focusing on topics such as “Metals and Alloys,” “Advanced Composite Materials,” and “Manufacturing Engineering.” Students choose from a wide range of electives to customize the degree, and all classes are taught by the same on-campus professors—faculty members who are inventors and innovators at the “forefront of mechanical engineering technology.” The program is located in the renowned and highly-selective Walter Scott, Jr. College of Engineering (which offered the first engineering program in the state), and students experience a coursework-based, “practitioner-oriented mechanical engineering degree” program. Student resources and services are comprehensive, ranging from academic advising to conflict resolution services to IT support.

Admissions website

Six years before Colorado became a state, the Morrill Act of 1862 incentivized the Territory to establish the Colorado Agricultural College in 1870. The land-grant school that would become Colorado State University (CSU) was located in the future city of Fort Collins, Colorado, and classes began for the first time in 1879. The flagship institution of the Colorado State University System, CSU currently enrolls more than 30,000 students and offers over 150 academic degree programs through eight academic colleges. A culture of environmental sustainability permeates the campus and the ideology of CSU—the school received the STARS (Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System™) Platinum rating in 2015, the first such ranking a school has ever been awarded. A public coeducational institution of higher education, CSU is also granted with the Carnegie Foundation classification of having the highest research activity. Regional accreditation for CSU comes from the Higher Learning Commission.

#26. Case Western Reserve University

Online Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering

Program Details: The practice-based, completely online MS in Mechanical Engineering degree from Case Western Reserve offers “a rich and engaging curriculum in a convenient digital environment.” The 30-credit hour program is open to students who have may not have an undergraduate engineering degree but who meet the admissions requirements, and it can be completed through the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering in just a year and a half. The department is located in the Case School of Engineering, which boasts a history traced back to the 1880 establishment of one of CWRU’s predecessor schools, the degree program presents a curriculum “designed by the best for the best,” with online classes such as “Advanced Engineering Analysis,” Fatigue of Materials,” “Vibration Problems in Engineering,” and “Applied Engineering Statistics.” The faculty boast impressive achievements, and online students benefit from their expertise through small class sizes and a hands-on research approach. An online engineering blog provides information for both current and prospective students as well.

Admissions website

Hudson, Ohio was the initial location of the school that would grow to become Case Western Reserve University. Founded as Western Reserve College in 1826, the institution moved in 1882 to Cleveland, Ohio. Finances provided by Amasa Stone (railroad mogul) encouraged the move, but five years before this, philanthropic Leonard Case Jr. made plans to endow a polytechnic school, also in Cleveland. Shortly after Case’s death in 1880, the Case School of Applied Science was established. Stone had made a caveat in his financial gift to Western Reserve—the school and Case would share adjoining properties. This was the beginning of a mutual relationship that would culminate in the formation of Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) in 1967. Nearly 12,000 students are currently enrolled in the academic programs of nine schools and colleges, and the Carnegie Foundation classification for this private doctorate-granting university is the highest research activity level. CWRU is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

#27. University of Wisconsin-Madison

Online Master of Mechanical Engineering: Polymer Science

Program Details: Through the Department of Engineering Professional Development (EPD), students can participate in UW-Madison’s renowned Master of Mechanical Engineering: Polymer Science degree program. A 30-credit hour program with the backing of a strong mechanical engineering history (having first been offered at the school in 1875), most students are working professionals and can complete the degree entirely online in just two to four years. Two required courses (“Transport Phenomena in Polymer Processing” and “Engineering Design with Polymers”) are followed by the student’s choice of several required class topics and electives (such as “Fundamentals of Injection Molding” and “Experimental Mechanics”). Students and alumni benefit from the dedicated EPD Community & Support, which offers resources specific to engineering, advising, technical support, and other services. The faculty are experts in the field of polymer science, and the curriculum is constructed by an institution that is “internationally recognized for its research and teaching in polymer engineering and science.”

Admissions website

The idea for a university was present before the territory became a state, and when Wisconsin became the 30^th state in 1848, the University of Wisconsin was established. Classes began the next year in Madison, Wisconsin, and seventeen students were in attendance—the main campus now covers nearly 1,000 acres. Known as University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW-Madison) since 1971, UW-Madison is the oldest in the state, the flagship in the University of Wisconsin System, and the official state university of Wisconsin. Nearly 44,000 students are currently enrolled in this land- and sea-grant institution of higher education, and over 400 academic degree programs are offered through the 20 schools and college. A Public Ivy university, UW-Madison is a doctoral research institution with the highest research activity as classified by the Carnegie Foundation. One of the founding members of the Association of American Universities, UW-Madison is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

#28. University of New Mexico

Online Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering with a concentration in Space Systems Engineering

Program Details: One of the first of its kind, the UNM Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (MSME) degree program with a concentration in Space Systems Engineering “was developed with input from the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Space Vehicles Directorate.” The 34-credit hour, coursework only MSME program is offered entirely online through UNM’s Mechanical Engineering Department in the School of Engineering, which “opened in 1906 with a faculty of two and a single classroom” and has grown to be a leader in engineering innovation. The courses are taught by the “nationally recognized faculty” who meet the Quality Matters (QM) standards of online education excellence, and cover topics such as “Orbital Mechanics,” “Numerical Methods in Mechanical Engineering,” and “Introduction to Space Situational Awareness.” Student services are extensive, including Enrollment Coaching and Online Student Support, and student testimonials are provided to speak to the positive experiences and high-quality academics imparted through UNM Online.

Admissions website

Founded in 1889, before New Mexico was officially a state, the University of New Mexico (UNM) was voted into existence by the Legislative Assembly of the Territory of New Mexico. The school would be a state university once New Mexico joined the union, and classes began on the Albuquerque, New Mexico campus within a few years. Buildings were constructed utilizing a Pueblo Revival style of architecture, and campus now covers 600 acres. Proudly designated as a Hispanic-Serving Institution, UNM enrolls nearly 35,000 students across the main campus, branch campuses, and education extension centers. A public research university with the highest research activity classification from the Carnegie Foundation, UNM is the flagship institution of the state, and twelve schools and colleges provide over 200 academic degree programs. With a mission to share “resources and strategies that encourage students to reach ambitious academic goals and exceed their own expectations,” UNM is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

#29. University of Cincinnati

Online Master of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering

Program Details: The Master of Engineering (MEng) in Mechanical Engineering online degree at the University of Cincinnati’s College of Engineering and Applied Science is an accelerated program that can be completed in just eighteen months. Six start dates are offered for this 30-credit hour, non-thesis program, and the curriculum is constructed of courses such as “Effectiveness in Technical Organizations,” “Intelligent Systems Theory,” and “Design for Manufacturability and Assembly,” and all students complete the degree with the Master of Engineering Capstone Project. Based in the Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering (MME), the degree offers an “industry-focused and practice-oriented approach” and has a long history at UC—the original College of Engineering was established when the school was founded in 1870. The mechanical engineering faculty are well-regarded and knowledgeable (one professor literally wrote the book on engineering education), and graduates of the MEng program testify that the program helped them achieve career opportunities through the skills they gained.

Admissions website

In the early 1800s, two schools were established in Ohio that would lead to the creation of the University of Cincinnati (UC). Cincinnati College and the Medical College of Ohio merged in 1870 to form Cincinnati College (although there had been a plan in the works since 1858 when a wealthy resident of Cincinnati, Charles McMicken, bequeathed funds to the city in his will for the establishment of an institution of higher education). Expanding and achieving full university status, UC is a public research institution with multiple campuses throughout Cincinnati, Ohio and almost 45,000 enrolled students. Fourteen schools and colleges offer 350 academic degree programs, and the Carnegie Foundation bestows a classification of highest research activity on UC. One of the largest universities in the nation, UC is a member of the University System of Ohio and a space-grant institution. The Higher Learning Commission provides regional accreditation to UC.

#30. Michigan Technological University

Online Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering

Program Details: Through Michigan Tech Online Learning, the Department of Mechanical Engineering–Engineering Mechanics (ME-EM) provides an online MS in Mechanical Engineering degree program. A 30-credit hour program, the degree provides three options to customize; students choose from a research-based Thesis option, an Independent Study Project Report option, or a Coursework-only option. Multiple courses are delivered online, and additional classes are added with ample student interest (potential classes include “Nanoscale Science and Technology,” “Nonlinear System Analysis & Control,” and “Advanced Engineering Mathematics with Applications”). The extensive ME-EM faculty have a wealth of research and published works between them, and the decades of Michigan Tech mechanical engineering program experience (first offered in the 1920s) is evidenced by the current projects being conducted in the department. Online student resources are provided to mechanical engineering students from the moment they are admitted past graduation, and includes services such as a Multiliteracies Center for current students and Financial Tools and Resources for alumni.

Admissions website

Started as the Michigan Mining School in Houghton, Michigan in 1885, Michigan Technological University (Michigan Tech) was established by the state in order to provide best practices training to mining engineers who oversaw the local copper mines. The first classes were led by four faculty members, and the first student enrollment included 23 students. The school would find a permanent location (the original classroom is now a restaurant and club), and the main campus now encompasses 925 acres. Programs have expanded, and now over 130 academic degree programs are offered through five schools and colleges, and student enrollment has surpassed 7,000. The Carnegie Foundation has declared Michigan Tech promotes higher research activity through its College of Engineering, College of Sciences and Arts, School of Business and Economics, School of Forest Resources and Environmental Science, and School of Technology, and regional accreditation is granted from the Higher Learning Commission.

#31. Villanova University

Online Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering

Program Details: The Villanova University’s Department of Mechanical Engineering (held in high regard ever since it was established in 1908) offers a “modern, relevant and comprehensive” 30-credit hour Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (MSME) degree program online through the College of Engineering E-Learning program. The “highly distinguished and dedicated faculty who are nationally recognized leaders in their disciplines” provide coursework in the established areas of thermal sciences, mechanics and materials, and dynamics and controls, as well as in newer fields such as bioengineering and nanotechnology. Additionally, the College of Engineering presents five mechanical engineering graduate certificates via E-Learning for students who do not desire a full master’s degree. The certificates all require four or five courses for completion, and options include: Mechanics and Material, Machinery Dynamics, Modeling and Simulation (with tracks in Dynamics & Systems and Mechanics & Manufacturing), Thermofluid Systems, and Electro-Mechanical Systems.

Admissions website

Named for Saint Thomas of Villanova, Villanova University started out as Augustinian College of Villanova and is located in Villanova, Pennsylvania. The school was established by the Order of Saint Augustine in 1842, making it the oldest Catholic university in the state of Pennsylvania. An all-male school in the beginning (though nuns were allowed to start taking classes in 1918), Villanova became completely coeducational in 1968 and now enrolls nearly 11,000 students, both residentially on the 250-plus acre campus and online. Six schools and colleges provide over 100 academic degree programs, and this private research university, though firmly rooted in the Roman Catholic tradition, “welcomes and respects members of all faiths who seek to nurture a concern for the common good and who share an enthusiasm for the challenge of responsible and productive citizenship in order to build a just and peaceful world.” Regional accreditation comes from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

#32. Lehigh University

Online Master of Mechanical Engineering

Program Details: Offered through the Office of Distance Learning, Lehigh University’s online Master of Mechanical Engineering degree program is housed within the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Mechanics in the P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Sciences. The 30-credit hour program is a non-thesis degree (students who want to pursue the MS in Mechanical Engineering degree must get departmental approval and write a thesis) and benefits from a history that began with the first class requirements when Lehigh was founded in 1866 (the School of Mechanical Engineering was established in 1876). Students can pursue the Master’s degree as a gateway to a PhD program, taking five required core courses (such as “Advanced Fluid Mechanics” and “Heat and Mass Transfer”) or opt not to take the required core courses but construct the degree with their chosen coursework. Award-winning faculty provide the entirely online curriculum, and students’ research projects contributed to a blog serve as testaments to the program.

Admissions website

Lehigh University was founded in 1865 in the Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania. Asa Packer, the man who established the Lehigh Valley Railroad, provided the funding and land to create an institution of higher education that would foster the “intellectual and moral improvement” of the young men in the area. Located on South Mountain in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, the institution’s first classes were a year later, and 39 students were in attendance when the doors first opened. By the 1970s women were allowed full admittance, and now more than 7,000 students are currently enrolled. The university’s four academic colleges (the P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science, the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Business and Economics, and the College of Education) provide nearly 200 academic degree programs, and this private research university is recognized as having higher research activity by the Carnegie Foundation. The Middle States Commission on Higher Education regionally accredits Lehigh.

#33. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Online Master of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering

Program Details: The Department of Mechanical, Aerospace and Nuclear Engineering (MANE) in the RPI School of Engineering (one of the first schools of engineering, established in 1824) provides a Master of Engineering (M.Eng.) in Mechanical Engineering degree program in a blended online format. The “Education for Working Professionals” program requires 30-credit hours and provides four topical research areas (Mechanics and Materials, Thermal and Fluids Engineering, Design and Manufacturing, and Dynamics and Control). The curriculum provides coursework such as “Advanced Engineering Mathematics,” “Introduction to Finite Elements,” and “Analysis of Manufacturing Processes.” Classes are presented by Rensselaer’s “outstanding and highly-ranked engineering faculty,” and all students complete the degree with a Professional Project.  Student resources that are tailored to the graduate mechanical engineering student are made available from the beginning of the educational journey, and even before admittance  online information sessions and webinars are provided for prospective students to learn more about the program and the blended online delivery.

Admissions website

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) was founded in 1824 in Troy, New York as the Rensselaer School by Stephen Van Rensselaer, and the school attracted students from other states due to its academic rigor and affordable price ($40 per semester). Incorporated by the state of New York in 1826 and renamed the Rensselaer Institute in 1834, the school awarded the very first civil engineering degree in the United States the following year. In 1861 the institute was renamed a final time, and RPI now enrolls over 7,500 students in five schools: the School of Architecture, the School of Engineering, the School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences, the Lally School of Management & Technology, and the School of Science. More than 145 degree programs are provided by this historic private research institution with higher research activity classification from the Carnegie Foundation. Also a space-grant school, Rensselaer is regionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

#34. Mississippi State University

Online Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering

Program Details: Mechanical Engineering has a long history at MSU—the institution having begun as an A&M college in 1878 and the College of Engineering being established in 1902. The Mechanical Engineering (ME) Department, the largest academic department at the Bagley College of Engineering at MSU, provides an online Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering degree with both a thesis and a non-thesis option. Requiring 31-credit hours for both options, the degree allows students to construct a program of study with advisor guidance. Coursework options are diverse, providing class options such as “Mechanical Metallurgy,” “Energy Systems Design,” “Introduction to Vibrations and Controls,” and “Finite Elements in Mechanical Engineering.” The award-winning faculty provides the same rigorous studies both on-campus and online, and easily accessible resources, services, current student stories and program information assures that the online academic experience is rewarding for online ME graduate students.

Admissions website

Founded as the Agricultural and Mechanical College of the State of Mississippi in 1878, Mississippi State University (MSU) welcomed the first students to class in 1880. Main campus was located in and near Starkville, Mississippi, and main campus is still in this area of Oktibbeha County that remains unincorporated. It is a public land-, space-, and sea-grant institution with higher research activity (as Classified by the Carnegie Foundation), and is the flagship university of the state. Since 1958 the official name has been Mississippi State University for Agriculture and Applied Science, but it is mostly known as simply “Mississippi State University.” Over 21,000 students are enrolled in the main campus alone (there are additional campus locations in Meridian, Biloxi and Vicksburg), making it the largest university in the state per enrollment, and over 175 academic degree programs are provided through twelve colleges and schools. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges provides regional accreditation.

#35. Old Dominion University

Online Master of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering

Program Details: Utilizing a Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) focus, ODU provides “an integrated, information-driven” approach in the fully online Master of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering degree program with an emphasis in Design and Manufacturing. The 30-credit hour program is housed within the Department of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering in the Frank Batten College of Engineering & Technology (the College was established in 1962, but as part of the history of ODU, engineering classes were offered since 1931 as a collaboration between Virginia Tech and William & Mary). Coursework for this non-thesis program includes the student’s choice of twelve hours of core requirements, with class options such as “Engineering Mathematics,” “Fluid Dynamics and Aerodynamics,” and “Advanced Mechanics of Solids.” The experienced faculty enhance the curriculum with their expertise and research area interests, and students are provided with “a dedicated advisor from the Batten College of Engineering & Technology” as well as online student resources.

Admissions website

Old Dominion University (ODU), founded in Norfolk, Virginia as an extension known as the Norfolk Division of The College of William and Mary in 1930, has been a full, independent institution since 1962 (university status was achieved in 1969). This public doctoral research university is recognized as having higher research activity by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. Six colleges (College of Arts and Letters, Strome College of Business, Darden College of Education, Batten College of Engineering and Technology, College of Health Sciences, and College of Sciences) provide over 200 academic degree programs to 25,000 currently enrolled students. Old Dominion is also a space- and sea-grant institution and is very active in offering online degree programs. The vision of Old Dominion is to utilize the school’s “exceptional strengths and leadership . . .  to provide practical solutions to complex, real world problems,” and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

#36. University of Central Florida

Online Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering

Program Details: The online Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (MSME) degree program offered through UCF Online is housed within the Department of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering in the innovative  College of Engineering and Computer Science (approved as one of the four original academic colleges by the State University System of Florida’s Board of Regents in 1966, two years before UCF opened in 1968). The 30-credit hour degree program provides three tracks from which students can choose: Mechanical Engineering (MSME) – Mechanical Systems, Mechanical Engineering (MSME) – Thermofluids, and an accelerated Bachelor of Science to Master of Science program for undergraduates. All tracks provide a thesis or non-thesis option, and can be completed entirely online, and the experience is enriched by partnerships with major technology -focused organizations, “including NASA, Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Siemens and Walt Disney World.” The faculty are innovators in their own right, and online students are fully supported.

Admissions website

In 1962, President Kennedy gave a moving speech on space travel (“We choose to go to the Moon”). This speech was part of the impetus in the creation of the University of Central Florida (UCF), which was founded in 1963 in Orlando, Florida. The name of the school was Florida Technological University until it became UCF in 1978, and originally the academics focused primarily on space and technology. The school was intentionally diverse, admitting coeducational students and students of color from the inception, and almost 2,000 students enrolled the first year. Now, over 66,000 students make UCF the largest school in Florida and the second largest in the nation. More than 200 academic degree programs are provided through the thirteen colleges on the 1,400-plus acre campus, and there are several regional campus locations and many online programs available. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges grants UCF with regional accreditation, and the Carnegie Foundation classifies it as having highest research activity.

#37. University of Idaho

Online Master of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering

Program Details: Provided online through Engineering Outreach, the Master of Engineering (M. Engr.) in Mechanical Engineering degree program at U of I is a 30-credit hour program within the Department of Mechanical Engineering. The ME department is located in the century-and-a-quarter old College of Engineering, and the coursework fulfills the original vision of this prestigious land-grant school—a focus on the mechanical arts. The online class offerings are plentiful (with choices such as “Engineering Acoustics,” “Computational Fluid Dynamics,” and “Finite Element Applications in Engineering,” just to name a few), and the faculty members have a long history of experience and cover many research areas. Student success is important at U of I—the College of Engineering Student Services office provides many resources and support services to engineering students, and a page dedicated to all manner of engineering news relevant to the school is available for all to access.

Admissions website

The University of Idaho (UI or U of I) was founded in 1889, one year before Idaho joined the union as the 43^rd state. A public university and the flagship of the state, UI was located in Moscow, Idaho, and classes began in 1892 for 40 coeducational students. Also the oldest institution of higher education in the state of Idaho, UI is designated as a land- and space-grant university with a higher research activity classification from the Carnegie Foundation. Main campus in Moscow is almost 1,600 acres, and branch campuses are located across the state. UI is organized into ten schools, and nearly 200 academic degree programs are currently offered to the more than 11,000 enrolled students. The mission of UI is to “enhance the scientific, economic, social, legal and cultural assets of our state and to develop solutions for complex problems facing our society,” and regional accreditation comes from the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.

#38. University of California, Riverside

Online Master of Science in Engineering with a specialization in Mechanical Engineering

Program Details: The UCR online MS in Engineering with a specialization in Mechanical Engineering is offered entirely online through the Bourns College of Engineering. This convenient, flexible program is located within the relatively young but highly regarded Department of Mechanical Engineering and can be completed in as few as thirteen months. The faculty members and professors are “thought leaders and industry experts” who care about their students and offer the same rigorous coursework online as they do on-campus. The 36-credit hour curriculum includes sixteen credits of an engineering core and sixteen credits towards the mechanical engineering specialization, with classes such as “Technology Innovation and Strategy for Engineers,” “Plasma-aided Manufacturing and Materials Processing,” and “Design and Analysis of Engineering Experiments,” and four one-credit Capstone courses. The current students and graduates of the program give it high praises, and prospective students can be assured that available student support specialists “are dedicated to helping students successfully navigate their educational journey.”

Admissions website

The University of California, Riverside (UC Riverside or UCR) was founded in 1954 but traces its roots to the University of California Citrus Experiment Station (CES), which was established in 1907. The Station moved to a larger location, and by the 1940s a push for a college in the area led to UC Riverside. Opening with 127 students, UCR quickly grew, and this public research university (one of the ten campuses in the University of California system), currently enrolls over 23,000 students. The nearly 1,200-acre campus houses three colleges and four schools, which offer over 180 academic degree programs. A land-grant school, diversity is proudly embraced at UC Riverside—the mission is to “transform the lives of the diverse people of California, the nation, and the world.” The Carnegie Foundation designates the school with a highest research activity classification, and regional accreditation comes from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

#39. Kansas State University

Online Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering

Program Details: Through the Kansas State University Global Campus and the College of Engineering’s Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering (officially established in 1922, but classes in “mechanic arts” were offered as early as the foundation of K-State), students can pursue an online Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering degree. Requiring 30-credit hours, the degree program curriculum is made up of classes such as “Indoor Environmental Engineering,” “Thermodynamics of Modern Power Cycles,” and “Finite Element Applications in Mechanical Engineering.” All coursework is available online; the only on-campus requirement is the final oral exam at the end of the program. Ideal for individuals who have an undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering (or closely related field), the curriculum is taught by faculty members who have won teaching awards and published many books, chapters, papers, and articles collectively. Online students are fully supported with services and resources—K-State Global Campus has been providing distance education since 1966.

Admissions website

Though officially established in 1863 as the Kansas State Agricultural College, Kansas State University (Kansas State or K-State) began when the Bluemont Central College was founded in 1858; that school was converted into the land-grant state university. Kansas had entered the union in 1861, and the school located in Manhattan, Kansas benefited from the Morrill Act of 1862. Only the second institution of higher education in the nation that admitted coeducational students without any stipulation, Kansas State had 26 male and 26 female students enrolled in the first year. Renamed Kansas State University of Agriculture and Applied Science in 1959, the school is known as Kansas State University in most settings. One of the 115 universities with the Carnegie Foundation classification of highest research activity, Kansas State is organized into nine colleges and has two branch campuses in Salina and Olathe. Nearly 25,000 students are now enrolled at K-State, and regional accreditation comes from the Higher Learning Commission.

#40. University of Michigan-Dearborn

Online Master of Science in Engineering in Mechanical Engineering

Program Details: The College of Engineering and Computer Science Distance Learning Network at UM-Dearborn provides an online Master of Science in Engineering in Mechanical Engineering (MSE-ME) degree program that “combines engineering practice with analysis.” A 30-credit hour program that can be completed entirely online, the MSE-ME presents two emphasis areas in which students can choose to focus: Mechanical Science or Thermal/Fluid Science. Located in the Department of Mechanical Engineering (and one of the first degree programs offered by the school when it was established in 1959), the degree program is continuously improved upon with up-to-the-minute input from the Mechanical Engineering Advisory Board, which is made up of “industry professionals who provide input . . .  and a perspective on future challenges requiring collaboration.” Coursework such as “Mechanical Behavior of Materials” and “Statistical Thermodynamics” are provided by the impressive faculty, and students can opt to complete the degree with a thesis and independent study.

Admissions website

Dearborn, a city in Michigan, benefited from being in the larger metropolitan of Detroit when the Ford Motor Company donated six million dollars and 200 acres to the city to finance a public university. An act that was both altruistic and practical, Ford Motor Company was providing funding to create a highly-educated and capable pool of engineers from which they could recruit. The school was founded in 1956, and the University of Michigan–Dearborn (UM–Dearborn) is one of two regional campuses for the flagship University of Michigan, which is located in Ann Arbor. UM-Dearborn opened its doors for the first classes in 1959, and 34 students were enrolled. Only offering degrees in Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Business Administration at that time, the school has grown to provide over 100 academic degree programs through four colleges. Over 10,000 students are now enrolled, and the Higher Learning Commission provides regional accreditation.

#41. Southern Methodist University

Online Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering

Program Details: The Mechanical Engineering Department at SMU’s Bobby B. Lyle School of Engineering provides a 30-credit hour MS in Mechanical Engineering degree online through the Lyle Distance Education Program. The program is at the forefront of distance education (the Lyle School of Engineering having provided “50 years of proven . . . engineering education-at-a-distance” since first offering it in 1967), and students can opt for a thesis or non-thesis track and from three concentration areas (Design and Dynamic Systems and Controls, Mechanics and Manufacturing, or Thermal and Fluid Sciences). The “exceptionally qualified faculty members are continuously engaged in cutting-edge research projects” and pass their knowledge and the benefits of their experience on to the students. Engineering services are provided to students, and a specific Distance Education Help Desk is a resource for distance students. As an additional benefit to students, the Lyle School Executive Board furnishes guidance to the school and a liaison to industry.

Admissions website

Chartered in 1911 and affiliated with the United Methodist Church, Southern Methodist University (SMU) welcomed students for the first time in 1915 in the first building constructed on the campus located in Dallas, Texas: Davis Hall. Three campuses now make up the university and cover nearly 625-acres collectively: the main campus in Highland Park/University Park (Dallas), a campus in Taos, New Mexico, and another Texas campus in Plano. Seven academic school comprise SMU and serve almost 12,000 students with more than 260 academic degree programs. Even though the school has a strong tie to the United Methodist church, it is a private research university that is “nonsectarian in its teaching and committed to academic freedom and open inquiry” and has a higher research activity classification from the Carnegie Foundation. The university’s regional accreditation is provided by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

#42. Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Online Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering

Program Details: Only the third private college established in the U.S. dedicated to science and technology, WPI’s online MS in Mechanical Engineering degree has roots in the first classes offered at the school when it opened in 1868 (making WPI one of the first schools in the nation to offer mechanical engineering coursework). The 30-credit hour program is available entirely online through the ABET-accredited Mechanical Engineering department, and students can choose from five specialization areas to customize the degree. The research-intensive faculty provides coursework such as “Applied Numerical Methods In Engineering” and “Fundamentals In Surface Metrology,” and online student support is provided through interactions with Student Support Team members. Also offered entirely online by WPI, the Mechanical Engineering for Technical Leaders (METL) graduate certificate is an eighteen-credit program that provides students with “a combination of the technical skills that create innovation solutions, and the managerial skills that bring these solutions to bear.”

Admissions website

The rich history of the engineering and technology that Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) has produced first began when the school was established in Worcester, Massachusetts in 1865 (classes would begin three years later). The Worcester County Free Institute of Industrial Science, as it was known then, had two key financial founders: John Boynton and Ichabod Washburn. Both men had different ideas about the school, but their vision helped create a private research institution that now houses fourteen academic departments offering over 50 degree programs to the nearly 5,000 currently enrolled students. WPI has the vision “to create, to discover, and to convey knowledge at the frontiers of academic inquiry for the betterment of society” and is classified as having higher research activity by the Carnegie Foundation. Over 225 student organizations are offered by WPI, and regional accreditation is provided by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.

#43. University of Houston

Online Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering

Program Details: The Department of Mechanical Engineering (ME) in the UH Cullen College of Engineering offers an online Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering degree program through Online & Special Programs (OSP). The same 30-credit hour degree program as on-campus, but conveniently offered online and with no time limit to complete the degree, the same innovative faculty members provide the coursework, with classes such as “Functional Engineering Materials and Applications,” “Intelligent Structural Systems,” and “Control System Analysis and Design” presented online. The list of specific engineering online student resources includes services, technological assistance with the online delivery system, a FAQ page, and a sample course for prospective students to view. A young university when viewed through historical lenses, UH’s College of Engineering, though established in 1941, has quickly jumped to national recognition and has nearly 20,000 alumni to speak to the quality of the school.

Admissions website

The University of Houston began simply as evening classes offered at the local high school in 1927. Known as the Houston Junior College at that time, the institution quickly grew to become University of Houston (UH) in 1934. That first year, almost 700 students were enrolled, and by 1939 the school had moved from the high school and found its permanent location. Becoming a state university in 1963, UH became a member of the University of Houston System in 1977. Organized into fourteen schools and colleges, this public research institution offers over 250 academic degree programs to over 45,000 currently enrolled students. The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching has awarded UH the classification of highest research activity, and UH is also the flagship institution of the UH System and the third largest university in the state of Texas. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges provides regional accreditation.

#44. University of Washington

Online Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering

Program Details: The UW Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (MSME) degree program can be pursued entirely online on a full- or part-time basis. Designed for current mechanical engineer professionals with a strong undergraduate background in mechanical engineering or similar field, the 42-credit hour program can be pursued by others (such as physics majors) if they complete the undergraduate work required of MSME students. Located in the Department of Mechanical Engineering (ME) in the College of Engineering (which was established in 1901), the UW MSME is one of the largest in the nation and offers six concentration options (such as Dynamics & Vibrations or Mechanics, Materials & Manufacturing). In addition to the mechanical engineering resources and student services provided, the ME faculty members have many honors and a wealth of experience and expertise in the field. Prospective students can read the stories of current ME students and alums to visualize the experience of the program.

Admissions website

One of the goals of establishing the University of Washington was to help the city of Seattle prosper and grow. When it was founded in 1861, Washington was still a territory, and the institution was named the Territorial University of Washington. By 1889 (the year Washington entered the union) the school and the city began to thrive, and the school outgrew its original location and moved to the current main campus in 1895. Sixteen schools and colleges comprise the University of Washington (UW), and the institution of higher education is classified by the Carnegie Foundation as having highest research activity. A public university, UW is also a land-, space-, and sea-grant institution and the flagship of the six public universities in the state. A member of the Association of American Universities, UW enrolls almost 47,000 students currently. UW is regionally accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.

#45. New Mexico Tech

Online Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering

Program Details: New Mexico Tech’s Department of Mechanical Engineering presents a MS in Mechanical Engineering degree that students can access entirely online through the Center for Graduate Studies via distance education. The program requires 30 credit hours to graduate and provides four specialization areas: Specialization in Explosives Engineering, Specialization in Fluid and Thermal Sciences, Specialization in Mechatronics Systems Engineering, and Specialization in Solid Mechanics. Students participate in twelve-credit hours of their specialization core and complete the degree with electives and either a Thesis or Independent Study course. Although Mechanical Engineering is the newest academic department at NMT, it is the largest in terms of enrollment and enjoys a strong reputation. The faculty are actively involved in cutting-edge research, and since classes are offered in real-time through the Adobe Connect platform, online students are immersed in the class discussion as if they were present in the classroom.

Admissions website

Established as the New Mexico School of Mines in 1889 by the New Mexico Territorial Legislature, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology (known most commonly as New Mexico Tech) is a public university in the Rio Grande valley. Growing out of a desire to boast the economy of one of the mining town Socorro, the first classes began in 1893 for the two instructors and seven students. As the school grew and added more programs (the original classes were in chemistry and metallurgy), the name was change to reflect that growth in 1951. Now New Mexico Tech educates over 2,000 students and offers nearly 50 academic degree programs. Known for engineering, science, and technology, New Mexico Tech houses over a dozen research divisions, such as the Bureau of Geology & Mineral Resources, the Magdalena Ridge Observatory, and the Energetic Materials Research & Testing Center. New Mexico Tech is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission

#46. Clarkson University

Online Master of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering

Program Details: Through Distance Learning at Clarkson University, students can pursue both a ME degree and MS degree in Mechanical Engineering. Both degrees are 30-credit hours—the ME is a professional degree requiring a final project, and the MS is research-based with a thesis requirement. Located within the Department of Mechanical & Aeronautical Engineering (the largest department at CU) in the Wallace H. Coulter School of Engineering and provided online through the Graduate School, the programs both have a selection of courses from which students can choose in order to customize their degree (some of the courses offered online include “Particle Transport,” “Advanced Modeling & Simulation of Dynamic Systems,” and “Additive Manufacturing”). Technology has been an important component of CU since its founding in 1896, and students are well supported with resources that continue even beyond graduation—such as a Career Center available to online students and alumni.

Admissions website

Clarkson University was established as the Thomas S. Clarkson Memorial School of Technology in 1896. Located in Potsdam, New York, the school was founded by the family of local businessman Thomas Clarkson, who had died heroically saving the life of one of the workers in his sandstone quarry. Seventeen coeducational students were enrolled the first year, and now over 4,300 students are enrolled in more than 95 academic degree programs in one of four schools (The Clarkson School, the Graduate School, the School of Arts & Sciences, the David D. Reh School of Business, and the Wallace H. Coulter School of Engineering) or three institutes (the Institute for a Sustainable Environment, the Institute for STEM Education, and the Beacon Institute for Rivers and Estuaries). A private research university with moderate research activity (as determined by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching), Clarkson is regionally accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.

#47. Kennesaw State University

Online Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering

Program Details: With a history that predates the university’s founding, the KSU Southern Polytechnic College of Engineering and Engineering Technology (created as The Technical Institute in 1948 and as established as an academic college of KSU in 2015) provides an entirely online Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (MSME) degree program ideal for working professionals. The 30-credit hour program is offered through the Department of Mechanical Engineering and requires eight core courses such as “Advanced Dynamics and Vibrations” and “Applied Engineering Design.” Two electives are chosen by the student from diverse classes such as “Project Management Processes,” “Introduction to Systems Engineering,” and “Total Quality,” and students have the option to complete a Master’s Project for credit. The curriculum is provided for online programs by “the same exceptional faculty that teach on-campus courses,” and these KSU professors have been recognized nationally for excellence in their online training. A comprehensive collection of Student Support Resources are also available to all online MSME students.

Admissions website

Kennesaw State University (KSU) was established as Kennesaw Junior College in 1964, and over 1,000 students were in attendance in its first year. Located in Cobb County, Georgia, KSU has two campus locations: Kennesaw and Marietta. Together the campuses are nearly 600 acres, and now more than 35,000 students are enrolled. The public research university is organized into thirteen colleges, and more than 150 academic degree programs are provided. Part of the University System of Georgia, KSU is the third largest institution of higher education in the state. Merging with the Southern Polytechnic State University in 2015, KSU is classified as having moderate research activity by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. A vision of imparting an experience that will empower “the university community to have the vision, ability, and courage to transform the future,” KSU is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

#48. Virginia Commonwealth University

Online Master of Science in Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering

Program Details: Virginia Commonwealth University provides an entirely online MS in Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering degree program through Online@VCU. A 30-credit hour program with a mission “to provide graduate students with learning opportunities for acquiring a broad foundation of engineering knowledge including business and manufacturing aspects,” the degree is housed within the Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering in the College of Engineering. Both a thesis and a non-thesis option are available, and the same nine credits of core courses are required for each (“Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering Analysis,” “Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering Continuum Mechanics,” and “Topics in Nuclear Engineering”). The remaining credits are comprised of electives, chosen with adviser guidance, from a variety of subject areas, and in the case of the thesis option, six credits of Directed Research in Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering. The faculty have an impressive collection of media appearances and publications along with their research, and online students have access to resources and services.

Admissions website

Founded as the Medical College of Virginia (MCV), a medical department of the Hampden-Sydney College, Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) has grown to become a comprehensive public research university. Established in 1838 in Richmond, Virginia the school obtained its own charter in 1844 to become the independent MCV. In 1968, the Medical College of Virginia merged with the Richmond Professional Institute, and now more than 31,000 students are currently enrolled. The VCU main campus encompasses almost 175 acres in downtown Richmond, and there are branch and satellite locations throughout the state and overseas. The Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education designates VCU with the highest research activity level, and over 200 academic degree programs are provided through the fourteen schools and colleges of this institution of higher education. Regional accreditation for VCU is provided by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

#49. Indiana State University

Online Master of Science in Technology Management with a concentration in Mechanical Engineering Technology

Program Details: The College of Graduate and Professional Studies at Indiana State University provides an online Master of Science in Technology Management (MSTM) degree with a concentration in Mechanical Engineering Technology. A 33-credit hour program that can be completed in two years (but allows students up to seven years) and “provides a strong graduate education by integrating teaching with applied research in an engaging, challenging and supportive learning environment to prepare leaders.” The Technology Management Core includes fifteen-credits of coursework such as “Systems in Manufacturing” and “Economic Analysis for Engineering and Technology,” and the Mechanical Engineering Technology concentration offers nine credits towards “Engineering Design and Management,” “Application of Simulation Modeling and Analysis,” and “Computer Aided Graphics Software.” Electives and either a Major Project or Master’s Thesis culminate the program. This unique degree is offered through the College of Technology and located in the Department of Applied Engineering and Technology Management.

Admissions website

Established as the Indiana State Normal School by the Indiana General Assembly in 1865, Indiana State University was originally a school to train teachers for the area. Located in Terre Haute, Indiana, the institution of higher education opened its doors in 1870 for the first classes, and 23 students were enrolled. Going through several expansions and name changes, the school became Indiana State University in 1965. Organized into seven colleges, Indiana State is a doctoral research university with a moderate research activity level designation from the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. Providing almost 200 academic degree programs to the more than 13,500 currently enrolled students, Indiana State has a mission to “integrate teaching, research, and creative activity in an engaging, challenging, and supportive learning environment to prepare productive citizens for Indiana and the world.” Regional accreditation has been provided by the Higher Learning Commission since 1915.

#50. Boston University

Online Master of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering

Program Details: The BU Master of Engineering (MEng) in Mechanical Engineering degree program is offered online through the Mechanical Engineering Department in the College of Engineering (which was founded in 1950). A 32-credit hour professional degree ideal for recent graduates, professionals who are at a mid-point in their career, and industry workers who want to expand their engineering and management knowledge. Classes are varied and cover topics like “Probability and Statistics for Mechanical Engineers,” “Atmospheric Flight Mechanics and Control,” and “Dynamics and Control of Mechanical Systems,” and all students culminate the degree by fulfilling a Practicum Requirement (in which students should be prepared to devote more than 50 hours to successfully complete). Seven research areas provide opportunities for students, and the award-winning faculty are available to offer their expertise and guidance. The College of Engineering houses a Graduate Programs Office to provide an orientation for new students, as well as other resources.

Admissions website

Boston University can claim a rich history of predecessors. The earliest school that contributed to the creation of Boston University was the Newbury Bible Institute, which was founded in 1839. The school was established in Newbury, Vermont by delegates of the United Methodist Church from Boston, and would be given a new charter in 1867 to move to Massachusetts and become the Boston Theological Institute. A newly-established Boston University merged with the institution in 1871 to become closer to the Boston University of today, and by the end of the 19^th century all locations of the school came together on the campus on the banks of the Charles River. Now organized into seventeen schools and colleges, Boston University (BU) enrolls over 33,000 students currently, and this private nonsectarian research university is classified with the highest research activity by the Carnegie Foundation. The New England Association of Schools and Colleges regionally accredits BU.

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“Public health” can be a somewhat misunderstood profession. But the online Master of Public Health (MPH) degree is one of the most popular online master’s degrees available.

Even working professionals in public health can sometimes find it difficult to describe what exactly public health is and is not.

Often it is only when public disasters or disease outbreaks strike that society is reminded again that there is this system called public health. Public health is not treating a disease, it is working to prevent the disease in the first place.

Public health does not manage large-scale health crises. Instead, it looks at populations to promote education and better procedures to avoid a future crisis. Public health is a network of healthcare professionals who are engaged in a process of preventing disease and harm. They work hard to present information to help the public disengage from harmful practices.

There are countless MPH best programs to consider. Yes, even beyond what we’ve included on this list! The long list includes:

• Liberty University online MPH 
• Loyola University
• Florida International University
• Mercer University
• Drexel University
• University of California Los Angeles
• University of Iowa Des Moines

So how do you choose the best MPH program to start public health careers?

Before selecting a college or university, it is important to look into the following factors:

• Required course load and necessary prerequisite courses
• Accreditation
• Graduation rates
• Full time availability of instructors and classes
• State tuition costs
• Degree options and specializations offered

A hybrid format may also be available for some dedicated students interested in combining virtual education with on-site elements such as lab work and internships. Taking the time to research each of these components will help potential students make an informed decision about their academic future.

The length of time it takes to finish a public health degree varies based on an individual’s educational goals and program requirements. Many accelerated programs can be completed in as little as 12 months.

However, these accelerated MPH options are designed for motivated individuals with prior healthcare or public health experience.

For those without such background, the most common program length is around 18 months to two years. It is important to keep in mind that accelerated programs can still require more intensive study. They are presented in compressed formats with accelerated MPH coursework to help you meet your educational goals.

There are even some 4-year programs that focus more on research opportunities. That’s while balancing rigorous academic course work to give students access to both educational and practicum experiences.

You’ll also need to consider whether you plan to study on a part time or full time basis.

What to Look for in MPH Best Programs

When looking at the top MPH programs, ask yourself the following questions:

• What are the graduation rates?
• How does the school support current and incoming students?
• Will I be able to have a flexible schedule?
• Is this an affordable option, with financial aid available?
• How rigorous are the admissions requirements and will I need to submit GRE scores?
• Does the school offer on campus visits to give me an idea of whether
• Do I need full time work experience?
• How many years to complete this degree?
• Can I complete classes on a part time basis?
• Is this a terminal degree?
• Will I be able to complete a practicum experience or internship experience?
• What kinds of concentration areas are available?
• Are there resources for online learning?

These questions might not be important for all MPH students to answer. Some degree programs will check off some boxes for you but not all. Try to find the public health program that will meet most of your goals but be sure to research all options with detail.

Admissions Requirements for a Public Health Degree Program

There are certain admissions requirements that must be met. Applicants must submit:

• Two letters of recommendation (sometimes it’s three letters) in support of their application, often from prior employers or professors
• A bachelor’s degree with at least three years of relevant experience in the industry
• A personal statement detailing your interest in public health and health sciences
• A GRE score that meets the program’s stated criteria

It is important to take these considerations into account before starting the admissions process. Some schools have high standards and this will  increase the chances of enrollment success.

Students enrolled in a public health degree program will learn a variety of skills and develop an appreciation for a holistic approach to healthcare.

You’ll take essential classes such as epidemiology and biostatistics. Plus, students are also exposed to elective courses which vary depending on the school they attend.

Some students explore further topics such as health promotion and communication or even leadership skills.

Common courses and public health specializations will allow you to gain a competitive edge. The average MPH curriculum includes practical experience and asynchronous coursework in topics like:

• Data analytics and educational technology
• Global disaster management
• Maternal and child health
• Nutrition and dietetics
• Public health informatics
• Social and behavioral aspects that affect public health
• Public health law and health policies
• Health administration
• Public health challenges in community organization
• Spatial data science
• Environmental factors in human health and wellness
• Infection control and infectious diseases
• Community health sciences/community health education

Many schools require students to complete a public health practicum as well. Some programs require a public health internship in local communities, too. Others require a culminating capstone project for applied practice experience.

They provide students with professional networking opportunities that are vital for building professional relationships and communication skills.

Ultimately, a public health degree program provides students with both theoretical knowledge and practical skills. These can be applied to the chosen field for career advancement. You may be eligible for federal financial aid or scholarship.

What Kinds of Jobs Can I Get With a Public Health Degree?

A Public Health degree provides the perfect stepping stone for working professionals to work in government agencies, community organizations, and the healthcare industry in general.

With government agencies, public health majors have a wide range of career opportunities. You could help carry out health screenings or aid programs that provide medical care for those in need.

Community organizations also rely on individuals with a Public Health background for research and analysis of health trends. You could also work on developing initiatives aimed at improving public well-being.

Healthcare administration is an excellent field for individuals with a degree in Public Health; these professionals are often renowned for their ability to effectively manage personnel and resources.

After earning an online master of public health, you could also work in the following fields and career paths in the healthcare field:

• Social workers
• Health policy
• Community health promotion
• Public health workers
• Epidemiologists
• Health data analyst
• Health Services administration
• Environmental health science

As you can see, the best online MPH programs are those that are interdisciplinary and flexible. This is a generalist degree that can prepare you for all kinds of career goals, including preparation for later doctoral degrees if desired.

Top 10 Public Health Programs

1. University of South Florida
2. University of Nebraska Medical Center
3. University of Illinois at Chicago
4. University of Alabama at Birmingham
5. Tulane University
6. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
7. University of North Texas Health Science Center
8. University of Florida
9. University of Massachusetts Amherst
10. University of South Carolina

Best MPH Programs in the World Methodology

There are countless top MPH programs online with accreditation. But how do you find the right one? From the Liberty University MPH online to the University of Florida MPH, there are no shortage of options.

We focused on several important sources that are available to the public:

• the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH)
• Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB)
• the American Public Health Association (APHA)
• U.S. News and World Report
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• the websites of schools offering online MPH degree programs

We developed a four-point crediting system to rank the top schools, as follows:

• School reputation (25%)
• Affordability (25%)
• Program accreditation (25%)
• Accessibility/flexibility (25%)

Ready to learn more? Keep reading to find out everything you need to know about the 30 best online programs for public health students!

30 Best MPH Online Programs

#30. Benedictine University

Online Master of Public Health

You will find one of the best online MPH programs at Benedictine University.

The comprehensive, 58-credit online MPH program at BenU offers six session start dates a year. The online MPH can be completed in just two years. Students start with 46 credits of foundational coursework. The core curriculum for the online MPH includes:

• Research Methods in Public Health
• Community Health Analysis
• Management of Health Services Organizations

The remaining credits can be used to gain a public health certificate alongside the online MPH. Certificate possibilities include:

• Emergency Preparedness
• Health Management & Policy
• Epidemiology

A thesis paper is not required for graduation from this online master’s degree. However, students must participate in an internship with 240 contact hours.

Support services and resources are also comprehensive. These start even before an application is submitted. Prospective students can go through a step-by-step guide to the admissions process and explore the online delivery system. They will even be assigned a program manager for whatever guidance is desired.

#29. University of Maryland

Master’s in Public Health

The University of Maryland MPH online is another one of the best options.

UMD’s School of Public Health offers a hybrid online Master of Public Health, Public Health Practice and Policy (MPH-PHPP) program. The coursework for this online MPH is 100% online plus six required weekend residencies of on-site instruction.

The online MPH has 42 hours of fifteen mandatory courses. There are both an internship and Capstone Project. Students study topics such as:

• Healthcare Strategic Planning and Evaluation
• Health Law and Ethics

Students move through the online master’s degree as a cohort. They can complete the program in just two years. A web-page maintained by UMD’s Office of Extended Studies is full of resources and guidelines specific to online public health graduate students. This can help both prospective and current students find the services and support they need to be successful in the online MPH degree.

#28. University of Alaska Anchorage

Master’s in Public Health Practice

The online MPH in Public Health Practice through the Department of Health Sciences at UAA’s College of Health is an interdisciplinary, 42-hour online MPH. It has a specific emphasis “on the needs of Alaska and the circumpolar north.”

The foundational coursework is in subjects like:

• Circumpolar Health Issues
• Public Health Emergencies and Disasters

The interdisciplinary electives for this online MPH degree program are all 100% online. Students must come to campus once a year for a face-to-face meeting with faculty and other MPH students. You must also come to campus to defend the final practicum thesis or project. The practicum requirements are dictated by CEPH accreditation. Students should expect to put in 225 hours over the course of two semesters. Students in the program often graduate within two to four years. This depends on whether they take classes for the master of public health on a full time or part time basis.

#27. San José State University

Online Master’s in Public Health

San Jose State University has an online MPH program format through the International and Extended Studies department. This online MPH is a twenty-four month, cohort-model program. It starts every fall for about twenty-five students.

Classes for this master of public health are delivered in a synchronous and sequential fashion. Students benefit from moving through the program with their cohort. They participate together each week as if in an actual classroom.

The curriculum is based on the CEPH recommendations. The 42-credit master of public health program provides a specialization in community health. It is one of only five in the country. It includes a culminating experience. San Jose State University offers multiple advising resources to current students in the master of public health. 

#26. New Mexico State University

Master’s in Public Health

Next on our list of MPH best programs is New Mexico State University. With an online program that mirrors the on-campus program, the 42-hour online MPH offers students the same quality program. It is delivered in an asynchronous format for their convenience. Core courses in the online MPH cover topics such as:

• Epidemiological Approaches to Disease Control and Prevention
• Community and Psychosocial Aspects of Public Health
• Health Services System: Administration and Organization

There are two concentration options for this mater of public health:

• Community Health
• Health Management, Administration and Policy

A field experience provides students with the opportunity to apply what they have learned and culminates the master of public health program.  

#25. University of West Florida

Master’s in Public Health

The 42-credit online MPH at the University of West Florida’s Department of Public Health provides students an opportunity to explore a multidisciplinary program. This master of public health has the added benefit of customizing it to fit their career goals.

Students at the University of West Florida can opt for a general track. Or they can select the specialization in Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior.

An internship and a comprehensive exam are also required. Several key student services are also made available for online students. These include academic and career advising, and military and disability services.

#24. Johns Hopkins University

Online Master’s in Public Health

Another top MPH is the John Hopkins MPH online.

The part-time online MPH program at the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health has asynchronous, per-recorded lectures. Classes for this master of public health can be completed when convenient for each student.

The 80-credit program requires at least four weeks of on-campus face-to-face classes of the student’s choice. There is a free, non-credit course, Introduction to Online Learning. This is required at the beginning of the master of public health to help future students become acclimated to the online culture at Johns Hopkins University. Students then take the core courses and choose their electives. They are able to customize the master of public health from over 200 offered classes.

The program is rigorous and comprehensive. But as an added benefit all online/part-time students receive the Welch Scholarship to defray the cost of out of state tuition.

#23. Emory University

 Executive Master’s in Public Health

The Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University offers an Executive MPH (EMPH)  program. This is delivered as a hybrid program.

Within this 42-credit program at Emory University there are three tracks from which students can choose:

• Applied Epidemiology
• Applied Public Health Informatics
• Prevention Science

All students start the program in the fall semester. They complete the program in two years. Eleven core courses and a two-credit practicum serves as the foundation for all students regardless of chosen concentration. Classes for this best online master of public health include:

• Social Behavior in Public Health
• Public Health Advocacy

This program is for working health professionals with at least three years of professional experience. 

#22. Northeastern University

Master’s in Public Health

The MPH in Urban Health degree through NU’s Bouvé College of Health Sciences is a 100% virtual program. This best online master of public health has 42 credits. General education classes cover subjects like:

• Race, Ethnicity, and Health in the United States
• Principles and History of Urban Health
• Society, Behavior, and Health
• Health and Human Rights
• Food, Food Policy, and Health

This will allow you to perceive and explore how public health is affected by issues “ranging from poverty, violence, and substance abuse to immigration, migration, and suburbanization.”

A 200-contact hour practicum is also required for this best online master of public health. However, students can participate in the program full or part-time. They have between two and five years to complete it.

#21. University of California, Berkeley

Master’s in Public Health

The University of California Berkeley online MPH degree at the School of Public Health is a two-year powerhouse of a program. In this best online master of public health, students take six core courses in their first year. They take two core courses plus electives and a practicum in the second year. Faculty teach the same rigorous curriculum as on-campus.

Courses for these best online MPH programs include:

• Introduction to Probability and Statistics in Biology and Public Health
• Global Health Disaster Preparedness and Response

Students take fourteen courses (at least 42-credits) to graduate from these best online MPH programs.

There are several different tracks that students can choose to follow at the University of California Berkeley. The degree is very customizable. Students can follow an interdisciplinary approach. Or they can choose from either the Health Policy and Management (HPM) concentration or Global Health concentration.

#20. California State University, Northridge

Master’s in Public Health

Graduate students will find another one of the best MPH online programs at California State University, Northridge.

The Tseng College of Extended Learning at CSUN provides a fully online MPH: Community Health degree program. This master of public health is offered in conjunction with the College of Health and Human Development.

The best online master of public health program is designed for students with little or no experience. These are candidates who are “seeking to enter or advance in the field” of public health. The master’s presents a curriculum which focuses in the “five core areas of public health and professional preparation (such as biostatistics and epidemiology).” Students move through the 42-credit hour, two-year program as a cohort.

Classes include topics such as:

• Advanced Concepts of Health Behavior
• Curriculum Development in Health Education

A 300-contact hour Practicum is required for graduation. It can be chosen from appropriate placements in the student’s location (with advisor approval).

#19. Kent State University

Master’s in Public Health

The College of Public Health at Kent State offers an online 46-credit MPH online program with two specialization options.

The Health Policy and Management (HPM) specialization is ideal for individuals who want to make a difference on a local or national level through policy change. The Social and Behavioral Sciences (SBS) specialization is a good fit for professionals who desire to “prevent disease, promote health and health equity, and manage chronic illnesses.” This is on an individual and collective-community basis.

Fifteen of the 46 credits are devoted to the specializations. The remaining credits are made up of twenty-five credits of core courses.

The best online MPH programs here include studies in subjects such as:

• Fundamentals of Public Health Epidemiology
• Public Health Administration

There is also a practicum experience.

#18. National University

 Master’s in Public Health Promotion

Through the Community Health department at the School of Health and Human Services, National’s online MPH program offers three specialization options:

• Health Promotion
• Healthcare Administration
• Mental Health

All students take the eight required core courses (36 quarter units).

The best online MPH programs here include classes in:

• Theories of Health Behavior
• Public Health & the Environment

They will then participate in their eight specialization required courses (36 quarter units) to complete the degree. Students may transfer up to thirteen and a half quarter units from another institution.

#17. Northern Illinois University

 Master’s in Public Health

Northern Illinois University is home to one of the best MPH programs online. The online MPH at NIU’s School of Health Studies is through the College of Health and Human Sciences. This online master’s in public health promotes understanding public health from many different points of reference.

Two specializations are offered by the Northern Illinois University online master’s in public health programs:

• Health Promotion
• Health Services Management

Students must take 43-46 credits in order to graduate.

Core coursework for these best online MPH programs include:

• Problems and Issues in Environmental Health
• Principles and Methods of Epidemiology
• Community Health Planning

Both programs develop students into leaders in the field. The Health Promotion specialization prepares students for the Certified Health Education Specialist (C.H.E.S.) exam. Students in the Health Services Management specializationare eligible to participate in the Illinois Nursing Home Administrators Licensing Examination.

#16. East Tennessee State University

Master’s in Public Health

Three MPH concentrations are available completely online at ETSU:

• Community Health
• Epidemiology
• Public Health Administration

All three concentrations require sixteen core courses. These best online MPH programs include classes such as:

• Philosophy of Public Health
• Health Service Administration

The remaining credits in the 43-credit program are made up of concentration courses, electives and a final, six-credit culminating experience. This is known as “Pubic Health Program Field Experience – Community and Behavioral Health.”

The MPH Community Health degree provides the same on-campus quality program in a convenient delivery. Online classes offered in both a synchronous and asynchronous format.

A dedicated online tech support service is available to assist students with any questions or problems they may have with the online process. There are other services and resources to help the online student succeed as well.

#15. University of Memphis

Master’s in Public Health

Five focus areas await the MPH student through U of M Global’s online program:

• Biostatistics
• Epidemiology
• Environmental Health
• Health Systems and Policy
• Social and Behavioral Science

These best online MPH programs are 42-credit programs. The core curriculum covers:

• Environmental Health
• Social and Behavioral Sciences Principles

The focus area choice determines the twelve credit hours of specialization electives. A practicum of 240 contact hours completes the degree.

#14. University of Southern California

Master’s in Public Health

The Department of Preventive Medicine at Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California offers the only medical school-based online MPH program. The medical school’s has a world-class faculty. Students can customize these best online MPH programs with five concentration options:

• Biostatistics and Epidemiology
• Health Education and Promotion
• Global Health Leadership
• GeoHealth
• Health Services and Policy

Each concentration track requires twenty units towards the online degree requirements. Students have three start dates a year at which to begin their online education journey.

#13. George Washington University

Master of Public Health Program

The Milken Institute School of Public Health offers George Washington University’s online MPH  program (called MPH@GW). There are several offered length-options. Students can participate in the MPH@GW program on a part-time basis. Students complete the MPH program in two, three or four years. Or they can opt for one of the two full-time accelerated options and complete the program in twelve months or eighteen months.

The curriculum at George Washington University is the same coursework no matter the pace.

The online master of public health has 45 required credit hours. These are in courses such as:

• Comparative Global Health Systems
• Biological Concepts for Public Health
• Principles and Practice of Epidemiology

Electives can be chosen from a broad range of topics. Or they can be grouped together in a particular focus area. Options include:

• Global Health
• Health Communication
• Health Policy
• Program Planning and Evaluation

A practicum and a culminating experience are both required to complete the program at George Washington University.

#12. Loma Linda University

Online Master of Public Health Program

You will find another one of the best MPH programs in the world at Loma Linda University.

Two online MPH options are offered at Loma Linda’s School of Public Health. The MPH with a concentration in Lifestyle Management is a 56-unit program. This MPH program is for current practitioners who want to further their reach in the arena of public health. It is also ideal for those who wish to advocate for “lifestyle change interventions and promote healthy behaviors for patients with chronic diseases.”

The online master of public health at Loma Linda University also requires 56 units to graduate. It is the only online program of its kind in California. Students in both programs focus on helping provide health instruction to patients and potential patients. This is all with the goal to help prevent and manage disease.

#11. University of Minnesota

Master of Public Health Program

The University of Minnesota’s renowned School of Public Health (SPH) offers an online MPH. This online MPH program has a focus on Maternal & Child Health (MCH).

The curriculum for the online master of public health entails:

• fifteen credits of public health core courses
• at least five credits in subjects like “Global Reproductive Health” and “Maternal and Infant Nutrition”
• fifteen credits of methodology, policy, management, advocacy topics and application work (internship and final paper)

The remaining coursework is comprised of electives. These are to complete the 42-credit hour program (or 48 credits for those students without a prior earned master’s degree).

There is a dedicated Office of E-Learning and Academic Services at the SPH. All elements of distance learning are supported. Students of the online MPH MCH program can be assured that their program will provide them every opportunity to succeed.

#10. University of South Carolina

Master of Public Health Program

The MPH in Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior (HPEB)-Professional Online Program is offered through the Arnold School of Public Health at the University of South Carolina.

This online MPH degree is a 45-unit, interdisciplinary degree. It is ideal for those who are already working as practitioners in the field of public health. It’s also a great option for those who want to make deeper, long-lasting improvements in society.

The online master of public health program requires fifteen credits of a public health core curriculum. It has fifteen credits of a HPEB core. The remaining credits are made up of the HPEB focus courses:

• Race, Ethnicity, and Health: Examining Health Inequalities
• Consumer Health in Contemporary Society
• Applied Health Communication

There is also a practicum seminar and field experience. All classes in this MPH degree are delivered online. The MPH program is offered via an asynchronous delivery for flexibility. Students complete the program in about two years.The master’s degree in public health at the University of South Carolina is one of the best for giving students real world experience.  

#9. University of Massachusetts Amherst

Master of Public Health Program

The University of Massachusetts Amherst’s School of Public Health and Health Sciences offers two online MPH options.

There is the general track MPH in Public Health Practice or the specialized MPH in Nutrition. The MPH degree concentration in Nutrition is the first online degree of its kind. The online master of public health requires 44-credit hours to graduate. Students take core MPH courses. There are nutritional core classes in subjects such as:

• Nutritional Epidemiology
• Nutritional Problems in U.S.

There are three electives, and a 200-contact hour practicum.

The Public Health Practice track requires 42-credit hours with a focus on the core coursework. The online MPH program also has six electives and the same practicum requirement. All classes are delivered in an asynchronous format for flexibility and convenience. Students are allowed to take up to four courses as a non-degree student before being admitted.

This is a benefit for individuals who desire to get a head start on coursework. It’s also great for those who want to test an online course to see if the program is a good fit for them. 

#8. University of Florida

Master of Public Health Program

This online master’s in public health science is designed to emphasize the “development of competence in key public health skills and to meet current standards in the field of public health.” The online MPH is offered through the College of Public Health and Health Professions at UF. It is a 100% online, asynchronous MPH degree.

The public health online master’s requires 48-credit hours to graduate. It allows students to start with core courses in:

• Public Health Management and Policy
• Epidemiology
• Social and Behavioral Sciences

This is all before choosing a concentration in Public Health Practice or Social and Behavioral Sciences

#7. University of North Texas Health Science Center

Master of Public Health Program

The University of North Texas offers two online MPH options for students interested in their MPH program.

There is the 48-credit hour MPH Online degree and the 42-credit hour MPH Online – Professional Option.

Both of these educational opportunities at the University of North Texas take an interdisciplinary approach. But the students in the Professional Option must have already achieved an advanced degree. Or they must be enrolled in another master’s program along with the MPH program.

There are required core courses for both public health online programs. These cover topics such as:

• Environmental Determinants of Health
• Leadership for Public Health

Then students choose twelve credits of electives. For students in the standard online program their electives will fall into one of two tracks: Global Health or Geographic Information Systems.

Students can attend a School of Public Health Admissions Webinar for assistance with their application. Once admitted, all online students can take advantage of all the same student services that are available on-campus. However, these aspiring public health professionals can access the resources from the comfort and convenience of their own homes. 

#6. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Master of Public Health Program

The MPH at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a brand-new online format. It is a version of the same stellar on-campus MPH programs offered at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Gillings School of Global Public Health.

Three different degrees are offered. These online master’s in public health programs are all 100% online. There is a 42-credit hour MPH and the 42-credit hour MPH with Leadership Track. There is also the 51-credit hour Master of Public Health/Registered Dietitian degree in Nutrition (MPH/RD).

All three public health online programs offer online students the same curriculum, faculty and well-known rigorous instruction as their on-campus counterparts. It’s just in an online delivery.

#5. Tulane University

Master of Public Health Program

Three distinct MPH programs are offered through the distance learning online format through the Center for Applied Environmental Public Health (CAEPH) at the Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine.

The program provides MPH specializations in:

• Occupational Health and Safety Management
• Occupational and Environmental Health
• Disaster Management

All classes are provided in real-time. However, they are also recorded for students who need added flexibility.

They are designed for professionals already mid-career in the public health field. The core MPH curriculum focuses on the five foundational basics of:

• epidemiology
• behavioral science
• environmental health
• biostatistics
• management

This is to further each student’s scope and professional potential. The concentrations then serve to specialize each student’s chosen focus area. Specific focus classes for this online master’s in public health include:

• Principles of Industrial Hygiene
• Environmental Aspects of Disaster Response
• Biological Basis of Disease 

#4. University of Alabama at Birmingham

Online Master of Public Health Program

The 42-credit hour degree program through the UAB School of Public Health offers five different departments. There are a multitude of concentration options for the online MPH student. There are multiple departments involved in these public health online programs. They include:

• Biostatistics
• Environmental Health
• Epidemiology
• Health Care Organization and Policy

Together, they offer concentrations such as:

• Epidemiology
• Health Behavior
• Health Care Organization & Policy
• Industrial Hygiene
• Maternal and Child Health Policy and Leadership

Students have three different start-dates to begin the program. All applicants to the program must be able to demonstrate that they have met The Biological Basis of Public Health Competency Requirements. Students must participate both in an internship and a Public Health Integrative Experience.

#3. University of Illinois at Chicago

Online Master of Public Health Program

This school claims the distinction of being the only school in the nation to offer an online MPH in Public Health Informatics degree program. UIC’s School of Public Health also offers two other online MPH programs. These online master’s in public health have concentrations in Community Health Sciences or Health Policy and Administration.

The programs range from 42 to 45 required credit hours. The program can be completed in a flexible format. All classes are offered in an asynchronous format.

The curriculum for these public health degree programs covers:

• Social Ethics and Public Health
• Public Health Concepts and Practice
• Leadership in Public Health Practice

#2. University of Nebraska Medical Center

Online Master of Public Health Program

The College of Public Health at the University of Nebraska Medical Center offers multiple online master’s degrees. There are also several certificate options. Two MPH concentrations are accessible online. These are the MPH in Biostatistics and the MPH in Environmental and Occupational Health.

Both public health degree programs require 45-credit hours. They share some of the same key curricular elements. Classes for these online master’s in public health include:

• Foundations of Public Health
• Public Health Environment and Society

The focus then goes in different directions. The Biostatistics concentration curriculum emphasizes “statistical and quantitative evaluation of public health research and programs”.

The alternative specialization concentrates on:

• ecological health
• environmental health
• occupational health
• safety or toxicology with particular emphasis on agriculture

On-campus, advisors, online library resources, and career services are all available to online students. The only difference in their education experience is the flexibility and convenience of completing their public health degree programs.

#1. University of South Florida

Online Master of Public Health Program

There are no less than seven distinct online MPH specializations available through the University of South Florida College of Public Health.There is also an online DrPH program and thirteen online MPH graduate certificates). Prospective students are sure to find a program track to fit their needs in our number one pick.

This program at the University of South Florida requires at least 42-credit hours. Some concentrations in this interactive online degree require more credit hours than others. Students enjoy foundational coursework in:

• biostatistics
• epidemiology
• health policy and management
• environmental and occupational health

Online students can choose to customize their degree with focus areas in:

• Epidemiology
• Public Health Practice
• Global Disaster Management
• Humanitarian Relief & Homeland Security
• Infection Control
• Social Marketing
• Nutrition & Dietetics
• Health, Safety & Environment

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Civil engineering traces back to the creation of Ancient Egypt’s infrastructure.

If you think about it, a major civilization would need to have engineers to function.

And that is what civil engineers do. 

The Master of Civil Engineering online degree is one of the most popular online degree programs. We’ve gone through many programs to find the best that meet our standards.

Enter – the masters in civil engineering online.

In these master’s degrees, you’ll take civil engineering courses that prepare you to conduct research (and give you relevant work experience) in topics like:

• Advanced mechanics
• Computer science
• Construction technology
• Engineering theory
• The built environment 
• Coastal structures 
• Engineering design

In many cases, these online programs have recorded lectures that are delivered online so aspiring civil engineers can pursue higher education at their own pace.

As a bonus,  we present to you a list of some of the best online master of civil engineering programs, plus some of the best environmental programs. And even construction programs!

Three for the price of one! Ready to master civil engineering online?

Read on to discover the program that will lead to your exciting career in civil engineering. Get moving on creating the next big civilization!

We used the Master’s Programs Guide Core Methodology to develop this ranking. 

See Also: 10 Best Master’s in Industrial Engineering

#1. North Carolina State University

You’ll find the best civil engineering master’s degree at NC State. There are two online master’s programs through Engineering Online. This online master civil engineering is one of the best.

There is the NCSU online Master of Civil Engineering (MCE) degree program. There’s also an online civil engineering/environmental program, too. 

Both have 30 credits. No thesis is needed at North Carolina State University, the state’s flagship university. The GRE is waived for all applicants who have an undergraduate degree. That’s right – you don’t need to submit GRE scores at this top public university like you might with other schools with equally high research activity according to the Carnegie Foundation! International applicants may need to submit TOEFL scores, however.

These online master’s programs prepare students for leadership roles without having to require students to pay an arm and a leg. Tuition is charged per credit and it is an affordable program. 

The NSCU online MCE and the NCSU online MENE degree programs each offer seven specialization areas. Examples include:

• Construction Engineering and Transportation Materials & Systems
• Air Pollution Engineering and Modeling & Systems Analysis

Aspiring civil engineers have up to six years to complete either online masters civil engineering.

Admissions website

See Also: Best Online Masters in Chemical Engineering

#2. Johns Hopkins University

You’ll find another one of the best civil engineering master’s degree programs at Johns Hopkins University. The Johns Hopkins University Whiting School of Engineering has an online graduate program. It is also home to the online Johns Hopkins Engineering for Professionals graduate program. 

Both programs at Johns Hopkins Engineering school have 30-credits. They allow students up to five years to complete the degrees on a part-time basis. The GRE is not needed for these Johns Hopkins engineering programs. The online Master of Civil Engineering program also offers an optional focus area in Structural Engineering.

There are many elective choices and focus areas from which the aspiring civil engineering can choose at Johns Hopkins Engineering, such as:

• “Marine Geotechnical Engineering”
• “Retaining Structures and Slope Stability”
• “Preservation Engineering in the Urban Context” 

As you can imagine, this degree in engineering requires students to work hard. However, it is an affordable program that offers the best of higher education for civil engineers, according to U.S. News & World Report. It’s a top ranked degree that is ideal for working professionals. 

Admissions website

#3. Columbia University

You’ll find another top civil engineering degree program, particularly for students interested in focus areas like engineering theory, in the heart of Manhattan.

Columbia University’s Columbia Video Network (CVN) provides the high-quality graduate programs expected from Columbia. But it is in a convenient, online format. Students at Columbia University will gain the advanced skills they need to solve major engineering problems. Aspiring civil engineers will take classes in everything from water resource engineering to preservation engineering, geometric design to engineering theory. 

Two online MS programs are in the Department of Civil Engineering and Engineering Mechanics. In this civil engineering master’s degree, students can choose between the Columbia online MS in Civil Engineering and Engineering Mechanics degree. There is also the Columbia online MS in Construction Engineering & Management degree.

Both programs have 30 credits. They allow up to five years for completion. Both provide a great deal of customization opportunities. The MS in Civil Engineering program has many concentration options. There are engineering electives like:

• “Energy Dynamics of Green Buildings”
• “Technology & Strategic Issues in Manufacturing Enterprises”
• “Transportation Analytics and Logistics”

Admissions website

#4. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

The Department of Civil Engineering at Illinois has two 100% online graduate degree programs. Both are some of the best civil engineering master’s degree options out there, especially for the working civil engineer. There is an online Master’s in Civil Engineering degree. There’s also a concentration for aspiring environmental and civil engineering students.

Both degrees are 36-credits and coursework programs. There is no thesis.

The online master’s in Civil Engineering degree offers additional concentration areas in:

• Infrastructure
• Transportation Engineering
• Structural Engineering

Admissions website

#5. University of Southern California

The USC Viterbi School of Engineering has three online graduate degree programs.

There are two 27-credit hour MS in Civil Engineering degrees:

• the USC online Master’s in Civil Engineering- Construction Engineering degree
• the USC online Master’s in Civil Engineering- Structural Engineering degree.

The MS programs have an undergraduate degree in an engineering field. Students focus on a specific core of coursework. In this civil engineering master’s degree, they can choose from a wide selection of electives. Examples include:

• “Computer Methods in Engineering”
• “Structural Design for Dynamic Loads” 
• “International Construction and Engineering” 

Admissions website

#6. Missouri University of Science and Technology

The Missouri S&T Global Learning’s Distance & Continuing Education Department  has two 30-credit hour degrees. There is the Missouri S&T MS in Civil Engineering, which is one of the top civil engineering programs in the country. There are options to take civil engineering courses with other majors as well, perfect for the civil engineer with broad interests.

Both degrees also provide focus areas. The online Master’s in Civil Engineering degree is a coursework program. There is no thesis. It has concentration areas like:

• Geotechnical Engineering
• Water Resources Engineering
• Construction Engineering

The online Master’s in Environmental Science Engineering degree focuses on Engineering Analysis and Design.

Most students complete the degrees in about three years. They are allowed up to six. 

Admissions website

#7. Purdue University

The Purdue Polytechnic Center for Professional Studies offers a 33-credit hour, non-thesis Master of Science (MSCM) degree program. It is 100% online.

It includes topics such as :

• “Value Engineering & Visualization for Sustainability”
• “Construction Management Training & Development” 
• “Sustainable Site Development”

These are offered in interactive, fifteen-week long virtual evening classes. Purdue’s Polytechnic Institute Online Student Resources are available to all online MSCM students.

Admissions website

#8. Arizona State University

Arizona State University’s Online Master of Science degree for the aspiring civil engineer is provided through the Del E. Webb School of Construction. The ASU Online Master of Science in Engineering in Sustainable Engineering is in the ASU School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment.

Both degrees are 30-credits. They are programs presented online by ASU Online. There are many opportunities to customize each degree.

The ASU MS degree offers concentrations in things like Facility Management. 

Admissions website

#9. University of Wisconsin-Madison

UW-Madison has an outstanding civil engineering masters online.

Students work together as a cohort during the live online sessions. These are in an interactive and participatory experience. It sets the University of Wisconsin Madison’s ME program apart.

There are core courses in the civil engineering masters degrees at University of Wisconsin Madison such as:

• “Hydraulic Design of Urban Stormwater Systems”
• “Solid and Hazardous Waste Engineering”
• “Sustainable Microgrids”

The 30-credit hour ME program takes three years on a part-time basis. No GRE is needed for admission. You will complete a project paper in the specialization areas of your choice and can access recorded lectures to take all the online classes required for these civil engineering programs.

Admissions website

#10. University of Alabama at Birmingham

UAB School offers three online graduate programs.

UAB’s online Master of Engineering program in Sustainable Smart Cities is an interdisciplinary program.

There are classes such as:

• “Low-Carbon & Renewable Energy Systems”
• “Health & Liveability” 
• “Big Data & Smart Cities”
• “Structural Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering”

The online civil engineering program offers online classes that will prepare civil engineering students for work in government agencies and many other roles.

Admissions website

#11. Texas Tech University

The Texas Tech Department of Civil, Environmental, and Construction Engineering offers a great MS in Civil Engineering. 

This online program is ideal for working professionals. It does not require students to visit campus, as some other civil engineering programs do. It is top ranked by U.S. News & World Report and has low in state tuition. 

It is a 30-credit hour program. The online MSCE degree at Texas Tech will offer students three different ways of formatting their degree. There is the thesis option and the report option. There is also the coursework  option.

Admissions website

#12. University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Two concentrations are available online for the Civil Engineering program.

One great option for a master’s in civil engineering is the online MS in Civil Engineering with a concentration in Public Works Engineering.

There is also the online Master’s in Civil Engineering. This has a concentration in Transportation Engineering. 

Admissions website

#13. University of Virginia

The five-year UVA online ME in Civil Engineering program does not need the GRE.

Students can design their own schedules with the help of a Virginia Engineering Online Academic Advisor.

Subareas of Civil Engineering include:

• civil engineering materials
• structural engineering
• geotechnical engineering
• environmental engineering
• transportation engineering
• water resources engineering

Admissions website

#14. University of Washington

The UW online MS in Civil Engineering: Energy Infrastructure and the UW online MS in Civil Engineering: Construction Engineering give students online, part-time civil engineering program excellence. These degrees take just two to three years.

Both programs have 42-credits with some course topics such as:

• Energy Infrastructure & the Environment
• Utility System Construction
• Wind Turbine Analysis
• Distributed Renewable Power Systems
• Heavy Construction Estimating
• Statistical Fundamentals for Construction & Materials Applications

Admissions website

#15. Ohio University

The civil engineering degree program at this space grant institution is located in the Department of Civil Engineering in the Fritz J. and Dolores H. Russ College. The GRE is not necessary for undergraduate engineering majors. Students can take up to six years to complete the program.

The Ohio online MSCE curriculum has three core courses:

• Construction Planning and Scheduling
• Applied Civil Engineering Statistics
• Engineering Writing

Students customize their degrees with one of several concentration area options:

• Construction Engineering and Management
• Environmental Engineering
• Transportation Engineering. 

Admissions website

#16. Kansas State University

The engineering college at Kansas State University has online engineering programs through the K-State Global Campus. The 30-credit hour MS in Civil Engineering degree program is coursework-only. Students can take up to six years to finish the degree.

There are courses and concentrations such as:

• Transportation Engineering
• Environmental Engineering
• Geotechnical Engineering
• Water Resources Engineering. 

Admissions website

#17. Auburn University

Online MCE students focus on two emphasis areas: Environmental Engineering and Structural Engineering. This is a 30-credit hour program that takes two to three years. The online MCE does not have a thesis.

Coursework covers engineering subsets like:

• Earthquake Engineering
• Transportation Engineering
• Biological Principles of Environmental Engineering
• Advanced Reinforced Concrete Design
• Geosynthetics and Soil Improvements
• Traffic Engineering Analysis.

Admissions website

#18. University of California, Los Angeles

UCLA Engineering Master of Science in Engineering Online has an online Master of Science in Engineering degree. It has a Certificate of Sustainable Water Engineering. This degree focuses on clean water sustainability.

The curriculum has core courses like:

• Environmental Biotechnology
• Chemical Fate and Transport
• Engineering Economic Analysis of Water and Environmental Planning
• Geochemical Modeling

 Admissions website

#19. Southern Methodist University

Southern Methodist University has a SMU-Lyle MS in Civil Engineering degree or the  SMU-Lyle MS in Environmental Engineering degree.

Both degree programs have 30-credit hours. The MS in Civil Engineering offers two emphasis areas:

• Structural Engineering
• Transportation Systems

Admissions website

#20. Villanova University

There are two programs at Villanova. There is a Master of Science in Water Resources and Environmental Engineering (MSWREE) degree. There’s also a Master of Science in Civil Engineering (MSCE) degree.

Students must complete 30-credit hours. Courses include:

• Lake, Stream & Wetland Ecology
• Intro Hydraulics & Hydrology
• Water Resources Planning & Management
• Composites for Infrastructure
• Railway Engineering
• River Dynamics
• Watershed Management

Admissions website

#21. University of Arkansas

The University of Arkansas College of Engineering has a comprehensive Master of Science in Engineering (MSE) degree . Most students complete the 30-credit hour, multi-disciplinary online MSE in one and a half to two years. 

There are online course options such as:

• Finite Element Methods in Civil Engineering
• Environmental Regulations and Permits
• Transportation Soils Engineering
• Groundwater Hydrology
• Structural Dynamics

Admissions website

#22. Old Dominion University

The ODU MS program in Civil Engineering in Coastal Engineering has 30-credit hours and a final thesis.

Both the Environmental and the Civil Engineering degrees has the GRE as a requirement. You can study at your own pace in these online programs, taking the same classes as civil engineering graduates studying in on campus programs. You’ll study everything from engineering and construction to air pollution control, the built environment and engineering design. You’ll gain skills that will enable you to pursue any kind of job opportunities, from those at government agencies to consulting firms and everything in between.

They provide a relevant curriculum. The location of the school near the Atlantic Ocean allows for many environmental and coastal engineering research possibilities. 

Admissions website

#23. Mississippi State University

Mississippi State University’s Bagley College of Engineering Online (BCoE) has an online master’s program in civil engineering. Students can choose between a thesis (30-credit hours) and a non-thesis (33-credit hours) option. Seven specializations are available, including master’s degrees in:

• Construction Engineering and Management
• Construction Materials Engineering
• Geotechnical Engineering
• Structural Engineering
• Transportation Engineering
• Water Resources Engineering

Admissions website

#24. University of North Dakota

Students can choose between the UND online  master’s in civil engineering degree. This offers a 30-credit hour thesis or 32-credit hour non-thesis option. There is also the 30-credit hour online MEng in Civil Engineering at the University of North Dakota Grand Forks.

The UND Online Master’s in Environmental Engineering offers students the same choice. This is between a practice-based MEng degree and a research-focused MS degree. Both options are 30-credit hours. 

Admissions website

#25. Colorado State University

Students can pursue two 100% online Civil Engineering graduate degrees here. The 32-credit hour MS in Civil Engineering and the 30-credit hour ME in Civil Engineering both provide a focus in Water Resources.

CSU Civil Engineering coursework includes:

• Civil Engineering Project Management
• Engineering Hydrology
• Statistics for Environmental Monitoring

Admissions website

#26. California State University, Fullerton

The online MS in Environmental Engineering (MS_ENVE) is a 30-credit hour program. It is in a cohort format. While most students enroll in full time study so that they can gain the advanced skills they need to go out and work for top public and private organizations as quickly as possible, part-time study is also an option for civil engineering graduates who want to work while they study at the same time.

The curriculum includes relevant and topical online classes such as:

• Hydraulics and Hydrology for Environmental Engineers
• Environmental Engineering Practices and Project Management
• Air Pollution Control Engineering

Admissions website

#27. University of Texas at Arlington

There are many civil engineering options available at the University of Texas at Arlington. There’s A Master of Engineering (M.Engr.) in Civil Engineering, a Master of Science (MS) in Civil Engineering, and an MCM. These are all in the Department of Civil Engineering in the UTA College of Engineering.

You can customize each degree. There are research areas in both of the Civil Engineering degrees. These include:

• Construction (both Engineering and Management)
• Environmental Engineering
• Geotechnical Engineering
• Infrastructure Systems
• Structures and Applied Mechanics
• Transportation Engineering
• Water Resources.

Admissions website

#28. Clarkson University

The Clarkson CEM program does ask for the GRE for admission. It has 30-credit hours for completion. There is a combination of civil and environmental core and elective coursework. That is along with business management coursework that aspiring civil engineers will take at this private institution to give you a strong background to work in just about any discipline, including leadership roles.

Courses include:

• Advanced Construction Engineering
• Sustainable Infrastructure and Building
• Special Topics in Construction and Engineering Management
• Computational Methods of Structural Analysis
• Cement Chemistry

Admissions website

#29. Worcester Polytechnic Institute

WPI’s Online Graduate Programs has an online MS in Environmental Engineering. The 33-credit hour program does not need the GRE. It offers a variety of coursework. This is one of the best online options for civil engineering professionals to choose from if they are interested in a coursework only program.

Options include:

• Emerging Trends in Corporate Sustainability
• Biosystems in Environmental Engineering
• Green Energy
• Engineering Mathematics
• Applied Statistics for Engineers and Scientists
• Energy Management

Admissions website

#30. Louisiana State University

The LSU Online Master of Science is offered 100% online. Students participate in the “Professional” path of the 36-credit hour program. It is a non-thesis, coursework-only version of the on-campus program.

There are three core courses. These are followed by nine elective courses chosen by the student. Choices include: 

• Natural Hazard Resistant Construction
• Construction Dispute Resolution
• Advanced Sustainable Construction

Admissions website

#31. University of Florida

Two graduate degree programs from the University of Florida Engineering School of Sustainable Infrastructure and Environment (ESSIE) are online. These are the Civil Engineering or Environmental Engineering Sciences.

Students can pursue either discipline as a Master of Science or a Master of Engineering Students can customize their chosen degree in many ways.

Some online classes offered for Civil Engineering include:

• Probabilistic and Stochastic Methods in Civil Engineering
• Wind Engineering
• Special Problems in Environmental Engineering
• Wetland Hydrology

After completing this civil engineering master’s, engineering students enrolled will be prepared for just about any and all job opportunities they can find. It is one of the best civil engineering master’s degrees for civil engineers who want to work for the government!

Admissions website

#32. Lawrence Technological University

You’ll find another one of the best civil engineering masters degrees at Lawrence Tech. This program offers a cutting-education to civil engineering students enrolled in the online program. 

The College of Engineering at Lawrence Technological University has two online engineering master’s degrees through Lawrence Tech Online. There is LTU’s online Master of Science in Civil Engineering. It offers a “specialized Structural Engineering focus”. It has  a thesis or coursework-only option. This is one of the best online masters degree in civil engineering options.

There is also the LTU online graduate degree in Construction and Engineering Management. Both provide an appealing 30-credit hour curriculum. It takes two years or less.

There are small class sizes and experienced professors. The online delivery technology is cutting edge. The LTU online MS in Civil Engineering program curriculum is 30 hours for the thesis option. It is 33 for the coursework-only format.

The Structural Engineering focus translates to relevant classes such as:

• Sustainable Construction Practices
• Advanced Analysis and Design of Structures
• Structural Dynamics

Admissions website

#33. Florida International University 

A 100% online MS is available at FIU. The degree has 33-credit hours. These take a year on a full-time basis.

There are a wide range of electives in this online civil engineering masters. These offer many opportunities to customize the degree. There are Online MSCM choices such as:

• Value Engineering in Construction
• Systems Approach for Housing Planning
• Construction Engineering and Management

Admissions website

#34. South Dakota School of Mines & Technology

The South Dakota School of Mines Department of Civil  Engineering has a superb MS in Construction Engineering & Management (MSCEM). It is one of the three engineering degrees provided through the SD Mines Distance Education program.

The MSCEM degree has 33-credit hours of both core courses. There are also plenty of electives to choose from. For this online master degree in civil engineering, these include:

• Engineering Management and Labor Relations
• Managing Sustainable Projects
• Engineering Economics

Admissions website

#35. Iowa State University

The online MEng in Civil Engineering degree at Iowa State University has a specialization in Construction Engineering and Management.

It is a coursework-only, elite program. It has recognition from The Associated General Contractors of America.

In fact, it’s one of five institutions in the nation that have achieved that honor. It is a 30-credit hour program. It is in Iowa State’s Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering.

Admissions website

#36. University of Louisville

The UofL Online Learning MS in Civil Engineering is for professionals who have an undergraduate degree in civil engineering. It is in the University of Louisville J.B. Speed School of Engineering.

The 30-credit hour online masters in civil engineering program takes just three “intensive enrollment” semesters.

The course list for the UofL Online MS in Civil Engineering degree offers a strong focus on Transportation. Courses in this civil engineering online masters include:

• Traffic Engineering
• Wetland Design

Admissions website

#37. University of Idaho

The 33-credit, non-thesis program at the University of Idaho does not have the GRE. It offers students five focus areas. The U of I Engineering Outreach Civil Engineering curriculum provides coursework in classes like:

• Engineering Law and Contracts
• Sedimentation Engineering
• Fluvial Geomorphology and River Mechanics

There are many emphasis areas, too:

• Environmental and Sanitary Engineering
• Geotechnical Engineering
• Hydraulics and Water Resources Engineering
• Structural Engineering and Structural Mechanics

Admissions website

#38. University of California, Riverside

The online MS in Engineering with an Environmental and Engineering Systems (Water) specialization is provided through UCR Online.

It is a 36-credit hour program. The online masters of civil engineering is an accelerated thirteen-month program. Students take classes such as:

• Engineering in the Global Environment
• Technology Innovation and Strategy for Engineers
• Water Chemistry in Natural and Engineered Systems
• Physical and Chemical Separation Processes

Admissions website

#39. University of South Carolina

The University of South Carolina Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering has a distance education option. This is for both the MS and the ME in Civil Engineering degree programs.

Both programs present a focus on several civil engineering sub-fields. Students choose courses from all five areas:

• Environmental
• Geotechnical
• Structures
• Engineering Transportation Systems
• Water Resources

The USC Civil and Environmental Engineering Courses offers a wide range of choices in addition to the three core courses:

• Principles of Environmental Engineering Process
• Advanced Soil Mechanics
• Advanced Structural Mechanics and Analysis

Admissions website

#40. Michigan Technological University

The Michigan Tech online MS in Civil Engineering (MSCE) is a 30-credit hour program. It takes just five semesters.

It is part of Michigan Tech’s Online Engineering Degree Programs. It has a Structural Engineering focus. The engineering core coursework covers relevant topics in classes such as:

• Matrix Structural Analysis
• Finite Element Analysis
• Structural Dynamics

Admissions website

#41. New Jersey Institute of Technology

NJIT’s Newark College of Engineering has an online MS in Civil Engineering (MSCE). It is in the John A. Reif, Jr. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.

The 30-credit hour online MSCE program takes less than two years. It allows up to seven for part-time students.

NJIT provides three specialization tracks. These are for students to customize their MSCE degree:

• Engineering Transportation
• Construction 
• Structural Design and Construction.

The online MSCE curriculum at NJIT provides core coursework such as:

• Introduction to Urban Transportation Planning
• Hydrology

There is also “bridge” coursework available for students who do not have an undergraduate degree in civil engineering. It’s also for those without a strong engineering or mathematics background. 

Admissions website

#42. Kennesaw State University

The online MS in Civil Engineering (MSCE) is in the Kennesaw State University Department of Civil and Construction Engineering.

The degree has 30-credit hours for completion. All students in the program participate in two core classes:

• Research Methods
• Probabilistic Analysis and Reliability in Civil Engineering

They can choose from one of three online concentration areas:

• Structural and Geotechnical Engineering
• Transportation and Pavement Engineering
• Environmental Engineering and Water Resources. 

Admissions website

#43. Norwich University

Norwich University Online College of Graduate and Continuing Studies is the online platform for the Master of Civil Engineering (MCE). It is housed in the David Crawford School of Engineering.  

Four concentrations are available in:

• Construction 
• Environmental/Water Resources Engineering
• Geotechnical Engineering
• Structural Engineering

All online MCE students participate in two core courses:

• Engineering Mathematics
• Project Management Techniques, Tools and Practices

There is also the Capstone Design Project at the end of the program on campus. Students often complete the degree in less than two years.

Admissions website

#44. University of New Mexico

The Department of Civil, Construction & Environmental Engineering in the University of New Mexico School of Engineering has an online UNM Master of Construction Management (MCM).

The 30-credit hour program takes as little as twelve months on a full-time basis.

The core and elective courses comprise fifteen credit hours. They cover topics like:

• Project Controls
• Construction Law
• Simulation and Design of Construction Operations
• Engineering Project Management
• Sustainable Design and Construction
• Global History of Construction

Admissions website

#45. University of Wisconsin-Stout

UW-Stout’s online MS degree program is online through Stout Online.

The 30-credit hour program is in the UW-Stout School of Management in the College of Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Management (CSTEMM).

The program has a resourceful and experienced faculty. They teach courses such as:

• Environmental Concerns in Construction
• Architectural Preservation
• Succession Planning in Construction

There is a final research component. Students can choose between a thesis or an additional course in a research area for this degree in engineering. An example is “Field Problem in Construction Management.” 

Admissions website

#46. University of Colorado Boulder

University of Colorado Boulder’s Graduate School offers students a program with an emphasis in Water Engineering and Management (WEM). It is all online. The MSCVE has 30-credit hours to graduate. The curriculum includes topics like:

• Water Profession: Leadership and Communication
• Water Utility Management: Current Issues and Future Challenges

#47. University of New Haven

The Tagliatela College of Engineering at the University of New Haven provides an online Master of Science in Environmental and Civil Engineering  program. The 30-credit hour program takes as little as eighteen months to two years. There is no GRE or GMAT for admission.

Take courses such as:

• Environmental Law and Legislation
• Biological Treatment of Aqueous Wastes
• Pollution Prevention Management

Admissions website

#48. Western Carolina University

The Kimmel School of Construction Management in the WCU College of Engineering and Technology offers an online Master degree program.

The flexible 30-credit hour program allows for self-pacing. The curriculum has eighteen hours of core courses. There are classes such as:

• Sustainability in Construction
• Leadership in Construction Management
• Advanced Legal Issues in Construction

Admissions website

#49. University of Texas at El Paso

The College of Engineering at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) offers an online, no-GRE Master of Science. The 30-credit hour program prepares students to seek certification from the American Institute of Constructors.

Classes include topics such as:

• Advanced Mechanical Electrical Construction
• Construction Cost Analysis and Bidding
• Construction Law and Ethics
• Earth Construction

As is the case with other online MS programs, this degree does have a non thesis option that serves as a great option for both part and full time working professionals alike. 

Admissions website

#50. University of Houston

University of Houston’s Cullen College of Engineering caters to engineering professionals. 

The online MSCE is 31-credit hours. The curriculum includes classes such as:

• Constitutive Modeling of Materials
• Introduction to Dynamics of Structures
• Hydrodynamics of Offshore Structures

Aspiring civil engineers who are interested in this online program should request information by visiting the online master’s website for admission.

Admissions website

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Are you a history buff who wants to take your studies to the next level? If so, you may be wondering if an online masters degree in history is right for you.

Why get an online masters in history degree? The real question should be, “why not?” If you’re passionate about history and want to know everything there is to know about the past, then one of the best online history graduate programs is likely right for you.

Why You Should Consider One of the Best Online History Master’s

A love of history can lead to a rewarding career in a number of different fields, from teaching and museum work to government and law. To pursue many of these careers, advanced degrees are required. Enter – the online master’s in history.

Online master’s programs offer students the opportunity to pursue their educational goals without having to relocate or take time off from work. In addition, online programs are often more affordable than traditional on-campus programs.

For students who wish to study history at the graduate level, enrolling in one of the best online history graduate programs is the way to go. With a flexible schedule and the ability to study from anywhere in the world, online programs offer a unique opportunity for students to pursue their dreams. Many of the best online masters in history also offer lower tuition rates than traditional programs. Enrolling in an online history graduate program is a smart choice for any student looking to further their education.

How to Find the Right Online History Masters Programs

When it comes to choosing an online history master’s program, there are a number of factors to consider for prospective students.

First, look for a best online masters in history that is accredited by a reputable agency. This will ensure that your degree will be recognized by employers and other institutions. Second, make sure that the program offers coursework in your areas of interest.

Many master of arts programs allow students to tailor their studies to their specific interests. Finally, check out the faculty of the program you are considering.

Choose a master’s degree in history program whose faculty are experts in their field and who can provide you with the best possible education. With these factors in mind, you can be sure to choose one of the best online history master’s programs available.

In this post, we’ll explore some of the pros and cons of pursuing a history degree online. We’ll also give you a few recommendations for quality programs. So whether you’re just starting to research graduate programs or are ready to enroll, keep reading for important information on earning your history master’s online!

Prospective students should check out our list of the 10 Best Online Master’s in History Degree Programs! 

#1. WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY

Master of Arts in History

Want an online masters degree American history that will let you live in one of the country’s most historic cities? You’ll find a top history program at Western Kentucky University. And if you don’t want to study on-campus, no worries. This school also has an online master’s in history that’s just as awesome. 

Bowling Green is a medium-sized town in southwestern Kentucky. The city has 70,000 residents. About a quarter of a million people in the metropolitan area. The city’s historic downtown gives it a small-town feel. Yet Bowling Green is also home to several manufacturers. Every Chevrolet Corvette built since 1981 comes from Bowling Green. The city is also home to Fruit of the Loom underwear and Duncan Hines cake mix.

This university is located right in Bowling Green. It began as Western Kentucky Normal School for teachers, in 1906. Now, this university welcomes more than 20,000 students. The online campus offers more than 100 online degrees, including the Master of Arts in History through the History Department.

This online master’s is ideal for those who want to teach at the college level. The MA in History is also a great option for secondary teachers who want to work toward history certification requirements. Students may apply to WKU’s online MA in History for admission in either the fall or spring semester. However, all students must take the GRE before applying. The full 36-credit degree program can be completed online. If completing the online master’s in history full time, students can take classes during both semesters and the summer. In doing so, it is possible to complete thisprogram in just three years.  The online program is only offered as a non-thesis option. 

All MA students complete a course in historiography in this online masters in American history. This online degree requirement reviews historical writing and historical methods. It focuses on European and United States history from ancient times to the present.

The next four courses are in the student’s area of concentration. WKU offers five concentrations:

• Pre-Modern European History
• Modern European History
• Pre-Civil War United States
• Post-Civil War United States

Students must also show competency in a research methods tool. This can be done by passing an exam in a foreign language or completing a course in statistics. Finally, students complete 21 hours of electives. These are history courses that rotate through the online offerings. Students may transfer up to 12 hours from another graduate program. 

All students receive support services from WKU’s dedicated online learning staff. The master’s degree in history program begins with an online orientation. This gives students a chance to explore everything available via the Student Resource Portal. Students have free access to the library, online writing center, online tutoring, and career services. The portal also includes technical help for getting and staying online. WKU delivers online classes using the Blackboard LMS. 

#2. NORWICH UNIVERSITY

Master of Arts in History

You will find another one of the best online masters programs in history at Norwich University. Northfield is a small town of about 6,000 in Vermont. This is the land of covered bridges and scenic drives! Northfield is about 10 miles south of the state’s capital, Montpelier. If you’re looking for a master’s degree in history program with real clout, studying at Norwich will let you access one of the country’s most famous historic sites.

Norwich University was founded in 1819 as the first private military college in the country. Norwich has always emphasized useful and practical education. Past graduates include the chief engineer for the Northern Pacific Railroad and the past president and chairman of AT&T. The group also includes a U.S. Army Chief of Staff.

This school also has plenty of online master’s to choose from. Norwich Online began in 1998, making it one of the pioneers in extended education. Today, the College of Graduate and Continuing Studies offers programs that accommodate students’ busy lifestyles. The list of online master’s includes a Master of Arts in History. No GRE or GMAT is needed, making this the best online history masters degree no GRE required. All Norwich instructors have doctoral degrees. History teachers help students to customize their studies based on their interests. 

The MA in History at Norwich University has four start dates each year. Students can expect classes in the history department to be made up of about 15 students. The 36-credit program includes six courses in the history department. Each of these is offered over 11 weeks. Many students finish their master’s degree in as few as 18 months. Students can complete lessons on their own schedule. There are always weekly assignments and class discussions. 

Students select from one of three concentrations:

• Public History
• World History
• United States History

The Public History track is a non-thesis program. This program includes a research and planning seminar and capstone project. These courses require an internship of 400 clock hours. This online master’s requirement can be spread over nine months, if necessary. 

Norwich Online offers many advantages over other online degrees. The online learning platform includes 54,000 electronic journals. There are more than 100 online databases, and hundreds of thousands of ebooks. Students have a 24/7 technical staff available to help with any online issues they encounter.

Norwich also offers many scholarships to help students fund their education. One example is a new scholarship for students pursuing an MA in History with a Public History concentration. Recipients receive $4,200 spread out over the six courses. Those awarded the scholarship must maintain a 3.5 GPA.

See Also: 20 Best Online Master’s in Secondary Education

#3. LOUISIANA TECH UNIVERSITY

Master of Arts in History

You will find another one of the best online master’s history program options at Louisiana Tech University. Louisiana Tech University is located in Ruston, LA. Ruston is a small town in north-central Louisiana. The college town of 22,000 offers the best of small-town living. Yet there is easy access to big cities. It sits about 30 miles west of Monroe and about an hour east of Shreveport. Ruston has a charming historic downtown district filled with boutiques, shops, and restaurants.

Louisiana Tech University was founded in 1894. It began as the Industrial Institute and College of Louisiana with one building, 20 acres of land, and 202 students. The school changed over the years. It became Louisiana Polytechnic Institute in 1921. It was renamed Louisiana Tech University in 1970.

Today, Louisiana Tech has more than 12,000 students working on bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees. Louisiana Tech has an online learning program. This includes a Master of Arts in History that is delivered through interactive online courses. 

The online master’s program at Tech is ideal for students who plan to teach social studies at the high school level. The history online curriculum is also great preparation for those who want to pursue a doctoral degree in history and need to understand research methods in US and global history beyond what you’d learn in a bachelor’s degree. 

To pursue the MA, students select a major and complete 12 hours in that theme. There are two options for the MA in History at Louisiana Tech. There is a thesis and a non-thesis option. 

All master’s in history students at Louisiana Tech take Introduction to Historiography. They also take Introduction to Historical Research and Writing. These history online classes offer readings, discussions, and practical experience in history. Students interested in the Historical Research and Writing course will complete an original research paper. Both thesis and non-thesis students must take these two courses. Louisiana Tech offers financial assistance and financial aid for MA students. Financial aid includes graduate assistantships, fellowships, and scholarships. Students interested in receiving aid should complete the FAFSA. 

#4. UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA AT MONROE

Master of Arts in History

Looking for an online master’s that will teach you more about history than what you’d learn in a bachelor’s degree? The University of Louisiana at Monroe is a great option for completing your history online degree.

Monroe is a scenic town in northern Louisiana on Interstate 20. It is about equal distance from Jackson, Mississippi, and Shreveport. Each of these cities is about a 90-minute drive from Monroe. The town of Monroe has a population of 50,000. The greater Monroe-Bastrop area has a total population of about 200,000. The Ouachita River and the Bayou DeSiard run through the town. Great outdoor opportunities are located nearby.

Monroe is also home to the University of Louisiana Monroe. ULM is a state-funded school that opened in 1931. The campus encompasses 238 acres with the Bayou DeSiard running through it. Today, there are more than 9,300 students at ULM working on undergraduate and graduate degrees. You’ll find one of the best online master’s in history here. 

Online students at ULM earn the same degrees as face-to-face students. ULM Online has a great support system for online students. It offers guidance and support throughout the program.

To apply to the online master degree in history, students must hold a bachelor’s degree with 18 hours of social sciences and at least nine hours in history. Applicants must also submit either GRE or GMAT scores. They should submit a thesis or research paper of no longer than 10 pages. Once accepted into ULM’s online MA in History, students can begin work on the 30-hour, non-thesis program.

All students take a course in History Research Methods. This familiarizes them with research skills and techniques. You’ll also learn how to collect and criticizing data and to apply research methods. The program also includes 4000- and 5000-level courses. At least half of the 30 hours taken must be in 5000-level courses. Courses for this online master’s in history might include:

• Contemporary History
• Native American History
• Renaissance and Reformation
• East Central Europe Since 1400
• History of Warfare
• Military History

Seminars are also offered each semester on reading and research in special topics. These might focus on:

• Early American History
• The National Period of American History
• European History
• Latin American History

There are also opportunities to take courses in directed reading and research. Students interested will just need the approval of the department head.

#5. SAM HOUSTON STATE UNIVERSITY

Master of Arts in History

You will find another one of the best online master’s at Sam Houston State University.

Huntsville is a small town about 70 miles north of Houston. Home to Texas’ favorite son, Sam Houston, it sits on the edge of Sam Houston National Forest. Sam Houston State University is located in Huntsville. The historic landmark on campus, Austin Hall, opened in 1851 as Austin College. Local hero Houston was even in attendance for the building’s dedication!

Austin College moved out in 1876. After some time as a Methodist school for boys, Austin Hall became the Sam Houston Normal Institute in 1879. The campus grew over the years and the school expanded. It evolved into Sam Houston State Teachers College, in 1923. The school was officially renamed Sam Houston State University in 1969.

Today, it is home to more than 21,000 students. It offers 80 bachelor’s degrees, 50 master’s degrees, and six doctoral degrees. SHSU is a Doctoral Research University. This is as designated by the Carnegie Commission of Higher Education. It ranks among the top 10 Best Online Colleges in Texas. It was also ranked the No. 1 best online college in Texas. Along with its historic campus, SHSU offers many degrees online. These include a Master of Arts in History earned completely online. 

The MA degree comprises 30 hours for the thesis option. Non-thesis students will take 36 hours. Both thesis and non-thesis students complete a foundational course, Methods in History. This gives them the chance to conduct original research, hone critical thinking skills, and uncover the best approaches for communicating their findings. SHSU offers three tracks for the MA in History:

• Encounters and Exchanges
• Rights and Identity
• War and Violence

The history program includes 15 to 21 hours of track core courses and electives. The Encounters and Exchanges track includes courses in:

• Colonial America
• The American West
• Texas History
• Latin American History

The Rights and Identity track includes courses in:

• Recent African-American History
• Early National America
• American Cultural & Religious History

The War and Violence track includes courses in:

• Early Medieval Europe
• U.S. Civil War
• The Ottoman Empire
• European Diplomatic History

Those who select the thesis option will earn six credits in thesis work. Those who choose the non-thesis option take a 3-credit Seminar in History. In this, they will work with faculty members to write a personal essay article  based on primary sources.

See Also: 40 Best Online Master of Religious Studies Degree Programs

#6. ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY – TEMPE

Master of Arts in History

Students interested in military history, research skills, or general historical events will appreciate the online master degree in history at Arizona State University. Arizona State University is home to countless historical events itself, to say nothing of the surrounding state!

Arizona opened its first institute of higher education 30 years before gaining statehood. The Territorial Normal School opened to 33 students in 1886 on a small campus in Tempe. At the time, Tempe was a small farming community 10 miles east of Phoenix. The school grew as the area developed. It became Arizona State College. By 1958, it was Arizona State University.

Tempe is now in the midst of the Phoenix Metropolitan Area. This is a region encompassing about 5 million residents. ASU has continued to grow. Today, more than 20,000 students attend ASU. They study across 22 schools and departments. It is in the top 1% of the world’s most prestigious universities. That’s according to Times Higher Education. ASU is also the No. 1 school in the U.S. for innovation. That’s according to U.S. News & World Report. Students outside Arizona can experience that same high quality education in fully online programs. The long list of online programs include the online history master’s degree. It is one of the few with a focus on art history and digital history. Formally, it is called the online Master of Arts in History at ASU.

Students in this master of history program will complete 10 classes. Each of these advanced historical methods courses  runs 7.5 weeks. The courses offered each semester vary, but might include:

• Historical Methods
• North American History
• Global History
• Comparative Colonialism
• Global Environmental History
• Genealogy

ASU Online offers ongoing support to all master’s students. The ASU Online degree begins with an orientation. This gives students a chance to meet other online students, explore the tools used in the courses, and get help with technical questions. Each course is delivered via a web browser. No additional software is needed to complete the assignments. Online students have access to all resources in the ASU Libraries. These include  databases, electronic journals, e-books, and more. These are reachable via the Library One Search system. It locates materials across all ASU resources. 

ASU also offers online Career and Professional Development Services. These services help students with job searches, career advice, resumes, and more. ASU has been ranked as a military friendly school by G.I. Jobs magazine. It offers assistance to veterans besides just teaching them about military history!

#7. PITTSBURG STATE UNIVERSITY

Master of Arts in History

Pittsburg, Kansas is a small town of about 20,000 people in the southeastern part of the state. It’s about two hours south of Kansas City and 45 minutes north of Joplin, Missouri. 

The PSU faculty specializes in United States History and History of the Modern World. Online students at PSU pay in-state tuition rates on a per-credit basis, if enrolled in 11 hours or fewer. The per-credit rate is $390.

All History MA students take three core courses:

• Historical Research and Historiography
• Seminar in American History
• Seminar in World History.

After the core courses, students select either the thesis or seminar option. The 30-credit thesis option includes a course in Research and Thesis, along with 20 to 23 credits in history. The seminar option requires a Final Assessment course and 24 credits in history. Online students at PSU get the same quality education as on-campus students. They use remote technology to attend classes that are offered by the same faculty who teach on campus.

#8. MISSOURI STATE UNIVERSITY – SPRINGFIELD

Master of Arts in History

You’ll find one of the best online master’s at Missouri State University.

Missouri State University is located in Springfield, MO. There are more than 26,000 students enrolled at MSU. The main campus is in Springfield. There are supporting campuses in West Plains and Mountain Grove, MO. There is also a campus in Dalian, China. In addition, the outreach program offers online classes. MSU offers 102 bachelor’s degrees, 61 master’s degrees, and seven doctoral degrees. Among its graduates are the owner of the Kansas City Royals, a retired three-star U.S. Army general, and actor John Goodman. 

A Master of Arts in History is available through Missouri State Online. The 30-hour online program typically takes two years to complete.

Tuition for online instruction at MSU is the same for both Missouri residents and non-residents, $295 per credit hour. The suggested course plan calls for taking two courses each semester, including the summer semester.

Students take 10 courses. These include:

• Historiography
• Colonial America
• Women’s History
• American Social History
• The Civil War
• The Middle East
• Latin American History

Research seminars feature in-depth study of a topic, along with extensive research. The readings seminars feature chosen readings on the topic and periods of history. 

#9. UNIVERSITY OF MEMPHIS

MA in History

Memphis, Tennessee is synonymous with blues and rock ‘n’ roll. It is home to Sun Studio, where Elvis Presley, B.B. King, and Johnny Cash recorded some of their most legendary sounds. Elvis Presley’s Graceland is an iconic part of Memphis. The city of almost 700,000 is in far western Tennessee, on the banks of the Mississippi River at the Arkansas border. Memphis is also home to the University of Memphis. 

Today, there are more than 21,000 students. U of M offers:

• 17 bachelor’s degrees
• master’s degrees in 54 subjects
• doctoral degrees in 26 areas
• law degrees
• an education specialist degree
• graduate certificate programs in 44 areas

Many of U of M’s degrees can be completed online through U of M Global. 

The 33-hour history program is only offered as a non-thesis option for online students. Up to nine credits may be earned from 6000-level courses; the rest must be 7000-level courses. All students must pass a comprehensive written exam before graduating. As a U of M student, expect to take at least one research seminar, which will involve completing original research and presenting the findings in writing.

The program’s 7000-level courses include:

• Philosophy & Theory of History
• Principles & Practices in History Education
• Women/Gender Historiography
• English History

Practicums and fieldwork in history are also available under the direction of either U of M or other faculty. They might include opportunities in grant writing or research. U of M Global also offers many Topics in History courses that give students a chance to study periods or problems across subject areas and times.

#10. UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA AT KEARNEY

HISTORY MA

Imagine watching 650,000 sandhill cranes flying overhead. Each spring, you can see just that in the Central Nebraska Flyway in Kearney. The town of Kearney, located on Interstate 80 about 200 miles west of Omaha, is home to about 31,000 people.

Today, UNK is home to more than 6,900 students. They come from all 50 states and around the world. There are 120 majors and 27 graduate programs over three colleges. The beautiful campus is a Nebraska Arboretum site. UNK offers more than 30 online graduate degrees, including an MA in History. Online study through UNK’s eCampus is delivered through Canvas, the school’s learning management system. 

Online students attend an eCampus Student Orientation that gives them information about using Canvas, the school’s email system, accessing library resources, and more. There is also a 24/7 Help Desk and video tutorials explaining online learning. The 36-hour MA in History combines:

• coursework
• research
• collaboration

This provides students an ideal basis to pursue careers in:

• education
• government
• business
• law
• doctoral degree

All students will take America Interpreted and Historical Methods. America Interpreted is a course with readings in American historiography. The Methods course helps students to learn the tools and methods used by historians. Additional courses include:

• Public or Digital History
• U.S. History
• non-U.S. History
• World History

If you are completing the online program with the thesis option, you write your 6-credit thesis after you complete the coursework, under faculty supervision.

The Public History option also requires an internship. For that emphasis, students can take courses in Digital History and Readings in American History on such topics as:

• Museums
• Oral History
• National Parks

UNK offers extensive opportunities in public and digital history. This includes research and partnerships focusing on:

• public history
• museums
• digital history community history and preservation

Online students have the chance to collaborate with museums, historical societies, and national parks. UNK also offers several fellowships and grants for graduate history students.

FAQ

Which online colleges have the best online master degrees in history?

There are many programs to choose from when you are looking for a history master degree. In addition to the many programs listed above, you’ll find other top online history master’s degree offerings at schools like:

• Southern New Hampshire University
• Fort Hays State University
• Slippery Rock University
• University of North Alabama

What classes will I take in an online history master’s degree?

No two history graduates will take the exact same classes as part of their degree.

Sample areas you might study in a history master degree include:

• Military history
• Legal and constitutional history
• Directed research
• Evaluating primary and secondary sources
• World history

In some cases, you may even be able to study the history of a foreign language that interests you. These degrees are highly customizable. You can work with faculty members to create the degree that’s right for you.

What is the average salary after earning a history degree?

The average salary for a history graduate will vary. This is based on what you choose to do with your degree as well as where you choose to study.

What is required to apply to a master’s in history degree online?

To apply, you will like need to submit an online application. Prospective students may have to have an interview with faculty members or the admissions team. You might need GRE or GMAT scores. Often, an academic writing sample is required to showcase your writing and critical thinking skills. Some faculty members also like to see some work experience, so be prepared to submit your resume, too. A 3.0 minimum GPA is standard for most online history programs.

OTHER NOTABLE PROGRAMS FOR ONLINE MASTER’S DEGREE

#11. Indiana State University

Location: Terre Haute, IN

Degree: MS in History

Net Price: $11,443

Website:              

#12. Southern New Hampshire University

Location: Manchester, NH

Degree: MA in History

Net Price: $39,638

Website        

#13. University of North Carolina Wilmington

Location: Wilmington, NC

Degree: MA in History for professional history educators

Net Price: $16,831

Website        

#14. Wayland Baptist University

Location: Plainview, TX

Degree: MA in History

Net Price: $18,693

Website

#15. Emporia State University

Location: Emporia, KS

Degree: MA in History

Net Price: $14,013

Website

#16. University of North Alabama

Location: Florence, AL

Degree: MA in History

Net Price: $12,103

Website

#17. University of Massachusetts-Boston

Location: Boston, MA

Degree: MA in History

Net Price: $10,991

Website

#18. Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania

Location: Slippery Rock, PA

Degree: Online Master’s Degree in History

Net Price: $17,557

Website

#19. Fort Hays State University

Location: Hays, KS

Degree: Online Master in History

Net Price: $12,196

Website

#20. Liberty University

Location: Lynchburg, VA

Degree: Online Master in History

Net Price: $26,954

Website

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• 20 Best Masters in Education