Best Online Master’s in Engineering Management

By Dr. Winston Ewert and Dr. James Barham

Published: Jun 22, 2021
Updated: Nov 22, 2023

Find top-ranked online master’s in engineering management degree programs to prepare students for leadership positions in a variety of environments, including manufacturing organizations, government agencies, and healthcare facilities.

Key Takeaways

Engineering managers use their analytical and organizational skills to lead teams in various complex tasks.
Online master of engineering management students generally oversee other workers, rather than directly working in engineering, in small- to large-scale companies in the industry, government, and other services.
Engineers who complete an online engineering management program are more likely to transition from individual contributors to managers and leaders.

Top 10 Online Master's in Engineering Management Degree Programs

Cornell University
University of Southern California
University of Texas at Austin
University of Arizona
Syracuse University
Texas Tech University
University of Massachusetts Amherst
University of Arkansas
University of Central Florida
New Jersey Institute of Technology

Cornell University
University of Southern California
University of Texas at Austin
University of Arizona
Syracuse University
University of Massachusetts Amherst
University of Louisville
University of Nebraska–Lincoln
University of Arkansas
Texas Tech University

Old Dominion University 95%
University of Memphis 95%
California State University, Northridge 91%
Oakland University 90%
University of Arizona 87%
University of Massachusetts Lowell 86%
Lamar University 84%
University of Louisville 82%
Lawrence Technological University 82%
Missouri University of Science and Technology 81%

University of Central Florida 29 to 1
Florida International University 24 to 1
California State University, Northridge 24 to 1
Texas Tech University 21 to 1
University of North Carolina at Charlotte 20 to 1
University of Arkansas 20 to 1
Lamar University 20 to 1
University of Texas at Austin 18 to 1
Missouri University of Science and Technology 18 to 1
University of Massachusetts Amherst 18 to 1

University of Southern California $64,726
Cornell University $63,200
Syracuse University $60,135
Kettering University $44,380
Lawrence Technological University $39,570
University of Massachusetts Amherst $16,186
Oakland University $15,723
University of Massachusetts Lowell $15,462
New Jersey Institute of Technology $15,198
University of Louisville $12,324

University of Southern California $63,468
Syracuse University $43,428
Cornell University $29,500
New Jersey Institute of Technology $21,932
Oakland University $20,016
Lawrence Technological University $18,774
University of Massachusetts Lowell $14,956
Kettering University $14,582
University of Massachusetts Amherst $14,364
University of Louisville $13,944

Lamar University
Oakland University
Lawrence Technological University
California State University, Northridge
University of Memphis
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Old Dominion University
Kettering University
University of Massachusetts Lowell
University of Idaho

Lawrence Technological University
Kettering University
Lamar University
University of Massachusetts Lowell
Missouri University of Science and Technology
Oakland University
New Jersey Institute of Technology
University of Alabama in Huntsville
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Old Dominion University

Cornell University 7%
University of Southern California 12%
University of Texas at Austin 31%
University of Central Florida 41%
Syracuse University 52%
Florida International University 64%
University of Massachusetts Amherst 64%
New Jersey Institute of Technology 66%
Texas Tech University 67%
University of Idaho 74%

University of Southern California 9 to 1
Cornell University 9 to 1
Lawrence Technological University 11 to 1
Kettering University 12 to 1
University of Louisville 13 to 1
New Jersey Institute of Technology 15 to 1
Syracuse University 15 to 1
University of Idaho 16 to 1
Old Dominion University 16 to 1
University of Nebraska–Lincoln 16 to 1

University of North Carolina at Charlotte $3,812
University of Central Florida $4,478
Florida International University $4,721
California State University, Northridge $5,742
University of Idaho $6,182
Lamar University $6,228
Old Dominion University $7,239
University of Arkansas $7,666
University of Nebraska–Lincoln $7,770
University of Memphis $8,352

University of North Carolina at Charlotte $4,337
University of Nebraska–Lincoln $6,138
Lamar University $6,471
University of Central Florida $6,916
Texas Tech University $6,956
California State University, Northridge $7,176
University of Idaho $7,754
University of Arkansas $7,875
Florida International University $9,119
University of Memphis $9,378

Table of Contents

Featured Programs

If you’re torn between business and engineering, the good news is you can have an occupation combining these two sectors. You can become an engineering manager if you want to work on the management side of engineering!

Engineering managers translate business needs and goals into engineering strategies and projects, bridging the gap between the business and technical sides. To keep teams motivated, focused, and efficient, they direct them.

Overseeing engineering projects and teams is an engineering manager’s operational responsibility. With an engineering management master’s program, they hold engineering project management positions at every project stage to help strategize, design, and lead technology projects, ensuring it is completed on time, efficiently, and correctly.

Engineers, business owners, or architectural and civil engineering managers looking to upskill or upgrade their credentials can complete their online master’s in engineering management programs is a sound decision. An engineering management degree can open doors to both business and engineering careers. Students learn best business practices and engineering science by studying product development, manufacturing construction, and industrial engineering.

An engineering and technology management online master’s degree provides one with various transferable skills. The ability to judge issues, plan effectively, and adapt to changes are crucial. This online master’s program allows students to stay current in business trends, organizational strategies, supply chain management principles, workforce dynamics, and emerging technologies and related technical skills.

Must-Have Skills for Engineering Managers

The business and engineering skills you need to be a successful engineering manager are listed below. While you might already have such skills, expect to brush them up even more when you enroll in an online master’s in engineering management :

Communication Skills

Engineering company managers must communicate effectively with their teams, clients, executives, prospects, and industry members. While you might have good oral and writing skills acquired from a bachelor’s or real-life work, there are more opportunities to brush up these skills through advanced research and projects in an online master’s in engineering management.

Engineering And Business Knowledge

The majority of top engineering managers have engineering backgrounds, as well as a higher qualification in engineering management. Fortunately, an online master’s program in this field will enhance your engineering and business knowledge even more. You must remain familiar with engineering processes and software technologies. As you manage projects, you need to suggest and guide your team on the best solution for each situation and review and understand the work you manage.

Leadership Skill

A successful engineering manager must be able to lead their team to success. For a project to succeed, managers should have an idea of what the result should be. The ability to inspire, empower, and trust people to do their jobs is enhanced when managers have a strong purpose that motivates and inspires their teams.

Project Management Skill

Engineering managers need to be able to manage a project from start to finish and supervise the engineering team’s work. Having great project management skills means you must be able to allocate and budget resources, coordinate communication across multiple departments, and meet important deadlines.

Decision-Making Skills

In contrast to engineering roles, where clear, concrete solutions are often provided, managerial positions often require judgment calls. As an engineering manager, you’ll face circumstances where you need to decide the best solutions and ways. Team leaders need to learn how to evaluate situations that do not have clear right and wrong answers.

Types Of Engineering Managers

Getting an online master’s in engineering management is a great qualification to allow you to land a job in the field of engineering management that you want. Here are some of the types of engineering management to explore:

Bioengineering Managers

In the interface of medicine and engineering, bioengineers lead teams, projects, and innovations. Among their responsibilities are designing medical and diagnostic devices, developing biocompatible materials, and advancing biomedical engineering, ecological engineering, and orthopedics.

Computer and Electrical Engineering Managers

As an electrical or computer engineering manager, you review and approve new designs, testing, or installation procedures. Aside from ensuring engineering projects are properly staffed, you should also ensure milestones are met. Engineers with these specializations are also in demand in the semiconductor manufacturing industry.

Software Engineering Manager

Leaders in software engineering manage teams, projects, and innovations that develop cloud-based, platform-based, and increasingly machine-learning-integrated software systems and programs.

Mechanical Engineering Manager

In areas like automotive, robotics, and electronics, mechanical engineers lead teams, projects, and innovations within mechanical systems.

Chemical Engineering Manager

An engineer-in-charge of chemical engineering oversees the design and engineering of chemical engineering projects, such as chemical plants or chemical transportation. On a project, they coordinate communication and coordination between different types of engineers. Furthermore, they oversee project schedules, budgets, and stakeholder communications.

Frequently Asked Questions About Engineering Management Degrees

Earning a master’s degree in engineering management can help working professionals strengthen their leadership skills and prepare for managerial positions in the workforce.

Offered both online and in person, this roughly 30-credit degree can be completed in about two years.

While some programs may offer additional concentrations, most of the coursework for this degree is centered around leadership principles, problem-solving, project management, and decision making, especially in areas like finance and organizational governance. Students may also learn about topics like marketing, engineering contract management, and ethics in the workplace.

Upon graduation, and depending on previous work experience, individuals will be prepared for leadership positions in a variety of environments, including manufacturing organizations, government agencies, and healthcare facilities.

Learn more about what you can do with a master’s degree in engineering.

How do we determine the best online engineering management master's degree programs?

Methodology

Pursuing your degree online doesn’t mean you need to settle for an inferior school. Today, most universities and colleges offer online degrees, and many respected schools are seeing significant growth in their numbers of online students.

The people affiliated with a school are ultimately what make it great. This is why influence — i.e., the academic impact of faculty and alumni associated with a school — gets at the heart of what is truly best in education. The combined influence score of a college or university’s top academic influencers is the best indicator of academic excellence. For our online degree rankings, we focus on the academic influence of faculty and alumni in the specific disciplines we’re ranking.

If you are serious about finding the best online colleges, you should be asking where the most influential professors are teaching, and whether their graduates themselves are advancing the school’s reputation for academic excellence. Most ranking sites rely on an opaque combination of reputation surveys and arbitrary performance metrics. Influence, as measured by our InfluenceRanking engine, provides a ranking that is free from bias, insulated from manipulation, and reflective of real-world educational outcomes.

Best Online Master’s in Engineering Management Degree Programs

Career Outlook for Students with Engineering Management Degree

Go to Degree Finder tool

Engineering/Industrial Management

Degree Level: Master's

Location: The U.S. (Private Schools)
Avg. Cost of Degree*: $12,302
Avg. Expenses*: $16,767
Avg. Starting Salary*: $91,278
Avg. Cost Recoup Time**: 4 years
Job Growth: 6.15%
Number of Jobs: 947,000
* denotes ‘annually’
** denotes ‘at 15% of annual salary’

Career Salaries

Career	Job Growth	Avg. Salary
Architectural and Engineering Managers	4.07%	$142,020
Industrial Production Managers	1.62%	$106,425
Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary	9.23%	$100,317
Facilities Managers	4.57%	$95,139
Engineers, All Other	3.35%	$94,619
Industrial Engineers	11.73%	$90,718
Commercial and Industrial Designers	1.85%	$75,120
Postsecondary Teachers, All Other	3.61%	$68,169
Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other	3.10%	$64,208
Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians	3.18%	$59,562

Average Career Salaries

Bottom 10%	Median	Top 10%
$64,187	$98,999	$149,256

Promising Job Markets

State	Cost of Living	Avg. Salary
#2 New Mexico	7% higher than average	$117,958
#3 Louisiana	9% higher than average	$110,081
#4 Texas	10% higher than average	$103,887
#5 West Virginia	11% higher than average	$100,428
#6 Michigan	15% higher than average	$95,848
#7 Missouri	16% higher than average	$94,887
#8 Mississippi	18% higher than average	$92,514
#9 Alabama	13% higher than average	$97,124
#10 Georgia	13% higher than average	$95,430
#11 Illinois	7% higher than average	$101,717
#12 Virginia	5% higher than average	$104,070
#13 Ohio	14% higher than average	$93,395
#14 Wyoming	2% higher than average	$105,718
#15 Minnesota	4% higher than average	$101,243
#16 Arizona	5% higher than average	$99,904
#17 New York	5% higher than average	$109,455
#18 Delaware	2% higher than average	$107,228
#19 Kansas	9% higher than average	$94,933
#20 Washington	7% higher than average	$110,645
#21 Iowa	9% higher than average	$94,012
#22 Tennessee	14% higher than average	$88,766
#23 North Carolina	11% higher than average	$91,347
#24 South Dakota	7% higher than average	$95,278
#25 Idaho	7% higher than average	$94,871
#26 Arkansas	16% higher than average	$86,046
#27 Oklahoma	13% higher than average	$88,489
#28 Indiana	11% higher than average	$89,571
#29 Colorado	3% higher than average	$103,801
#30 Pennsylvania	5% higher than average	$95,431
#31 South Carolina	8% higher than average	$91,079
#32 Kentucky	14% higher than average	$84,155
#33 Nebraska	6% higher than average	$90,873
#34 Florida	6% higher than average	$91,162
#35 New Jersey	13% higher than average	$109,537
#36 Wisconsin	7% higher than average	$89,530
#37 Montana	3% higher than average	$91,102
#38 Alaska	23% higher than average	$115,353
#39 California	26% higher than average	$118,124
#40 Utah	4% higher than average	$89,215
#41 New Hampshire	13% higher than average	$103,463
#42 Maryland	18% higher than average	$107,739
#43 Rhode Island	20% higher than average	$109,206
#44 Oregon	11% higher than average	$100,928
#45 North Dakota	average	$89,975
#46 Nevada	5% higher than average	$93,669
#47 Massachusetts	24% higher than average	$107,387
#48 Connecticut	18% higher than average	$101,632
#49 Maine	9% higher than average	$93,230
#50 Vermont	13% higher than average	$91,927
#51 District of Columbia	49% higher than average	$115,815
#52 Hawaii	40% higher than average	$103,945

Top Industries

Industry	Avg. Salary
Architectural and Engineering Managers	$142,020
Industrial Production Managers	$106,425
Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary	$100,317
Facilities Managers	$95,139
Engineers, All Other	$94,619
Industrial Engineers	$90,718
Commercial and Industrial Designers	$75,120
Postsecondary Teachers, All Other	$68,169
Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other	$64,208
Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians	$59,562

Data from The Bureau of Labor Statistics, The Department of Education College Scorecard, The Department of Education NCES, and The Council for Community and Economic Research.

Online Degree Frequently Asked Questions

If this is your first time taking an online course, the experience may require some adjustment. While you’ll generally learn the same content and take the same exams as your on-campus peers, the medium will likely require you to manage much of this experience independently. You’ll be accountable for your own time management, your ability to harness the technology at your fingertips, and your ability to focus on the lectures, lessons, and assignments at hand. This means you’ll need to create a suitable workspace for yourself, maintain a realistic schedule, and take it upon yourself to build relationships with your instructors and classmates. With online college, your goal is to find a balance between independence and engagement.

No. The only part of online education that’s easier is actually getting there. Taking the commute out of the equation means getting to class should be a lot more manageable. But that’s where it ends. In general, your online courses will incorporate the very same materials, concepts, and testing methods as would a traditional classroom.

And in many cases, you’ll even have the same instructors as your on-campus counterparts. In fact, if you are adjusting to the experience of independent learning or working with remote learning technology for the first time, online college may even be a little more challenging for you. For a few insights on how to manage this new experience, check out our 10 Tips for Adjusting to School Online.

Accreditation is especially important when it comes to online college. This is because the online education landscape is a mix of highly-reputable institutions and less-than-reputable for-profit schools. Accreditation gives you the power to differentiate between the two. Accreditation is a stamp of approval from an independent accrediting agency which indicates that a college or university is meeting standards of quality, credibility, and currency. School-wide accreditation falls into two major categories: regional and national accreditation. Regional accreditors generally hold jurisdiction only over schools in the states comprising their region, whereas national accreditors hold jurisdiction over schools in all states. Regional accreditation is widely regarded as a more rigorous standard of quality and credibility than national accreditation.

Attending a college or university which is not regionally accredited could limit your opportunities. When seeking an online education, we strongly recommend that students opt for regionally accredited schools. Regional accreditation ensures eligibility for federal loans and grants, ensures your college credits can be transferred between schools, and ensures that your degree credits can be accepted if you wish to earn an advanced degree.

As long as your online college degree is regionally accredited, you should have little difficulty transferring most of your credits or credentials to another regionally accredited undergraduate school. Every school carries its own standards and procedures for granting a transfer. In many cases, you will be required to navigate a bureaucracy in which some of your credits will be transferred and others will be jettisoned. However, provided that you have attended an online school with the proper regional accreditation, you should have plenty of options for transfer.

In most cases, as long you graduate from a well-regarded, regionally-accredited online college, prospective employers won’t look sideways at your degree. In fact, unless you attend an exclusively online college or university, there will likely be no specific indicator on your degree, transcript or resume differentiating your school from its brick-and-mortar counterpart. This means that your employer will likely only differentiate between an online and in-person degree if you mention this distinction.

While some employers may express concern about making the adjustment from online education to in-person workplace collaboration, many other employers will view your online degree as evidence of valuable 21st Century professional skills such as independence, self-motivation, time management, and tech savvy.

If you are a student who thrives on the dynamic energy of in-person discussion, who requires the physical surroundings of a classroom to feel engaged, or who considers the social aspects of education to be of equal importance to the actual content of your courses, online education will require some adjustment.

While there is much that can be supplanted or simulated through the online medium, some students may find that there is nothing which can replace the conversation, collaboration, and motivation that occur in an actual classroom setting. As you make the adjustment to online education, one of the biggest challenges you will likely face is overcoming this difference in order to the get the most out of your classes. Fortunately, we’ve got some great Tips for Online Education Beginners.

The advantages of online classes are many. First and foremost, online courses give you the freedom and flexibility to attend class from anywhere that works for you, whether you’re at home, in a coffee shop, or in a quiet conference room at work. In many cases, you’ll also enjoy the convenience of asynchronous learning opportunities-educational experiences that you can complete on your own schedule. This may include pre-taped lectures, ongoing chat-board discussions, and 24/7 access to digital materials. And of course, just as there are some learners who prefer the energy of a live classroom, there are those who learn best when working in their own personal space, free from distractions. If this sounds like you, you might find the solitude of online learning to be a major advantage.

Whether you’re just getting started on your college search, you’re looking for survival tips on your way to a bachelor’s degree, or you’re preparing for the transition into grad school, we’ve got guides, how to’s and tons of other valuable resources to keep you moving forward in your educational journey.

Do you have a question about this topic? Ask it here

Best Online Master’s in Engineering Management

Key Takeaways

Top 10 Online Master's in Engineering Management Degree Programs

Featured Programs

Must-Have Skills for Engineering Managers

Communication Skills

Engineering And Business Knowledge

Leadership Skill

Project Management Skill

Decision-Making Skills

Types Of Engineering Managers

Bioengineering Managers

Computer and Electrical Engineering Managers

Software Engineering Manager

Mechanical Engineering Manager

Chemical Engineering Manager

Frequently Asked Questions About Engineering Management Degrees

Why get a master’s in engineering management?

How long does it take to get a master’s in engineering management?

What kind of coursework will I have while getting a master’s in engineering management?

What can I do with a master’s in engineering management?

Best Online Master’s in Engineering Management Degree Programs

Career Outlook for Engineering Management degree at Cornell University

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for Engineering Management degree at University of Southern California

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for Engineering Management degree at University of Texas at Austin

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for Engineering Management degree at University of Arizona

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for Engineering Management degree at Syracuse University

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for Engineering Management degree at Texas Tech University

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for Engineering Management degree at University of Massachusetts Amherst

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for Engineering Management degree at University of Arkansas

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for Engineering Management degree at University of Central Florida

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for Engineering Management degree at New Jersey Institute of Technology

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for Engineering Management degree at University of Alabama in Huntsville

Online Degrees

Concentrations

Career Outlook for Engineering Management degree at Florida International University

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for Engineering Management degree at Missouri University of Science and Technology

Online Degrees

Concentrations

Career Outlook for Engineering Management degree at University of Louisville

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for Engineering Management degree at University of Nebraska–Lincoln

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for Engineering Management degree at University of Idaho

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for Engineering Management degree at University of Massachusetts Lowell

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for Engineering Management degree at Kettering University

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for Engineering Management degree at Old Dominion University

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for Engineering Management degree at University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for Engineering Management degree at University of Memphis

Online Degrees

Concentrations

Career Outlook for Engineering Management degree at California State University, Northridge

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for Engineering Management degree at Lawrence Technological University

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for Engineering Management degree at Oakland University

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for Engineering Management degree at Lamar University

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for Students with Engineering Management Degree

Engineering/Industrial Management

Degree Level: Master's

Career Salaries

Average Career Salaries