An online degree in electrical engineering can enable students to pursue a field in engineering while obtaining more flexibility than through a conventional university program. The top programs feature both accredited theoretical studies and practical training along with an engineering degree. However, programs for electrical engineering differ from one another. While some programs are set up for professionals, others include labs and other “in-person” requirements. The following resource lists seven programs and describes important points for students to consider when choosing an electrical engineering degree online.
Which online electrical engineering program is the best? Not to mention the best B.S.E.E. program that includes online classes by the ABET accreditation.
| Program | Best For | Format | Accreditation | Standout Feature |
| University of North Dakota | Flexible online engineering study | Online | ABET EAC | Remote lab kits |
| Arizona State University | Broad engineering environment | Online | Engineering accreditation | Large university resources |
| University of Alabama | Public-university option | Online | Engineering accreditation | Established engineering program |
| Old Dominion University | Working students | Online | Engineering accreditation | Flexible engineering pathway |
| University of Southern Mississippi | Alternative public option | Online | Engineering accreditation | Distance engineering study |
| Colorado State University | Flexible research-university study | Online | Engineering accreditation | Online engineering format |
| National University | Adult learners | Online | Program-specific accreditation | Flexible online structure |
Key Takeaways
- An online electrical engineering degree is actually an engineering degree – students should expect actual electrical engineering coursework and some form of laboratory or hands-on learning, even when the delivery is remote.
- ABET Engineering Accreditation Commission accreditation is the most crucial quality marker to check for when comparing online electrical engineering programs; it signals that the curriculum meets rigorous professional standards recognized by employers and licensing boards.
- UND’s online B.S.E.E. is ABET-accredited, uses remote laboratory kits, and charges one tuition rate irrespective of residency, making it a strong option for students who need a fully remote path to an accredited engineering degree.
- How each program manages laboratory learning varies significantly – some use remote lab kits, others need periodic campus visits or local lab arrangements – and this detail should be confirmed before enrolling.
- Students should compare final cost, laboratory delivery model, campus requirements, curriculum coverage, and career alignment instead of relying on per-credit tuition figures alone.
Before comparing programs, it helps to understand the things that matter most for an engineering degree, particularly as opposed to other online graduate or undergraduate fields.
Engineering accreditation is the most important beginning point. ABET’s Engineering Accreditation Commission checks bachelor’s-level engineering programs against strict criteria for curriculum, faculty, and student outcomes. Graduating from an ABET-accredited program is important when pursuing licensure as a Professional Engineer, applying to engineering employers who specify accredited degrees, or continuing to graduate-level engineering study. Not every online engineering program holds ABET-EAC accreditation, so students should verify this directly instead of assuming.
Laboratory experience is the factor that most distinguishes online electrical engineering programs from each other. Electrical engineering includes hands-on work with circuits, systems, measurement equipment, and testing tools. Programs manage this in different ways – some provide remote lab kits that let students conduct experiments at home, others require periodic campus visits, and others use simulation software or virtual labs. Knowing exactly how a program delivers laboratory learning is essential before enrolling.
Program flexibility matters most for students who are working or handling other responsibilities. Check whether coursework is fully asynchronous, whether any synchronous sessions are needed, and whether the program is designed around full-time or part-time enrollment. Some programs offer regular rolling enrollment, while others follow traditional semester structures.
Total cost needs more attention than per-credit rates alone. Factor in lab kit costs, technology fees, textbooks, and whether out-of-state tuition rates apply. A program that costs one rate regardless of residency can be especially more cost-effective for out-of-state students than one with separate in-state and out-of-state pricing.
Curriculum and career alignment are the last check. Electrical engineering covers a broad range of applications – power systems, electronics, communications, embedded systems, signal processing, control systems, and more. Students with a good sense of the area they want to work in should verify that their program’s electives and specialization options align with those interests.
UND’s online electrical engineering degree is designed from the ground up for students who want to earn an accredited electrical engineering degree without relocating to campus. The program is accredited by the ABET Engineering Accreditation Commission – the field’s professional quality standard – and is structured around online coursework supported by remote laboratory kits that let students conduct hands-on experiments from home. That combination addresses one of the most popular practical concerns about online engineering education: what happens to the laboratory experience. Instead of relying solely on simulation or software, UND’s remote lab kits offer students direct experience with physical engineering work as part of their online study.
The program covers the complete range of electrical engineering fundamentals that an ABET-accredited degree needs, and students can connect their engineering study with related areas like computer science, aerospace, or biomedical engineering – giving those with specific career directions a way to shape their coursework accordingly. The ABET accreditation means the degree meets the same professional standards as a campus-based program, which is important for students who intend to pursue Professional Engineer licensure or enter engineering roles where employers confirm accreditation.
UND charges one tuition rate irrespective of where students live, which is a meaningful advantage for out-of-state students comparing programs across universities. Many public universities charge much higher rates for non-residents, making their advertised per-credit rates misleading for the majority of online students who are not residents of the state. UND’s single-rate structure eliminates that variable from the cost comparison.
For students who need a verified pathway to an accredited electrical engineering degree through an online format with actual laboratory experience and no campus requirement, UND’s B.S.E.E. is one of the more directly structured options available.
Key differentiator: ABET-EAC-accredited online B.S.E.E. with remote laboratory kits, no campus needs, and a single tuition rate regardless of residency.
Arizona State University provides an online electrical engineering pathway backed by a large research university with more engineering infrastructure and resources. The program covers core electrical engineering concepts and offers students access to an engineering environment that supports a more range of technical disciplines and related fields. For students who value the resources, network, and academic environment of a big research institution alongside online flexibility, ASU’s scale and engineering reputation offer context that smaller or newer online programs cannot replicate.
Key differentiator: Online electrical engineering study within a big research university, with access to broad engineering resources and related technical disciplines.
The University of Alabama’s online electrical engineering pathway offers students access to an established public research university’s engineering program through remote study. The program offers foundational electrical engineering coursework and prepares students for professional engineering careers within an academic environment with a long track record in engineering education. For students comparing well-established public universities that offer online engineering options, Alabama provides a well-recognized institutional context with its online delivery.
Key differentiator: Online electrical engineering education from an established public research university with a recognized engineering program.
Old Dominion University has built an important portion of its academic identity around distance education and is a useful option for students who want flexible online delivery within a public university environment. Its engineering programs offer students access to technical coursework and career-focused preparation while accommodating the routines of working students and professionals who cannot commit to a full-time campus-based experience. For students checking public university options with established online infrastructure, Old Dominion’s history in distance education is worth considering.
Key differentiator: Flexible electrical engineering education within a public university with a well-established distance learning infrastructure.
The University of Southern Mississippi provides online electrical engineering study for students looking for a public university option for distance-based engineering education. The program provides another comparison point for students checking multiple universities before deciding where to apply. Prospective students should inspect curriculum structure, how the program handles laboratory needs, and how its delivery format compares to their schedule and learning preferences before treating it as equivalent to programs with totally verified ABET accreditation and remote lab arrangements.
Key differentiator: Public university option for students comparing online electrical engineering pathways across multiple institutions.
Colorado State University provides online engineering education within a research university environment that spans various engineering disciplines. The program can appeal to students who want the academic rigor of a research-oriented institution while completing coursework remotely and balancing engineering study with professional or personal responsibilities. Students comparing online engineering options should check how Colorado State handles laboratory needs and whether its curriculum structure aligns with their specific engineering interests.
Key differentiator: Flexible electrical engineering study within a research university setting, suited to students managing competing responsibilities alongside their degree.
National University’s online format is structured around adult learners who want scheduling flexibility above all else. The institution’s strategy for online education – including rolling enrollment and short course terms – can appeal to working professionals and non-traditional students who want to fit degree progress around unpredictable schedules. Prospective students considering National University for electrical engineering study should carefully check the program’s accreditation status, how laboratory learning is managed, and how the curriculum compares to programs accredited by ABET’s Engineering Accreditation Commission before making an enrollment decision.
Key differentiator: Flexible online learning structure designed around students with significant professional or personal responsibilities.
ABET accreditation is the first filter. It is the clearest indicator that a program fulfills the professional standards the engineering field recognizes, and it is important for students who intend to pursue licensure or employment with engineering firms that require accredited degrees. UND is the only program on this list where ABET-EAC accreditation for the online B.S.E.E. is confirmed with a remote laboratory kit delivery model.
After accreditation, laboratory delivery is the most crucial practical question. Ask each program directly: how are lab requirements managed? Are physical lab kits provided? Are there any campus visit needs? What lab simulation or hardware tools does the program use?
For out-of-state students, the tuition model matters as much as the advertised rate. UND’s single tuition rate irrespective of residency is a genuine structural advantage over programs that charge separate in-state and out-of-state rates.
For students who know which area of electrical engineering they really want to pursue, curriculum alignment should drive the last comparison. Review elective options, concentrations, and capstone or senior design project structures across programs before applying.
Ans: UND’s online B.S.E.E. stands out for students who want an ABET-accredited degree with remote laboratory kits, no campus requirement, and a single tuition rate regardless of residency. The best program overall depends on individual priorities, including cost, accreditation, lab structure, and career direction.
Ans: Some programs – including UND’s B.S.E.E. – are structured for students who want online coursework and remote laboratory experiences without a campus requirement. Other programs require periodic in-person sessions. Students should confirm the specific requirements for any program they are considering.
Ans: Accreditation varies by program. ABET Engineering Accreditation Commission accreditation is the most important credential to look for in a bachelor’s-level electrical engineering program. Not every online electrical engineering program holds ABET-EAC accreditation, so students should verify this directly.
Ans: Some are. UND’s online B.S.E.E. is accredited by the ABET Engineering Accreditation Commission. Students should check ABET’s public database of accredited programs to verify the accreditation status of any program they are evaluating.
Ans: Programs handle this differently. UND uses remote laboratory kits that allow students to conduct hands-on experiments from home. Other programs use virtual simulation software, require campus lab visits, or rely on partnerships with local facilities. The lab delivery model is one of the most important factors to confirm before enrolling.
Ans: For students who need flexibility to earn an engineering degree while working or managing other responsibilities, an accredited online program can be a practical and professionally recognized path into engineering. The value depends on choosing a program with legitimate accreditation, real laboratory experience, and a curriculum aligned with the student’s career goals.
Ans: Yes, if the degree is from an ABET-accredited program. Employers and licensing boards that require an accredited engineering degree do not typically distinguish between online and campus-based delivery when the degree holds ABET-EAC accreditation.
Ans: Electrical engineering programs focus on engineering theory, design, and analysis, and are accredited by ABET’s Engineering Accreditation Commission. Electrical engineering technology programs have a more applied and implementation-focused orientation and are accredited through ABET’s Engineering Technology Accreditation Commission. The credentials and career pathways associated with each are distinct.
Ans: A bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering typically requires 120 to 128 credit hours. Full-time students may complete the degree in four years. Part-time students will take longer depending on how many credits they take per term and whether any transfer credits apply.
Ans: UND is one of the programs on this list with confirmed ABET-EAC accreditation for its online B.S.E.E. Students evaluating other programs should verify accreditation directly through ABET’s public program search before making enrollment decisions.
Ans: Yes. UND offers an online B.S. in Electrical Engineering accredited by the ABET Engineering Accreditation Commission.
Ans: UND’s online B.S.E.E. is structured for students who do not need to relocate to campus, with remote laboratory kits supporting hands-on learning. Prospective students should confirm current program requirements directly with UND before enrolling.
