2027 Accredited Online Engineering Degree Programs With No GRE or GMAT Requirements
Co-Founder and Chief Data Scientist
Applying to an online engineering program is easier when you can skip standardized tests, but "no GRE" does not mean "no standards." The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that architecture and engineering occupations are projected to add about 195,000 openings per year from 2023 to 2033, making flexible graduate and undergraduate pathways more relevant for working adults. This guide is for students comparing accredited online engineering degrees without GRE or GMAT requirements. You will learn which programs use test-free or test-optional admissions, what schools evaluate instead, and how to choose a program with strong academic value.
Key Things You Should Know
- Many accredited online engineering master's and engineering management programs now use test-optional, test-waiver, or test-free admissions, but applicants still need strong transcripts, prerequisites, recommendations, and career-focused statements.
- The BLS projects about 195,000 annual openings in architecture and engineering occupations from 2023 to 2033, so program choice should be based on specialization, accreditation, cost, and career fit rather than test policy alone.
- NCES graduate tuition data published in 2024 shows wide price differences by institution type, which means skipping the GRE may save application time and testing costs, but total tuition and aid matter much more for return on investment.
Which Accredited Online Engineering Degree Programs Do Not Require the GRE or GMAT?
Accredited online engineering programs without GRE or GMAT requirements are most common at the master's level, especially in engineering management, systems engineering, electrical engineering, civil engineering, mechanical engineering, industrial engineering, and computer engineering. At the bachelor's level, the GRE and GMAT are not normally part of admissions, so students should focus instead on regional or institutional accreditation, ABET status where available, transfer policy, lab delivery, and math readiness.
The table below summarizes examples of U.S. online engineering-related degree options that have commonly used no-GRE, test-optional, or waiver-based admissions pathways. Policies can change by department and term, so applicants should confirm the current requirement directly with the program before applying.
| Institution or program type | Common online engineering option | GRE or GMAT status | Accreditation point to verify | Best fit |
| Johns Hopkins Engineering for Professionals | Online engineering master's programs in areas such as systems, electrical, mechanical, and applied biomedical engineering | GRE commonly not required for many part-time professional programs | Institutional accreditation; program-level requirements vary | Working engineers seeking advanced technical depth |
| Arizona State University Online | Online engineering management and engineering-related graduate programs | Many programs do not require GRE or GMAT scores | Institutional accreditation; ABET status should be checked for undergraduate programs | Students seeking management, operations, or applied engineering leadership roles |
| University of Colorado Boulder | Online electrical engineering graduate pathways, including performance-based options | Some pathways do not require GRE scores | Institutional accreditation; confirm degree transcript and admission model | Students who want a flexible entry route and strong technical coursework |
| Ohio University Online | Online civil engineering and engineering management master's options | GRE often not required for selected online graduate programs | Institutional accreditation; confirm department-specific admissions rules | Civil, construction, infrastructure, and technical management professionals |
| University of North Dakota Online | Online engineering bachelor's and graduate engineering options | Graduate test requirements vary; some programs use no-GRE or waiver pathways | Institutional accreditation; ABET status is especially important for bachelor's programs | Students needing distance engineering programs with strong technical structure |
| State university engineering online divisions | Online MS, MEng, or engineering management degrees | Frequently test-optional or waiver-based, especially for applicants with strong GPAs or work experience | Institutional accreditation and department reputation | Applicants who want public-university pricing and employer-recognized credentials |
No-GRE, test-optional, and test-waiver policies are not identical. A test-free program does not use GRE or GMAT scores in admissions. A test-optional program lets applicants decide whether scores strengthen the file. A test-waiver program may waive the test only if the applicant meets conditions such as a minimum GPA, prior graduate coursework, professional engineering experience, or an accredited undergraduate degree.
If your long-term goal is research leadership or university teaching, compare master's options with future doctoral pathways; some students eventually explore online PhD programs, where admissions expectations can be more research-focused even when standardized tests are optional.
Why Have Accredited Online Engineering Degree Programs Eliminated GRE and GMAT Requirements?
Engineering schools have reduced GRE and GMAT requirements because standardized tests are imperfect predictors of performance in applied, professional, and online graduate programs. Many online engineering applicants are already working engineers, project managers, military personnel, or STEM professionals whose transcripts, licenses, portfolios, and employer-backed experience may reveal more than a single exam score.
The shift also reflects broader graduate admissions trends. Online programs compete for adult learners who may not have time to prepare for a test, travel to a testing center, and wait for scores before applying. Removing the GRE can shorten the application timeline and reduce upfront costs, while still allowing schools to evaluate readiness through calculus, statistics, programming, engineering science, and prior technical coursework.
GMAT requirements are less common in engineering than in business schools, but they may appear in engineering management, technology management, or dual MBA-style programs. When these programs remove the GMAT, they often replace it with evidence of leadership, quantitative work, supervisory experience, or a strong undergraduate record.
The important takeaway is that schools are not necessarily lowering expectations. They are changing the evidence they use. A strong no-GRE engineering application usually proves three things: the applicant can handle graduate-level math and technical content, understands the specialization, and has a clear reason for pursuing the degree online.
What Admissions Criteria Matter Most Without GRE or GMAT Scores?
Without GRE or GMAT scores, admissions committees lean more heavily on academic history, technical preparation, and professional fit. This can benefit applicants who have already demonstrated engineering ability in college or the workplace, but it can hurt applicants who submit generic materials or have unresolved prerequisite gaps.
The table below compares the admissions factors that usually matter most when standardized tests are not required. Use it to identify where your application is already strong and where you may need additional preparation.
| Admissions factor | Why it matters without test scores | What a strong applicant shows |
| Undergraduate GPA | It becomes one of the clearest indicators of academic consistency | Solid performance in upper-level STEM and engineering courses |
| Prerequisite coursework | Engineering programs need evidence of math, science, and technical readiness | Calculus, differential equations, physics, statistics, programming, or discipline-specific foundations |
| ABET-accredited bachelor's degree | Some graduate programs prefer or require an engineering background from a recognized program | A completed engineering degree, or documented bridge coursework if coming from a related STEM field |
| Professional experience | Work history can show applied problem-solving and readiness for online learning | Engineering projects, design work, technical leadership, quality assurance, operations, or systems experience |
| Statement of purpose | It explains why the program matches the applicant's goals | A specific connection between specialization, career plan, and faculty or curriculum strengths |
| Recommendations | They validate technical ability, teamwork, and maturity | Letters from supervisors, engineering managers, professors, or project leads who can cite concrete examples |
Applicants with weaker GPAs should not assume a no-GRE program is out of reach. Some schools consider later academic improvement, professional certifications, employer-sponsored training, graduate certificates, or nondegree coursework. However, if the program is test-optional and your transcript has gaps, a strong GRE quantitative score may still help in selected cases.
No-GRE and no-GMAT online engineering programs are not automatically easier to get into. They are easier to apply to because applicants can avoid test preparation, testing fees, and score reporting delays. The admissions review may still be selective, especially at universities with strong engineering reputations or capacity-limited programs.
A practical way to judge admissions difficulty is to look at what the school uses instead of test scores. If a program requires a minimum GPA, specific engineering prerequisites, professional experience, and multiple recommendations, it may be just as rigorous as a program that asks for GRE scores.
Use the following sequence to estimate how competitive your application may be before you spend money on application fees:
- Check whether the program is test-free, test-optional, or waiver-based, because each policy creates a different admissions strategy.
- Compare your GPA against the stated minimum and the recommended profile, not just the minimum required to submit an application.
- Confirm that you have completed the required math, science, engineering, or programming prerequisites before the first term begins.
- Review whether the program expects work experience, especially for engineering management, systems engineering, or applied professional degrees.
- Ask admissions whether recent admits without GRE or GMAT scores typically had strong GPAs, technical employment, prior graduate credits, or other evidence of readiness.
Taking the GRE may still make sense if you are applying to highly selective programs, have a low undergraduate GPA, lack an engineering degree, or want to show quantitative strength after years away from school. It may not be worth the time if the program is truly test-free or explicitly states that scores will not be reviewed.
Skipping the GRE or GMAT does not reduce academic quality by itself. Accreditation, curriculum design, faculty qualifications, student support, and assessment standards matter far more than whether a standardized test is used in admissions.
For U.S. students, the first accreditation layer to verify is institutional accreditation from a recognized accreditor. This affects federal financial aid eligibility, transferability, employer recognition, and graduate school acceptance. For engineering bachelor's programs, ABET accreditation can be especially important because it may affect eligibility for the Fundamentals of Engineering exam, Professional Engineer licensure pathways, and employer screening in certain fields.
Graduate engineering programs are less commonly ABET-accredited because ABET accreditation is most central at the bachelor's level. That does not mean a master's program is weak. Instead, students should evaluate whether the university is institutionally accredited, whether the engineering school has a credible reputation, whether faculty have relevant research or industry expertise, and whether the curriculum matches the technical skills required in the target role.
The safest rule is simple: never use "no GRE" as the main quality signal. A reputable no-GRE online engineering degree should still have clear admissions standards, transparent graduation requirements, qualified faculty, accessible advising, and a curriculum that aligns with current engineering tools and methods, including data analysis, modeling, simulation, cybersecurity, automation, and AI-enabled design workflows where relevant.
No-GRE and no-GMAT online engineering programs are especially useful for students whose strongest qualifications are not standardized test scores. These programs can be a strong fit for working adults, military-affiliated students, experienced technicians moving into engineering roles, international applicants with U.S.-equivalent STEM preparation, and engineers seeking promotion without pausing employment.
The students who benefit most usually fall into one or more of the following groups:
- Working engineers who can show technical responsibility through projects, promotions, licenses, or supervisor recommendations.
- STEM graduates with strong grades who want to move into engineering, systems, data, manufacturing, or technical management roles.
- Applicants with family or full-time work responsibilities who need to reduce application friction and start sooner.
- Students who perform poorly on standardized tests but have strong evidence of classroom or workplace engineering ability.
- Professionals comparing engineering with other career-change paths and trying to minimize unnecessary application steps.
Students should be more cautious if they lack calculus, physics, programming, or engineering science preparation. In that case, a bridge program, graduate certificate, post-baccalaureate coursework, or a second bachelor's pathway may be more realistic than jumping directly into a technical master's program.
If you are comparing a major career pivot into engineering with human-centered technical or healthcare-adjacent work, it can help to compare the education path with alternatives such as becoming a speech language pathologist, where licensure, clinical hours, and graduate admissions requirements differ substantially.
No-GRE online engineering programs can reduce application costs, but tuition is the larger financial issue. GRE registration, prep materials, and score reports may be meaningful short-term expenses, yet the total price of an engineering degree depends more on credit count, per-credit tuition, fees, transfer credits, employer reimbursement, residency rules, and whether the program charges online students in-state or flat-rate tuition.
NCES graduate tuition and required-fee data published in 2024 shows that average graduate charges vary widely by institution type, with public institutions generally lower than private nonprofit institutions. For engineering students, this means the best-value option is often not simply the cheapest program or the easiest application; it is the accredited program that offers the right specialization, manageable debt, and credible career alignment.
The table below shows the main cost factors to compare before choosing a no-GRE online engineering program. These categories matter because two programs with similar per-credit tuition can have very different total costs.
| Cost factor | Why it changes total price | What to ask the school |
| Credit requirement | A 30-credit degree can cost much less than a 45-credit degree at the same tuition rate | How many credits are required for students with my background? |
| Online tuition structure | Some public universities charge the same rate regardless of residency, while others vary by state | Do online students pay in-state, out-of-state, or separate online tuition? |
| Engineering course fees | Labs, software, proctoring, and technology fees can add to the listed tuition | Are all required fees included in the published cost estimate? |
| Transfer or prior graduate credit | Accepted credits can reduce time and tuition | How many graduate credits can be transferred, and what grade is required? |
| Employer tuition assistance | Engineering employers may fund job-relevant degrees | Can billing, term schedules, or documentation align with employer reimbursement rules? |
| Federal aid eligibility | Institutional accreditation is usually required for federal student aid | Is the program eligible for federal loans, and are there program-specific scholarships? |
Students comparing engineering with other online graduate options should also look at program length and licensure requirements. For example, accelerated MSW programs online may follow very different fieldwork and accreditation rules, so the cheapest or fastest path depends on the profession, not just the degree level.
Career outcomes from a no-GRE online engineering degree depend on the degree level, specialization, prior experience, local labor market, and whether the role requires licensure. Employers generally evaluate the university, accreditation, technical skills, experience, and project portfolio rather than asking whether the applicant submitted GRE or GMAT scores.
The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook reports that architecture and engineering occupations are projected to grow faster than the average for all occupations from 2023 to 2033. For readers, the key implication is that engineering remains a broad labor market, but outcomes vary sharply between fields such as civil infrastructure, electrical systems, manufacturing, aerospace, environmental engineering, and engineering management.
Common roles connected to online engineering degrees include civil engineer, electrical engineer, mechanical engineer, industrial engineer, systems engineer, quality engineer, manufacturing engineer, project engineer, engineering manager, and technical program manager. A bachelor's degree is often the entry credential for engineering roles, while a master's degree may help with specialization, leadership, research-adjacent work, or advancement in technical organizations.
Students should evaluate career value by asking whether the curriculum builds skills that employers can see. Useful signals include design projects, simulation tools, data analysis, CAD or modeling platforms, embedded systems, controls, materials testing, lean manufacturing, risk analysis, systems architecture, and team-based engineering documentation. For management-oriented programs, look for coursework in cost estimation, operations, quality systems, leadership, project management, and decision analytics.
Some graduates later consider doctoral study for research, teaching, or high-level technical specialization. Others may find that a professional master's degree is enough for their goals, especially if they already have engineering experience and want to move into senior technical or management roles.
The most common mistake is treating "no GRE" as the main reason to apply. Admissions flexibility is helpful, but it does not compensate for weak fit, missing prerequisites, vague goals, or poor documentation.
Applicants can avoid the biggest errors by checking for the following red flags before submitting materials:
- Choosing a program only because it does not require the GRE or GMAT, without comparing accreditation, curriculum, faculty expertise, and total cost.
- Ignoring prerequisite gaps in calculus, physics, statistics, programming, or engineering fundamentals until after admission.
- Submitting a generic statement of purpose that does not name the specialization, career goal, or reason the online format fits.
- Using recommenders who know the applicant personally but cannot describe technical ability, engineering judgment, leadership, or project performance.
- Assuming a test waiver is permanent when it may depend on GPA, work experience, degree background, or the admission cycle.
- Overlooking licensure implications for civil, environmental, structural, mechanical, or electrical engineering roles that may require a Professional Engineer pathway.
A stronger application connects every document to the same story: you have the academic preparation to succeed, you understand the engineering field you are entering, and the specific program supports your next career step. If you are comparing several online degree options beyond engineering, the same caution applies to fields such as psychology degrees online, where accreditation, graduate school preparation, and licensure alignment can matter more than admissions convenience.
How Should Students Compare Accredited Online Engineering Degree Programs Without GRE or GMAT Requirements?
The best no-GRE or no-GMAT online engineering program is not always the most famous, cheapest, fastest, or easiest to enter. The right choice is the program that matches your technical background, career target, budget, schedule, and risk tolerance.
Use this decision process to compare programs in a practical order:
- Confirm institutional accreditation first, then check ABET status if you are considering an undergraduate engineering program or a licensure-sensitive pathway.
- Identify the exact degree type, such as BS, MS, MEng, or engineering management, because each serves different career goals.
- Compare curriculum depth in your target specialization rather than relying only on the program title.
- Ask whether the GRE or GMAT policy is test-free, test-optional, or waiver-based, and whether submitting scores could help your specific profile.
- Calculate total program cost using credits, fees, transfer credits, software costs, travel requirements, and likely time to completion.
- Review online format details, including synchronous meetings, lab expectations, exam proctoring, cohort structure, and part-time pacing.
- Request career outcome information, employer partnerships, alumni examples, and advising support, while remembering that schools should not promise specific salaries or jobs.
- Compare admissions support, faculty access, technical help, and tutoring, especially if you have been away from advanced math or engineering coursework for several years.
Before enrolling, ask admissions counselors direct questions: Will my background meet prerequisites? Are bridge courses available? Can I pause for work obligations? Are labs fully online? How are group projects handled across time zones? What happens if my employer reimbursement arrives after tuition is due?
Program comparison is also field-specific. For example, students comparing engineering with counseling or therapy-related graduate paths may find that accelerated marriage and family therapy programs involve clinical placement and licensure rules that make speed and admissions flexibility very different from engineering program selection.
Other Things You Should Know About Engineering
It should hold ABET accreditation from the Engineering Accreditation Commission, because many state licensing boards require an ABET-accredited degree for professional engineer eligibility. For programs not yet ABET-accredited, check whether the institution is regionally accredited and whether the specific engineering major is listed as accredited.
Sometimes, but it is uncommon for technical engineering degrees. The GMAT is more likely to appear in engineering management, technology management, or dual business-engineering programs. Many of these programs now use test-optional or waiver policies.
An online engineering master's degree often takes about 1.5 to 3 years depending on credit load and part-time status. An online bachelor's degree can take about 4 years for first-time students, but transfer students may finish sooner depending on accepted credits and lab requirements.
Submit scores only if they strengthen your application. A strong quantitative score may help if your GPA is lower, your degree is from a different field, or you want to show recent academic readiness. If your scores are average or weak and the program is truly optional, your transcript, experience, and recommendations may be more useful.
- Online Engineering Master's Programs No GRE or GMAT Required https://www.onlineengineeringprograms.com/faq/no-gre-online-engineering-programs
- Exploring No-GMAT Online MBA Programs https://www.aiuniv.edu/degrees/business/articles/exploring-no-gmat-online-mba-degree-programs
- Online MHA Programs No GRE Required or That Offer a GRE Waiver https://www.onlineeducation.com/healthcare/faqs/gre-requirements-online-mha-programs
- What the Numbers Tell Us: Re-Engineering the Liberal Arts Degree – A Baseline for the New Economy | UNBOUND https://unbound.upcea.edu/research-and-policy/re-engineering-the-liberal-arts-degree-a-baseline-for-the-new-economy/
- Online Master’s in English Programs No GRE Required (Master of Arts) https://www.mastersincommunications.com/faqs/online-masters-in-english-gre-requirements
- 2025's Best Online Master’s Programs: No GRE Required https://www.onlinemastersdegrees.org/best-programs/no-gre/
- Find Programs - ABET https://www.abet.org/accreditation/find-programs/
- Online College Accreditation https://www.onlineu.com/resources/online-college-accreditation
- MBA Without GMAT or GRE: 20 Top Business Schools in 2026 - MBA Crystal Ball https://www.mbacrystalball.com/blog/2026/07/06/mba-without-gmat-gre/
