2026 Online Electrical Engineering Degrees That Help Build Engineering Design Skills
Co-Founder and Chief Data Scientist
Choosing an online electrical engineering degree is really a design-career decision: you need a program that teaches circuits, systems, simulation, prototyping, and verification-not just theory. The stakes are high because the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a 2024 median pay of $118,780 for electrical and electronics engineers, while employers increasingly expect graduates to work with digital tools, embedded systems, and AI-assisted workflows.
This guide is for prospective bachelor's and master's students who want to compare accredited options, understand costs and admissions, and choose a program that supports engineering design goals.
Key Things You Should Know
- For bachelor's students, ABET accreditation is one of the most important quality checks because it can affect employer screening, graduate study, and eligibility for the Fundamentals of Engineering exam in many states.
- Online electrical engineering programs can build real design skills when they include lab kits, simulation software, team capstone projects, hardware testing, technical documentation, and faculty feedback-not just recorded lectures.
- Cost varies widely by institution, but the College Board's 2024 pricing report lists average published tuition and fees at $11,610 for in-state public four-year students and $43,350 for private nonprofit four-year students, making transfer credits and per-credit tuition critical ROI factors.
What is an online electrical engineering degree and how does it build design skills?
An online electrical engineering degree is a bachelor's or master's program delivered mainly through virtual coursework, remote labs, simulation platforms, live or recorded lectures, and project-based assignments. The field focuses on designing, analyzing, and improving electrical and electronic systems, including circuits, power systems, communications, controls, signal processing, semiconductors, embedded systems, and electromagnetics.
For design-focused students, the key question is not whether the program is online. The better question is whether the program teaches the full engineering design cycle: defining requirements, modeling a solution, selecting components, testing prototypes, troubleshooting failures, documenting decisions, and improving the design based on measured performance.
Online programs can build those skills through a mix of software and hardware experiences. A strong curriculum usually includes circuit simulation, MATLAB or Python-based modeling, printed circuit board concepts, microcontroller programming, lab measurements, design reviews, and a senior or graduate project. Some schools mail lab kits, use remote-access instrumentation, or require short campus residencies for advanced lab work.
The best fit depends on your starting point. A bachelor's degree is usually the right path if you are preparing for entry-level engineering roles and need a full foundation in calculus, physics, circuits, electronics, and engineering design. A master's degree is better if you already have an engineering or closely related STEM background and want advanced design capability in areas such as power electronics, communications, embedded systems, control systems, or semiconductor devices.
How do online electrical engineering programs compare to campus-based options for engineering design training?
Online and campus-based electrical engineering programs can cover the same core theory, but the design-training experience depends on how labs, projects, collaboration, and faculty feedback are delivered. Campus programs may offer easier access to physical equipment, while online programs can be more practical for working adults who need flexibility and can complete design work using home lab kits, virtual instrumentation, and cloud-based software.
The comparison below highlights the trade-offs that matter most if your goal is to become a design engineer rather than simply earn a credential.
| Decision factor | Online electrical engineering degree | Campus-based electrical engineering degree | What it means for design skills |
| Labs | May use mailed lab kits, remote labs, simulation tools, or limited residencies | Usually provides direct access to campus labs and instrumentation | Online can work well if the school clearly explains how hands-on measurement and testing are completed |
| Design projects | Often completed through remote teams, digital submissions, and virtual design reviews | Often completed in person with easier access to machine shops or lab spaces | Both formats can be strong when projects require requirements, prototypes, testing, and documentation |
| Flexibility | Better for working adults, military students, and students far from campus | Better for students who want daily in-person structure | Online flexibility helps if you can manage independent technical work |
| Peer collaboration | Depends on discussion tools, group project structure, and instructor availability | Often more spontaneous because classmates and faculty are physically nearby | Design engineers must collaborate, so ask how online teamwork is assessed |
| Career services | May be virtual and national in scope | May be stronger for local employer pipelines | Choose based on the industries and locations you want to enter |
A campus program may be better if you learn best through face-to-face lab supervision, want frequent access to specialized equipment, or are targeting research-heavy undergraduate experiences. An online program may be better if you are employed, already have technical experience, need geographic flexibility, or can learn effectively through structured independent work.
One common mistake is assuming online automatically means easier. In engineering, online students often need stronger time management because problem sets, labs, and design projects are still mathematically and technically demanding.
Which accredited online electrical engineering degrees are best for aspiring design engineers?
The best online electrical engineering degree for an aspiring design engineer is usually an ABET-accredited bachelor's program or a rigorous graduate program from a regionally accredited university with strong engineering faculty, design-centered coursework, and credible lab experiences. For bachelor's degrees, ABET accreditation is especially important because it signals that the program has met recognized engineering education standards.
Instead of relying only on rankings, compare programs by accreditation, design depth, lab delivery, technical electives, capstone requirements, and fit with your target field. The following examples show the types of programs students commonly evaluate; always confirm current accreditation status directly through ABET and the university because program names and delivery formats can change.
| Program type | Examples to investigate | Best for | Design-skill advantage |
| ABET-accredited online bachelor's in electrical engineering | Arizona State University, Florida International University, University of North Dakota | Students seeking entry-level engineering roles or future PE licensure flexibility | Provides a complete undergraduate design sequence, labs, and capstone expectations |
| Online bachelor's completion pathway | Universities that accept transfer math, science, and general education credits | Students with community college credits or prior engineering coursework | Can reduce time and cost if upper-division design courses remain strong |
| Online master's in electrical engineering | Public and private universities with electrical or computer engineering departments | Engineers who want specialization in power, controls, communications, embedded systems, or electronics | Supports advanced design analysis and specialization beyond the bachelor's level |
| Electrical and computer engineering master's | Programs combining hardware, software, signal processing, and systems coursework | Students targeting embedded systems, robotics, IoT, or digital hardware roles | Connects circuit-level knowledge with software-driven product design |
For most first-time engineering students, the safest choice is an ABET-accredited bachelor's in electrical engineering rather than a non-engineering technology degree, unless your goal is applied technician, technologist, or operations work. Engineering technology programs can be valuable, but they may not carry the same design-engineer expectations with some employers.
For master's students, ABET is less commonly used as the main filter because many graduate engineering programs are not ABET-accredited. In that case, focus on faculty expertise, course availability, thesis or project options, employer reputation, and whether the program admits students with your academic background.
What engineering design-focused courses and projects are included in online electrical engineering curricula?
Design-focused online electrical engineering curricula combine math-heavy theory with applied problem solving. The strongest programs do not isolate design into one final capstone; they build design judgment across circuits, electronics, software, systems, testing, and communication courses.
Students comparing curricula should look for courses and projects that require both analysis and implementation. These are the common design-building components to check before enrolling:
- Core circuit analysis and electronics courses that require students to design, simulate, build, or evaluate analog and digital circuits.
- Signals, systems, and control courses that teach modeling, stability, filtering, feedback, and performance trade-offs.
- Embedded systems or microcontroller projects that connect sensors, actuators, firmware, timing constraints, and hardware interfaces.
- Power systems, power electronics, or energy conversion courses for students interested in utilities, renewable energy, electric vehicles, or industrial systems.
- Communications, electromagnetics, or RF coursework for students interested in wireless systems, antennas, aerospace, defense, or telecommunications.
- Senior capstone or graduate design projects that include requirements, constraints, design reviews, testing results, technical reports, and presentations.
Software also matters. Modern electrical design work often uses MATLAB, Simulink, SPICE-based circuit simulation, Python, CAD tools, FPGA or microcontroller environments, and version control. If you are more interested in software architecture than hardware design, comparing a computer science degree online may help you decide whether electrical engineering, computer engineering, or computer science is the better fit.
Ask schools for recent capstone examples before applying. A vague promise of "hands-on learning" is not enough; you want to see whether students have designed power converters, sensor systems, embedded devices, communication links, control systems, or other projects aligned with your target career.
What are the admission requirements and prerequisites for online electrical engineering bachelor's and master's degrees?
Admission requirements vary by school, but electrical engineering is more prerequisite-heavy than many online majors because students need strong preparation in mathematics and physical science. Missing prerequisites can extend your timeline, so it is important to map them before comparing tuition.
Bachelor's programs commonly expect a high school diploma or equivalent, prior algebra and trigonometry, and readiness for calculus. Competitive programs may review GPA, prior college credits, placement scores, and completion of physics or chemistry. Transfer applicants may need calculus, calculus-based physics, and introductory engineering courses before entering upper-division electrical engineering classes.
Master's programs usually require a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, or a closely related field. Applicants from physics, math, computer science, or engineering technology backgrounds may be admitted conditionally but may need bridge courses in circuits, signals, electronics, or electromagnetics.
Before applying, review the most common requirement categories so you can spot delays early:
- Math readiness: Calculus sequence, differential equations, linear algebra, and probability or statistics may be required depending on the level.
- Science foundation: Calculus-based physics is especially important for circuits, electromagnetics, and devices.
- Technical background: Prior coursework in programming, circuits, digital logic, and signals may be expected for advanced programs.
- Application materials: Transcripts, resume, statement of purpose, recommendations, and proof of English proficiency may be required.
- Technology requirements: Students may need a capable computer, webcam, lab kit, engineering software access, or specific operating system compatibility.
If you are exploring a career change and realize you are more drawn to information systems, archives, digital collections, or knowledge organization than engineering design, reviewing online library science programs can clarify whether a less math-intensive graduate path better matches your strengths.
A common admissions mistake is applying to a master's program without checking prerequisite gaps. If you lack core undergraduate EE courses, ask whether the school offers bridge coursework and whether those credits count toward the degree or add extra cost.
How long do online electrical engineering programs take, and what do they cost?
An online bachelor's in electrical engineering typically requires about 120 credits and may take four years for full-time first-time students. Transfer students may finish faster if the school accepts prior calculus, physics, general education, and engineering credits. An online master's usually requires about 30 credits and often takes one to three years depending on whether you study full time or part time.
Cost depends on tuition per credit, residency rules, transfer credits, lab fees, software, books, and whether online students pay campus fees. The College Board's 2024 report lists average published tuition and fees of $11,610 for in-state students at public four-year institutions and $43,350 at private nonprofit four-year institutions; this matters because the same electrical engineering degree can have very different ROI depending on whether you qualify for lower public tuition or bring transfer credits.
When comparing costs, list the full price drivers rather than focusing only on headline tuition. Important cost items include:
- Tuition per credit and whether online students pay in-state, out-of-state, or flat online rates.
- Required engineering fees, remote lab fees, equipment kits, software licenses, and proctoring costs.
- Transfer-credit limits and whether previously completed calculus, physics, and engineering courses apply to the major.
- Time away from work if the program requires synchronous classes, short residencies, or daytime exams.
- Financial aid eligibility, employer tuition assistance, military benefits, scholarships, and payment plans.
Students who are primarily cost-sensitive should compare the total degree price, not just one semester's tuition. A guide to the cheapest online electrical engineering degree options can be useful, but affordability should be balanced against ABET accreditation, lab quality, graduation support, and course availability.
Accelerated programs can save time, but they are not always the best choice for design skill development. Electrical engineering concepts build on each other, so a slower part-time schedule may be smarter if you are working full time, returning after a long academic break, or taking calculus and physics alongside major courses.
What careers in electrical engineering design can you pursue with an online degree?
An online electrical engineering degree can support design-oriented roles when the program is rigorous, accredited where needed, and aligned with the student's portfolio of projects. Employers generally care about whether you can analyze systems, use engineering tools, communicate design choices, and work within constraints such as cost, reliability, safety, manufacturability, and standards.
The table below summarizes common design-related paths and the type of work they involve. Use it to match your degree electives and projects to the roles you want.
| Career path | Typical design responsibilities | Helpful courses or projects | Common hiring industries |
| Electrical design engineer | Designs circuits, subsystems, schematics, test plans, and technical documentation | Circuit design, electronics, PCB concepts, capstone design | Manufacturing, aerospace, consumer electronics, industrial equipment |
| Power systems engineer | Designs or analyzes power distribution, protection, grid equipment, and energy systems | Power systems, power electronics, energy conversion, protection studies | Utilities, renewable energy, consulting, infrastructure |
| Embedded systems engineer | Designs hardware-software systems using microcontrollers, sensors, and real-time constraints | Embedded systems, digital logic, programming, controls | Automotive, robotics, medical devices, IoT, defense |
| Controls engineer | Designs feedback systems, automation logic, stability models, and control algorithms | Control systems, signals, dynamic systems, robotics projects | Industrial automation, aerospace, energy, manufacturing |
| RF or communications engineer | Designs wireless, signal, antenna, or communication subsystems | Communications, electromagnetics, signal processing, RF labs | Telecommunications, defense, aerospace, satellite systems |
| Test and validation engineer | Designs experiments, validates product performance, identifies failures, and supports redesign | Measurement labs, statistics, electronics, technical reporting | Semiconductors, electronics, automotive, medical technology |
Career growth often depends on specialization. For example, engineers who combine design knowledge with analytics, simulation, and large-scale system data may move into reliability engineering, autonomous systems, smart grid analytics, or engineering management. If your long-term goal moves toward advanced analytics research rather than traditional EE design, a doctorate in data analytics online may be a later-stage option after gaining a strong quantitative foundation.
To improve employability, build a portfolio that shows design decisions, not just finished products. Include project goals, constraints, schematics or models, test results, failures, revisions, and what you learned from the process.
What is the salary outlook for electrical engineering design roles in the United States?
Salary outcomes vary by role, region, industry, experience, clearance requirements, and technical specialization. The most useful national benchmark is the Bureau of Labor Statistics figure for electrical and electronics engineers, which reports 2024 median pay of $118,780. This is not a guaranteed outcome for degree holders, but it shows that the occupation sits in a high-paying technical labor market when compared with many bachelor's-level careers.
Use the salary context below to think about how design specialization can influence earnings over time. The table is not a promise of pay; it summarizes how responsibilities can affect compensation potential.
| Design role category | Salary context | Factors that can raise market value |
| Entry-level electrical design engineer | Often below the national median while the engineer builds supervised design experience | ABET-accredited degree, internships, capstone portfolio, CAD and simulation skills |
| Mid-career design engineer | May approach or exceed broad occupational benchmarks depending on industry and region | Independent design ownership, testing experience, standards knowledge, cross-functional collaboration |
| Specialized engineer | Can command higher pay in fields with scarce expertise or regulated products | Power electronics, RF, semiconductors, controls, embedded systems, safety-critical design |
| Senior or lead engineer | Compensation often reflects technical leadership, project risk, and design accountability | Architecture decisions, mentoring, design reviews, customer requirements, product lifecycle knowledge |
Students should evaluate salary ROI carefully. A lower-cost accredited program with strong design projects may offer better value than a more expensive option with weak lab support. However, the cheapest program is not automatically the best if it lacks the accreditation, electives, or employer recognition needed for your target role.
How strong is the job outlook and industry demand for electrical engineering design specialists?
The job outlook for electrical and electronics engineers is positive by national standards. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 9% employment growth for electrical and electronics engineers from 2024 to 2034, which suggests continuing demand for professionals who can design, test, and improve electrical systems across multiple industries.
Several current trends support demand for design specialists. Electrification is increasing the need for power electronics, grid modernization, battery systems, and electric vehicle infrastructure. Semiconductor investment is creating demand for hardware, test, and process-adjacent engineering talent. Robotics, automation, medical devices, aerospace, and defense also rely on engineers who understand both hardware behavior and system-level constraints.
AI is changing the work, but it is not eliminating the need for engineering judgment. AI-assisted tools can speed simulation, code generation, documentation, anomaly detection, and design exploration. Engineers still need to define requirements, validate outputs, understand physical limitations, assess risk, and make decisions that meet safety, reliability, and cost constraints.
To prepare for this market, students should develop a balanced skill set. The most durable design skills include:
- Electrical fundamentals strong enough to troubleshoot when software tools produce unexpected results.
- Simulation and modeling skills that help compare design alternatives before building prototypes.
- Hands-on measurement ability using oscilloscopes, multimeters, power supplies, sensors, and data acquisition tools.
- Programming ability for automation, embedded systems, data analysis, and engineering workflow improvement.
- Communication skills for design reviews, test reports, requirements documents, and cross-functional teamwork.
The strongest candidates usually combine a credible degree with evidence of applied work. Internships, co-ops, undergraduate research, open-source hardware projects, IEEE participation, and documented capstone work can help online students show that their education included real design practice.
How can you evaluate and choose a reputable, ABET-accredited online electrical engineering program?
Choosing an online electrical engineering program requires more than comparing tuition and brand recognition. A reputable program should be accredited, transparent about labs, realistic about workload, and aligned with your target design specialty.
Use the following steps to evaluate programs before you apply. They are designed to help you avoid common mistakes that can cost time, money, or career flexibility:
- Verify institutional accreditation and, for bachelor's programs, confirm the exact online electrical engineering program's ABET status through ABET's official program search.
- Ask how labs are delivered, including whether students use mailed kits, remote instrumentation, simulations, campus residencies, or local proctors.
- Review the curriculum for design depth, including electronics, controls, signals, power, embedded systems, technical electives, and a documented capstone or project sequence.
- Confirm transfer-credit policies before enrolling, especially for calculus, physics, general education, and prior engineering courses.
- Ask whether online students have the same faculty, advising, tutoring, library access, software licenses, and career services as campus students.
- Request examples of recent capstone projects, graduate projects, or student design work related to your target industry.
- Calculate total cost, including fees, equipment, software, books, travel, and any courses that do not count toward degree requirements.
- Check whether the program supports FE exam preparation if professional engineering licensure may matter in your future field.
Red flags include unclear accreditation language, no explanation of lab delivery, limited upper-division EE electives, unavailable faculty profiles, vague career outcome claims, and pressure to enroll before you receive a full degree plan. Be especially cautious if a school advertises "engineering" broadly but awards a degree in engineering technology or applied technology when your goal is design engineering.
A good final test is simple: can the admissions advisor explain how an online student learns to design, build, test, revise, and document an electrical system? If the answer is specific, verifiable, and supported by the curriculum, the program is more likely to fit a design-focused career path.
Other Things You Should Know About Electrical Engineering
Often, yes. Some programs require lab kits, breadboards, meters, components, microcontrollers, or software licenses. Others use remote labs or simulations. Ask for a required equipment list before enrolling so you can include it in your total cost estimate.
Neither is universally harder, but electrical engineering usually places more emphasis on circuits, physics, signals, power, and electromagnetics. Computer engineering typically blends digital hardware, embedded systems, and software. The harder option depends on your strengths and career goals.
Many electrical engineers work in industry without becoming licensed professional engineers. However, the FE exam and PE licensure can matter in consulting, utilities, public infrastructure, and roles involving signed engineering work. Requirements vary by state and employer.
Refresh algebra, trigonometry, and precalculus before taking calculus-based engineering courses. If possible, also learn basic programming and electronics vocabulary. Strong preparation can make the first year more manageable and reduce the risk of repeating prerequisite courses.
References
- Despite a sluggish job market, studying electrical engineering offers good prospects https://www.vde.com/en/press/press-releases/electrical-engineering-job-market-studies
- Electrical Engineer Salary in the United States 2026 | Cake https://www.cake.me/resources/industry-job-overview/electrical-engineer-salary
- Electrical Design Online Training Course and Certification https://www.edoxi.com/electrical-design-course
- Electrical Design Engineering https://smartbrains.com/courses/electrical-design-engineering/
- Electrical Engineering Job Market: 2026 Outlook & Pay https://pathwise.io/electrical-engineering-job-market/
- Find Programs - ABET https://www.abet.org/accreditation/find-programs/
- Courses (2025-26) https://www.ee.caltech.edu/academics/courses
- Top Ten Electrical Engineering Courses for Career Growth | EEP https://electrical-engineering-portal.com/top-ten-electrical-engineering-courses-for-career-growth
- Inside the Best Online Bachelor's in Electrical Engineering Degrees https://www.onlinecolleges.me/engineering-degrees/bachelors/electrical-engineering/
- Job Market Trends for Electrical Designers | Vista Projects https://www.vistaprojects.com/job-market-trends-for-electrical-designers/
