Guide to Engineering Degree Online Programs

Online Engineering Degree is an online resource devoted to explaining to students their options as well as the pitfalls and benefits associated with pursuing an online engineering degree. From explaining what types of online engineering degrees exist, what engineers with those degrees actually do and earn, to what colleges and universities these degrees.

What types of online engineering degrees / programs exist and what are they called?

  • Civil Engineering Degree - Civil engineers work with government on a local and national level to make sure the structure of a building, bridge or other large object are fit for the terrain. They explore the history and future of the land to make sure a structure is being built in the best possible manner for the long run. Civil engineers are employed by construction firms, both commercial and residential.
  • Mechanical Engineering Degree - Mechanical engineers deals with everything that moves and functions according to parts. This can be everything from an air conditioner to a jet engine. Mechanical engineers are on the rise, especially as the blue collar sector of the work force begins to fade.
  • Aerospace Engineering Degree - Aerospace engineering involves the study of how objects move through space in the atmosphere. It also explores how things move under water. It is a vast field that is set to expand greatly as technology improves.

Online engineering degree rankings?

Like most online degrees, ranking online engineering degrees is completely arbitrary. Online colleges and university programs are never ranked by an official source to see which turns out a larger percentage of students working in their field of study after graduating. What you must focus on when seeking out an online engineering degree is to make sure the school you’re attending is accredited by a regional or national accreditation organization. This will put your degree on par with those obtained by students at a traditional college or university, since the online school will have had to abide by the same regulations as brick-and-mortar schools.

Transferring online engineering degree credits

Transferring online engineering degree credits is possible in the early stages of obtaining your degree. As you get into the third and fourth year of an engineering degree, it is likely the school has a specific curriculum and it may be difficult to transfer schools at that point. This is especially true of specialized engineering departments. It is best to speak with an academic advisor who can help guide you. The good thing about an online degree of any sort is it allows you to continue to study regardless of where you are. Remember in order for credits to be transferrable between schools, the two schools will have to be accredited by the same regional or national organization. This is something to take into account when choosing your online engineering degree program.

What sorts of careers are common for students with this degree?

  • Civil Engineer - A civil engineer may be employed by a construction firm creating commercial or residential real estate. They can also have government jobs or contract jobs with retailers to oversee new properties. Civil engineers can specialize in structures for areas where there are earthquakes, hurricanes or other natural disasters to ensure the buildings erected can withhold the conditions.
  • Mechanical Engineer - Mechanical engineers are set to take off thanks to the rapid speed in which technology is moving. Mechanical engineers are being used for various robotics, both by the government and private research companies. Mechanical engineers are often referred to as the jack-of-all-trades in the field of engineering because of their ability to easily transition job responsibilities and wear many hats.
  • Aerospace Engineer - Aerospace engineers are employed by NASA and aircraft manufacturers, but also private companies conducting research in space or under water. Oil companies frequently employ aerospace engineers to study how to improve underwater activity. Aerospace engineers are also employed by the government and military to study combat aircraft and missiles.

What are the average salaries of a person with an online engineering degree?

  • Civil Engineer - Civil engineer salaries vary greatly depending on the employer. A civil engineer can serve as a consultant on a project after many years on the job and earn up to $76,000, while a civil engineer in his or her early stages of their career can expect to make anywhere from $49,000-$51,000 should they be employed by the government or a transportation agency.
  • Mechanical Engineer - Mechanical engineers usually start their career making $52,000. Mechanical engineers with a masters can earn up to $77,000.
  • Aerospace Engineer - Beginning aerospace engineers usually make between $55,000-$60,000 per year while more experienced aerospace engineers can earn up to $72,000. Those with a masters can earn over $100,000.

Online engineering degree scholarships and grants

There are many engineering scholarships and grants and even more if you happen to be female or a minority. There is a drastic push to put both demographics into the world of engineering, so do ample research and seek out engineering scholarships that will work in your favor. The Society of Women Engineers Scholarship This engineering scholarship is for women only. In 2009, the organization awarded $470,000 worth of scholarships and often renews scholarships for students in good standing. In some cases SWE can place students with a job through a fellowship program and distributes scholarships in the sums of $1,000-$10,000. Find out more about the Society of Women Engineers scholarship here. Free 4-U Scholarships for Engineering Check out this site with an extensive list of engineering scholarships for individual universities and programs, as well as scholarships and grants that can be used at any accredited learning institution. It is our belief that as the only website covering online engineering degrees, we fill a unique need of providing unbiased and straightforward information to students, in a way that for-proft websites simply do not. If you have any comments or questions about the content on this website or are considering an online engineering degree and wish to ask us questions, please don’t hesitate to email us.