The advancement of technology has noticeably impacted the economy in the United States. This has created a strong need for individuals highly trained in math and science. As it turns out, engineers fit the bill perfectly, and engineering programs are an increasingly popular choice for study. For future engineering students, especially those already working at full-time jobs and juggling family obligations, online programs are available. This guide will help future engineers find the right online program for them.
The 50 Best Online Engineering Degree Programs in 2018
There are many well-known engineering programs out there. While an easily recognizable name doesn’t hurt, it doesn’t guarantee anything either. Depending on an individual’s specific goals, what most consider the best school or program isn’t necessarily the best for that individual. The following list of ranked schools isn’t like most school rankings. That’s because it ranks schools by examining traits that may not result in higher prestige, but that many prospective students still find important. Examples include the cost of tuition, the availability of student services, faculty to student ratio and programs available.
Methodology
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Accredited public or private not-for-profit institution
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At least 3 online associate degrees or certificate programs (2-year schools)
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At least 3 online bachelor’s or master’s degrees (4-year schools)
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Annual in-state tuition below $5,000 (2-year schools)
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Annual in-state tuition below $25,000 (4-year schools)
Colleges receive a total score based on performance in the following categories:
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Average in-state net price for first-time/full-time undergraduates
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Count and breadth of online programs available
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Student-teacher ratio
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6-year graduation rate (4-year schools only)
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% of beginning, full-time undergrads receiving scholarship/grant aid from the college
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Average $ of financial aid students receive directly from the college
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Availability of academic/career counseling services
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Availability of job placement services for students and graduates
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3-year loan default rate
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AC Online Peer-Based Value (PBV)*
*PBV is a proprietary metric that compares the cost of a program to the cost of other programs with the same (or a similar) qualitative score. It also compares the qualitative score of the program to the score of other programs with the same (or similar) cost. In short, the PBV calculation denotes the overall value – or 'bang for your buck' – of an online degree.
Our college rankings are backed by data collected and analyzed from The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System, a program managed by the National Center for Education Statistics. Surveying over 7,500 colleges annually, it is among the most longstanding and trusted providers of U.S. postsecondary information.
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Most recent “Final Release” data available as of October 2017
| Rank | University | Location | Score | Annual Tuition | # of Online Programs | Financial Aid % | Student-Teacher Ratio | Grad Rate | Credit for Experience | Placement Services | Counseling Services | University Information | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Siena Heights University | Adrian, MI | 99.81 | $22,740 | 9 | 99% | 11:1 | 43% | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| 2 | Eastern Michigan University | Ypsilanti, MI | 98.38 | $9,663 | 3 | 90% | 18:1 | 37% | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| 3 | Texas A & M University-College Station | College Station, TX | 98.08 | $9,685 | 14 | 54% | 20:1 | 80% | No | Yes | Yes | ||
| 4 | Indiana State University | Terre Haute, IN | 97.94 | $8,416 | 6 | 75% | 20:1 | 43% | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| 5 | Missouri State University-Springfield | Springfield, MO | 97.71 | $7,008 | 4 | 51% | 20:1 | 55% | No | Yes | Yes | ||
| 6 | University of Massachusetts-Lowell | Lowell, MA | 97.61 | $12,447 | 11 | 59% | 18:1 | 54% | No | Yes | Yes | ||
| 7 | Northern Arizona University | Flagstaff, AZ | 97.43 | $8,728 | 2 | 66% | 18:1 | 49% | No | Yes | Yes | ||
| 8 | Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Worldwide | Daytona Beach, FL | 97.27 | $8,040 | 15 | 14% | 12:1 | 48% | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| 9 | Oklahoma State University-Main Campus | Stillwater, OK | 97.19 | $7,442 | 8 | 73% | 20:1 | 62% | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| 10 | University of North Dakota | Grand Forks, ND | 96.83 | $7,741 | 7 | 30% | 19:1 | 52% | No | Yes | Yes | ||
| 11 | Fort Hays State University | Hays, KS | 96.65 | $4,469 | 2 | 72% | 17:1 | 41% | No | Yes | Yes | ||
| 12 | East Carolina University | Greenville, NC | 96.39 | $6,143 | 5 | 50% | 18:1 | 58% | No | Yes | Yes | ||
| 13 | Kennesaw State University | Marietta, GA | 96.03 | $5,840 | 11 | 1% | 21:1 | 37% | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| 14 | University of Arizona | Tucson, AZ | 95.73 | $10,581 | 5 | 77% | 20:1 | 61% | No | Yes | Yes | ||
| 15 | Clemson University | Clemson, SC | 95.53 | $13,446 | 8 | 59% | 16:1 | 82% | No | Yes | Yes | ||
| 16 | University of Southern Mississippi | Hattiesburg, MS | 95.34 | $6,980 | 1 | 74% | 17:1 | 50% | No | Yes | Yes | ||
| 17 | Delta State University | Cleveland, MS | 95.25 | $6,562 | 3 | 42% | 13:1 | 37% | No | Yes | Yes | ||
| 18 | The University of Texas of the Permian Basin | Odessa, TX | 95.18 | $5,250 | 1 | 86% | 18:1 | 37% | No | Yes | Yes | ||
| 19 | Washburn University | Topeka, KS | 95.04 | $6,038 | 1 | 58% | 14:1 | 34% | No | Yes | Yes | ||
| 20 | University of Delaware | Newark, DE | 94.87 | $12,342 | 3 | 54% | 15:1 | 80% | No | Yes | Yes | ||
| 21 | University of Central Florida | Orlando, FL | 94.85 | $6,368 | 6 | 44% | 31:1 | 65% | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| 22 | Ferris State University | Big Rapids, MI | 94.59 | $10,556 | 2 | 63% | 16:1 | 53% | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| 23 | University of Virginia-Main Campus | Charlottesville, VA | 94.12 | $13,208 | 7 | 29% | 15:1 | 93% | No | Yes | Yes | ||
| 24 | University of Arkansas at Little Rock | Little Rock, AR | 94.08 | $7,432 | 1 | 50% | 13:1 | 19% | No | Yes | Yes | ||
| 25 | University of North Carolina at Charlotte | Charlotte, NC | 94.03 | $6,277 | 2 | 34% | 19:1 | 53% | No | Yes | Yes | ||
| 26 | Western Kentucky University | Bowling Green, KY | 93.92 | $9,140 | 3 | 37% | 18:1 | 50% | No | Yes | Yes | ||
| 27 | University of Minnesota-Twin Cities | Minneapolis, MN | 93.83 | $13,560 | 4 | 54% | 17:1 | 73% | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| 28 | Arkansas State University-Main Campus | Jonesboro, AR | 93.83 | $7,720 | 1 | 65% | 17:1 | 39% | No | Yes | Yes | ||
| 29 | Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology | Flushing, NY | 93.80 | $21,642 | 2 | 87% | 15:1 | 57% | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| 30 | Stony Brook University | Stony Brook, NY | 93.73 | $8,430 | 1 | 67% | 16:1 | 70% | No | Yes | Yes | ||
| 31 | The University of Alabama | Tuscaloosa, AL | 93.62 | $9,826 | 2 | 53% | 21:1 | 67% | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| 32 | University of Nebraska at Omaha | Omaha, NE | 93.42 | $6,750 | 1 | 49% | 16:1 | 46% | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| 33 | Morehead State University | Morehead, KY | 93.39 | $7,866 | 1 | 70% | 18:1 | 43% | No | Yes | Yes | ||
| 34 | Southeast Missouri State University | Cape Girardeau, MO | 93.34 | $7,058 | 1 | 76% | 22:1 | 46% | No | Yes | Yes | ||
| 35 | Utah Valley University | Orem, UT | 93.25 | $5,270 | 2 | 33% | 22:1 | 17% | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| 36 | Pittsburg State University | Pittsburg, KS | 93.14 | $6,230 | 1 | 56% | 19:1 | 50% | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| 37 | University of Toledo | Toledo, OH | 93.11 | $9,463 | 1 | 85% | 20:1 | 46% | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| 38 | Old Dominion University | Norfolk, VA | 92.89 | $8,970 | 3 | 41% | 20:1 | 49% | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| 39 | Florida Atlantic University | Boca Raton, FL | 92.26 | $4,831 | 1 | 43% | 24:1 | 41% | No | Yes | Yes | ||
| 40 | Eastern New Mexico University-Main Campus | Portales, NM | 92.25 | $4,858 | 1 | 42% | 19:1 | 29% | No | Yes | Yes | ||
| 41 | Liberty University | Lynchburg, VA | 91.94 | $21,000 | 1 | 78% | 18:1 | 46% | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| 42 | Bemidji State University | Bemidji, MN | 91.87 | $8,134 | 2 | 43% | 22:1 | 44% | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| 43 | Baker College of Muskegon | Muskegon, MI | 91.85 | $8,280 | 1 | 80% | 33:1 | 18% | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| 44 | Indiana University-East | Richmond, IN | 91.39 | $6,787 | 1 | 47% | 15:1 | 25% | No | No | Yes | ||
| 45 | Daytona State College | Daytona Beach, FL | 91.20 | $3,306 | 1 | 24% | 18:1 | N/A | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| 46 | State College of Florida-Manatee-Sarasota | Bradenton, FL | 90.58 | $3,074 | 1 | 11% | 22:1 | N/A | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| 47 | Saint Cloud State University | Saint Cloud, MN | 90.38 | $7,553 | 1 | 39% | 22:1 | 49% | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| 48 | University of South Carolina-Upstate | Spartanburg, SC | 89.59 | $10,518 | 1 | 17% | 17:1 | 38% | No | Yes | Yes | ||
| 49 | National University | La Jolla, CA | 89.28 | $12,384 | 3 | 1% | 20:1 | 23% | Yes | No | Yes | ||
| 50 | Clarion University of Pennsylvania | Clarion, PA | 89.23 | $9,788 | 1 | 11% | 19:1 | 48% | Yes | Yes | Yes |
2-Year Best College Rankings
| Rank | University | Location | Score | Annual Tuition | # of Online Programs | Financial Aid % | Student-Teacher Ratio | Grad Rate | Credit for Experience | Placement Services | Counseling Services | University Information | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Holmes Community College | Goodman, MS | 99.81 | $2,288 | 5 | 37% | 18:1 | N/A | No | Yes | Yes | ||
| 2 | East Mississippi Community College | Scooba, MS | 98.57 | $2,600 | 2 | 78% | 12:1 | N/A | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| 3 | Crowder College | Neosho, MO | 96.65 | $3,048 | 4 | 18% | 15:1 | N/A | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| 4 | Tulsa Community College | Tulsa, OK | 96.51 | $2,820 | 2 | 39% | 17:1 | N/A | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| 5 | Diablo Valley College | Pleasant Hill, CA | 95.50 | $1,298 | 4 | N/A | 27:1 | N/A | No | Yes | Yes | ||
| 6 | State Fair Community College | Sedalia, MO | 95.03 | $3,288 | 3 | 14% | 17:1 | N/A | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| 7 | Western Wyoming Community College | Rock Springs, WY | 94.88 | $2,400 | 1 | 39% | 16:1 | N/A | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| 8 | Wake Technical Community College | Raleigh, NC | 94.87 | $2,640 | 4 | 2% | 18:1 | N/A | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| 9 | Columbus State Community College | Columbus, OH | 94.53 | $3,808 | 4 | 20% | 19:1 | N/A | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| 10 | Central Georgia Technical College | Warner Robins, GA | 94.43 | $2,568 | 3 | N/A | 15:1 | N/A | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| 11 | Bluegrass Community and Technical College | Lexington, KY | 94.40 | $3,704 | 5 | 2% | 16:1 | N/A | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| 12 | Gateway Community and Technical College | Florence, KY | 94.38 | $3,704 | 4 | 9% | 12:1 | N/A | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| 13 | Kansas City Kansas Community College | Kansas City, KS | 93.64 | $2,640 | 1 | 22% | 13:1 | N/A | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| 14 | Eastern Iowa Community College District | Davenport, IA | 93.38 | $4,384 | 3 | 17% | 17:1 | N/A | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| 15 | College of the Siskiyous | Weed, CA | 92.97 | $1,146 | 3 | 2% | 15:1 | N/A | Yes | No | Yes | ||
| 16 | Big Sandy Community and Technical College | Prestonsburg, KY | 92.96 | $3,624 | 4 | 18% | 18:1 | N/A | No | No | Yes | ||
| 17 | Cowley County Community College | Arkansas City, KS | 92.80 | $2,790 | 1 | 44% | 23:1 | N/A | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| 18 | Three Rivers Community College | Poplar Bluff, MO | 92.39 | $4,968 | 3 | 17% | 24:1 | N/A | No | Yes | Yes | ||
| 19 | Truckee Meadows Community College | Reno, NV | 91.96 | $2,700 | 1 | 22% | 19:1 | N/A | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| 20 | Odessa College | Odessa, TX | 91.42 | $3,900 | 1 | 32% | 17:1 | N/A | No | Yes | Yes | ||
| 21 | Ivy Tech Community College | Indianapolis, IN | 91.33 | $4,055 | 3 | 9% | 19:1 | N/A | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| 22 | Central Texas College | Killeen, TX | 90.53 | $2,790 | 1 | 13% | 18:1 | N/A | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| 23 | North Dakota State College of Science | Wahpeton, ND | 90.39 | $4,438 | 1 | 31% | 12:1 | N/A | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| 24 | Arapahoe Community College | Littleton, CO | 90.16 | $3,392 | 2 | 10% | 24:1 | N/A | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| 25 | Iowa Central Community College | Fort Dodge, IA | 90.12 | $4,710 | 1 | 60% | 20:1 | N/A | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| 26 | Stark State College | North Canton, OH | 89.92 | $3,686 | 2 | 7% | 22:1 | N/A | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| 27 | Washtenaw Community College | Ann Arbor, MI | 89.72 | $3,744 | 1 | 14% | 19:1 | N/A | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| 28 | Merced College | Merced, CA | 89.16 | $1,138 | 1 | N/A | 28:1 | N/A | No | Yes | Yes | ||
| 29 | Elizabethtown Community and Technical College | Elizabethtown, KY | 89.02 | $3,624 | 3 | 4% | 18:1 | N/A | Yes | No | Yes | ||
| 30 | Ozarks Technical Community College | Springfield, MO | 88.38 | $3,924 | 2 | 4% | 23:1 | N/A | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| 31 | Schoolcraft College | Livonia, MI | 87.95 | $4,734 | 2 | 13% | 25:1 | N/A | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| 32 | Ocean County College | Toms River, NJ | 86.20 | $4,002 | 1 | 4% | 26:1 | N/A | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| 33 | Hudson Valley Community College | Troy, NY | 86.00 | $4,754 | 1 | 7% | 20:1 | N/A | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Online Engineering Degree FAQs
How much do engineers make?
With the increased demand for engineers, along with the relative difficulty of the coursework to become one, engineers are well compensated for their services. However, not all engineering fields pay the same. There is also the factor of experience, with seasoned engineers usually receiving more compensation than newly minted ones. For an overview of what engineers can make, see the below median annual salary chart.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary: Entry-level | Median Annual Salary: Mid-level | Median Annual Salary: Late-career |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engineering Technician | $48,730 | $53,824 | $62,715 |
| Project Manager, Engineering | $70,755 | $86,762 | $109,386 |
| Design Engineering Manager | $83,064 | $91,151 | $118,402 |
| Civil Engineering Technician | $46,774 | $49,539 | $57,886 |
| Mechanical Engineering Manager | $85,739 | $97,127 | $118,533 |
Source: Payscale
What Online Degree Do I Need to Become an Engineer?
The bachelor’s degree is usually required for a career in engineering. But online degrees at the associate and master’s levels are useful as well. The associate degree is great for those wanting to get real-world experience as soon as possible. However, an associate degree usually isn’t enough to be a full-fledged engineer, but rather, an engineering technician.
What Are the Steps to Earn an Online Engineering Degree?
Engineering is the application of scientific and mathematical principles to real world applications. As a result, engineers must have a strong foundation in math and science. Individuals interested in making a career in engineering should not be intimidated by the prospect of taking a tremendous number of challenging math and science courses. However, becoming an engineer involves more than understanding mathematical concepts and scientific principles. Here are some of the other necessary steps to getting an online engineering degree:
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1.A high school diploma is a given for becoming an engineer, but to get the best start possible, students should take as many math and science classes as they can, including physics, statistics and calculus. Time to complete: Four years
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2.The engineering world is broad and covers everything from agriculture to structures to electronics. Not all schools have programs that teach every area of engineering. Time to complete: Varies
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A bachelor’s degree is the norm, but it’s not always possible or necessary for everyone to start off with this four-year degree.
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4.Not all engineering programs are fully online; many are offered in a blended format, necessitating students to meet in-person curriculum requirements. A prospective student must be aware of any limitations that may prevent fulfilling all the requirements of an online engineering program. Time to complete: Varies
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Depending on the type of engineering degree, an online course may have on-campus course requirements or have a synchronous learning format that won’t offer the flexibility students need if they have professional or family obligations. Time to complete: Varies
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Pick a program that provides the best professional potential, but in the most affordable and practical manner. This may require looking at multiple schools and programs and taking their preferences into consideration. Time to complete: Varies
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There are primarily two types of accreditation: institutional and programmatic. In addition to making sure the school itself is accredited (institutional), prospective engineering students should make sure their engineering program is also accredited (programmatic). The most recognized agency for accrediting engineering programs is the Accreditation Board of Engineering and Technology (ABET). Time to complete: Less than a month
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In addition to the admission application, students can expect to provide standardized test scores, academic transcripts, an essay, resume and letters of recommendation. Time to complete: Less than a month
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At the undergraduate level, students will probably need to take the ACT or SAT, while at the graduate level, students may need to take the GRE. Time to complete: Three to six months
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10.Assuming your test score is what you expected, you can now complete your applications and send in your GRE, SAT or ACT test scores. Don’t wait until the last minute and risk missing the application deadline. Time to complete: Three to six months
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Most students can’t afford to pay for their entire education out of pocket, so they’ll need to apply for financial aid. The single most important piece in this step is to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
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Once accepted, students can choose their classes and begin studying. Time to complete: Two to four years
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While still in school, engineering students should look for as many hands-on work opportunities (such as internships and co-ops) as possible. No matter how well students perform in the coursework, they will know very little about what it means to be an engineer in the real world. Time to complete: Two or more months
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Attending job fairs, networking events and polishing the resume should be well underway even before graduation. Time to complete: One month or more
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The single most important consideration for most employers looking to hire engineers is their level of experience. Once individuals gain a few years of experience, they can consider their next step for professional development, such as a graduate degree or obtaining advanced credentials. Time to complete: One year or more
Specialized Online Engineering Programs and Resources
How do I Find the Top Accredited Online Engineering Programs
Students would generally prefer to attend the best online engineering program, but that’s not always possible. Perhaps the best school doesn’t offer the engineering program in the student’s career choice. Maybe the school is too expensive. Or perhaps the online format isn’t conducive to that student’s preferred method of learning. Whatever the reason, finding the best online engineering program requires students to look at their own preferences and needs, and start their search based on those factors.
For example, if students have full-time jobs and family obligations, they will probably want a program that offers the most classroom flexibility, such as being fully online with asynchronous class delivery methods. If students have less rigid schedules, they may be fine with a blended learning format, especially if it means saving a little money on tuition. If a program also has on-campus requirements, students may need to choose a school that’s close enough to them to make travel to the school realistic.
That’s where the following search tool can help. Students can find schools based on several factors, such as location, cost and type.
Start your School SearchAre There Scholarships and Grants for Engineers?
In addition to loans, work study, scholarships and grants available to all students, there are many scholarships and grants tailored just for those studying engineering. Scholarships and grants are highly desirable because they do not need to be repaid as loans do. Many are sponsored or administered by professional engineering organizations.
Scholarships are a type of gift-based financial aid where individual merit is the primary factor for choosing the recipient. Besides high academic performance, a student’s chosen field of study, such as engineering, is another popular merit-based factor. Here’s a sampling of what’s out there:
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The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME
ASME provides scholarships to students who decide to enter a mechanical engineering or mechanical technology field.
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National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE)
The NSPE advances the engineering field by making several undergraduate and graduate scholarships available to engineering students.
Grants are similar to scholarships in that they don’t have to be paid back. Depending on the organization offering the financial aid, the term “grant” and “scholarship” may be used interchangeably. However, grants are technically different from scholarships in that financial need, not individual merit, is the primary eligibility factor. To learn more about some of the grants available to engineering students, please look at the following organizations’ engineering grant offerings.
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National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering (NACME)
NACME’s flagship scholarship program provides block grants to individuals and schools to help minority students enter STEM fields.
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IEEE
This leading professional technical organization helps promote its mission of advancing technology by offering grants, scholarships and fellowships to selected student members.