Top 10 Part-Time Engineering Degree Programs 2025

Many engineers want to earn a graduate degree in their field, but cannot leave their current jobs to study full-time. While engineering is a difficult field with many complex topics, you can earn a part-time engineering degree in one of multiple flexible programs.

Can You Earn an Engineering Degree Part-Time?

Yes, you can earn a part-time degree in engineering at one of the colleges listed below. These programs offer part-time enrollment options for working professionals who prefer to attend classes in the evening, on Saturdays, or via remote learning. Many flexible master's programs let students take one or two courses at a time while continuing their day jobs.

How Long Does It Take to Finish a Part-Time Engineering Degree?

A part-time master's in engineering could require about two to three years to finish, but it depends on several factors. Some students take three or four years to graduate after taking one class per semester; others finish almost as fast as full-time students by taking two or three courses.

It's always a good idea to utilize any transferable credits from other graduate programs to skip some of the introductory graduate engineering classes.

How Does a Part-Time Engineering Degree Program Work?

There are many options for obtaining a graduate education in this field. You can earn a part-time mechanical engineering degree or a part-time electrical engineering degree by taking one or two courses each session.

It's also possible to graduate faster by taking advantage of summer and winter sessions while you attend part-time. Most part-time students take their classes in the late afternoons, evenings, and weekends � or they enroll in asynchronous online courses, which permit them to complete coursework modules at any time.

Best Part-Time Engineering Degree Programs

Check out our list of part-time engineering programs. Many of these degree opportunities feature online or hybrid learning with several specialization options.

1. Liberty University

Liberty University offers a Master of Science (MS) in engineering available for online learners. There is a 30-credit, non-thesis version and a 36-credit thesis program. Students can master several important engineering topics, such as continuum mechanics or element analysis, leading to careers as chief engineers, technology and development specialists, and architectural project managers.

• Estimated tuition cost: $645 per credit hour
• Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)

2. Northwestern University

Northwestern University has master's and doctoral programs in engineering, with the former available for part-time graduate students. You can earn a Master of Engineering Management (MEM) or pursue one of four other MS degrees, concentrating in design and construction, information technology, or project management.

• Estimated tuition cost: $8,173 per course (three credit hours)
• Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)

3. Tufts University

The Tufts University School of Engineering has two dozen specialization options at the master's degree level. Each program is available for part-time enrollment, and three are 100% online (technology management, computer science, and data science).

Among the on-campus concentrations, chemical engineering requires 30 credits and takes between 12 and 24 months to finish.

• Estimated tuition cost: $1,765 per credit hour
• Accreditation: New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE)

4. New York University

New York University (NYU) does not specify how long it takes to complete a master's degree in engineering, but it considers part-time work to consist of two courses per semester. NYU permits part-time students to take up to five years to finish the program.

• Estimated tuition cost: $2,272 per credit hour
• Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)

5. University of Texas - Dallas

The University of Texas - Dallas offers part-time students the chance to earn a master's in engineering before advancing to rewarding positions at companies like AT&T, Texas Instruments, and Hewlett Packard Enterprise. Students attend four-hour sessions each week during the evening or on Saturday with 10 weeks to complete each course.

• Estimated tuition cost: $1,196 per credit hour
• Accreditation: SACSCOC

6. University of California - Berkeley

The University of California - Berkeley offers a self-paced, part-time format for its four engineering graduate programs. Each class meets once or twice during weekdays. You must complete a capstone project to fulfill the degree requirements and enroll in a minimum of six units per semester to qualify for financial aid. The program takes two to four years to complete.

• Estimated tuition cost: $6,570 per semester
• Accreditation: Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior College and University Commission (WASCUC)

7. University of Toledo

The University of Toledo has a part-time master's degree with a singular concentration in general engineering. The school describes it as an interdisciplinary degree, merging the engineering coursework with several business management components. You can also complete all course requirements 100% online.

• Estimated tuition cost: $672.13 per credit hour
• Accreditation: HLC

8. Carnegie Mellon University

The Carnegie Mellon University School of Engineering offers a hybrid degree program, featuring on-campus courses and Zoom seminars. This is another multidisciplinary master's degree, which combines coursework in engineering, software design, and business. Most courses require in-person or online attendance once each week from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

• Estimated tuition cost: $838 per credit hour
• Accreditation: MSCHE

9. Duke University

Duke University outlines three ways to earn a master's in engineering by taking either two, three, or four semesters to graduate, but you can also take courses at your own pace. This graduate program requires four core courses, and almost all classes are online or in-person once each week.

• Estimated tuition cost: $2,410 per credit hour
• Accreditation: SACSCOC

10. Wentworth Institute of Technology

Wentworth Institute of Technology has a master's degree in mechanical engineering, which is 100% online with synchronous class meetings. Graduate students have the option of completing their degrees with or without a thesis component after finishing coursework in topics like fluid mechanics, robotics, combustion engines, and additive manufacturing.

• Estimated tuition cost: $1,383 per credit hour
• Accreditation: NECHE

How We Rank Schools

Here's how we rank the schools on our list of part-time engineering programs. Our top criteria include academic accreditation, flexible learning formats, and strong program reputation.

• Accreditation: This list only considers universities with a valid academic accreditation from groups like HLC or SACSCOC.
• Program flexibility: These programs offer part-time learning resources, online/hybrid classes, and other ways to learn at your own pace.
• Program reputation: Each school has a solid reputation for research output and teaching methods in several areas of engineering.

FAQs About the Most Flexible Engineering Degrees (Part-Time)

These are the most frequently asked questions (FAQs) from students considering part-time enrollment in a graduate engineering program. These five questions address cost concerns, career options, and engineering subfields.

How Much Does a Part-Time Engineering Degree Cost?

Graduate school is not cheap, but there are ways to make it more affordable. You can earn a part-time civil engineering degree for about $10,000 to $25,000 per year, depending on the university you select. The best way to lower these costs is to pursue financial aid opportunities, such as scholarships, grants, and engineering fellowships.

What Careers Can I Pursue With a Part-Time Engineering Degree?

Many employers need good engineers in various subfields for full-time employment or well-paid contract work. You may find employment in roles like civil engineer, aerospace engineer, biomedical engineer, automotive engineer, and many others.

What Is the Shortest Engineering Degree?

Some colleges offer fast-track engineering degrees, which you can complete in as little as 10 or 12 months. However, these assume you've already completed other graduate engineering courses elsewhere. The shortest engineering degrees are the ones that let you apply transfer credits to fulfill about half of the degree requirements.

Is an Engineering Degree Worth It?

Yes, engineering is one of the most in-demand fields because it impacts nearly every aspect of the business market. Businesses and governments need engineers for agriculture, military equipment design, public works projects, large-scale chemical manufacturing, and countless other purposes.

What Type of Engineer Is Most in Demand?

Software engineering has become the most in-demand field right now because of the boom in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning. These programs need skilled engineers for crucial training and development work.

Then again, almost every engineering field is marketable these days. You can earn a part-time degree in civil engineering and make a comfortable living working for new construction companies, public works departments in small cities, or through other employment options.

Discover Flexible Degree Programs

It has never been easier to find flexible and affordable online degrees in several academic disciplines. We welcome you to explore other articles on Learn.org to find convenient ways to attend graduate school in engineering, economics, nursing, business administration, and more.