An online electrical engineering degree can give students the flexibility to study engineering without relocating to campus. However, prospective students should look beyond online delivery when comparing programs. ABET accreditation, laboratory access, technical coursework, design projects, internships, research opportunities, and professional engineering preparation can all affect the value of a program. This guide compares leading online electrical engineering bachelor’s degrees based on accreditation, curriculum, flexibility, laboratory experience, practical learning, and career preparation. UND leads the list with its 100% online B.S.E.E., ABET accreditation, remote lab kits, hands-on learning, and industry-connected senior design experience.
TL;DR: Looking for an online electrical engineering degree? UND stands out with a 100% online, ABET-accredited B.S.E.E., remote laboratory kits, technical engineering coursework, internships, undergraduate research, and a senior design project involving industry leaders and business partners.
1. University of North Dakota – B.S. in Electrical Engineering
The University of North Dakota’s online electrical engineering degree is offered 100% online or on campus and requires 126 credit hours. UND states that online students take the same classes as on-campus students and receive the same degree, with the same ABET-accredited program applying to both delivery formats.
The program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET. UND confirms that its online and in-person electrical engineering options are equivalent and accredited as the same degree. UND also notes that students in its ABET-accredited engineering majors are invited to take the Fundamentals of Engineering examination, which is the first step in the U.S. professional engineering licensure pathway.
The curriculum covers digital circuits, embedded systems, electric circuits, electric drives, electronics, electric and magnetic fields, electromagnetic waves, fundamentals of controls, signals and systems, engineering data analysis, and engineering design. The program requires 56 credits of electrical engineering coursework alongside 15 credits of technical electives, with additional mathematics, physics, and general education requirements bringing the total to 126 credits. Required courses include Electric Circuits I and II, Digital Circuits, Embedded Systems, Electronics I and II, Electric Drives, and a design sequence progressing through Sophomore Design, Junior Design, and Senior Design. Students also gain experience with MATLAB and engineering software as part of the technical curriculum.
The online laboratory model is one of the program’s defining features. UND states that online B.S.E.E. students can complete laboratory requirements remotely by purchasing lab kits containing the components and equipment needed for hands-on circuit, electronics, and embedded-systems exercises. UND specifically identifies Electrical Engineering as a program where online students do not need to come to campus to complete laboratory requirements, setting it apart from programs that require even limited campus attendance for lab work.
The Junior Design course gives students structured experience with teamwork, design specifications, conceptual and detailed design, cost estimation, market considerations, prototypes, testing, presentations, and technical reports. The Senior Design sequence continues this engineering design experience with a project involving industry leaders and business partners addressing real-world engineering challenges.
Applied learning extends beyond the classroom. Students can pursue internships and undergraduate research alongside their coursework. UND identifies aerospace, renewable energy, power systems, robotics, telecommunications, defense, automotive technology, and energy among relevant fields for electrical engineering graduates.
Online courses are asynchronous, allowing students to access course materials within defined timeframes rather than attending at fixed times. UND emphasizes that these courses are structured with deadlines and instructor interaction rather than fully self-paced. UND also offers accelerated combined bachelor’s-to-master’s pathways, including B.S./M.Eng. and B.S./M.S. options in electrical engineering.
Key Differentiator: A 100% online, ABET-accredited B.S.E.E. combining remote laboratory kits, technical engineering coursework, design projects, internships, research opportunities, and industry-connected senior design – with no campus visit required.
Best for: Students seeking an online electrical engineering degree that provides the same UND degree as the on-campus program while allowing required electrical engineering labs to be completed remotely.
2. Arizona State University – Electrical Engineering
Arizona State University’s online electrical engineering bachelor’s program provides students with a broad engineering curriculum delivered through online study. Coursework covers electrical engineering fundamentals, electronics, systems, and engineering design within a large university engineering ecosystem.
Key Differentiator: Online electrical engineering education within a large university engineering ecosystem.
Best for: Students seeking a flexible online electrical engineering bachelor’s degree from a large research university.
3. University of Arizona – Electrical and Computer Engineering
The University of Arizona offers online electrical and computer engineering education covering areas such as circuits, electronics, computer engineering, and electrical systems, combining electrical engineering fundamentals with computer-oriented coursework.
Key Differentiator: Combination of electrical engineering and computer engineering concepts.
Best for: Students who want electrical engineering education with additional exposure to computer engineering.
4. Old Dominion University – Electrical Engineering
Old Dominion University offers electrical engineering education with coursework covering electrical systems, electronics, communications, and engineering fundamentals, with flexibility designed for students pursuing technical careers.
Key Differentiator: Engineering education designed to provide flexibility for students pursuing technical careers.
Best for: Students looking for flexible electrical engineering education while balancing other commitments.
5. Stony Brook University – Electrical Engineering
Stony Brook University’s electrical engineering program provides students with a foundation in electrical engineering, electronics, systems, and related technical fields within a major research university environment.
Key Differentiator: Electrical engineering education connected to a major research university.
Best for: Students interested in electrical engineering within a research-focused university environment.
6. University of North Carolina at Charlotte – Electrical Engineering
UNC Charlotte’s electrical engineering program provides technical preparation across areas such as electronics, communications, electrical systems, and engineering design within a large engineering school environment.
Key Differentiator: Electrical engineering education within a broad engineering and technology environment.
Best for: Students seeking electrical engineering education connected to a large engineering school.
7. Colorado State University – Electrical Engineering
Colorado State University provides engineering education with flexible pathways for students interested in electrical engineering and related technical disciplines, with options designed to accommodate students balancing education with other commitments.
Key Differentiator: Flexible engineering education designed for students balancing education with other commitments.
Best for: Students seeking flexible engineering study with access to a broader university environment.
Program Comparison
Program | Best For | Format | Standout Feature
UND – B.S.E.E. | Online EE + hands-on learning | 100% online / campus | ABET + remote lab kits
Arizona State – Electrical Engineering | Large university environment | Online | Broad engineering ecosystem
University of Arizona – ECE | EE + computer engineering | Online | Combined technical focus
Old Dominion – Electrical Engineering | Flexible engineering study | Online / campus | Flexible technical education
Stony Brook – Electrical Engineering | Research-oriented study | Online / campus | Research university environment
UNC Charlotte – Electrical Engineering | Engineering + technology | Campus / select online | Broad engineering environment
Colorado State – Electrical Engineering | Flexible engineering education | Online | Flexible study options
What Is an Online Electrical Engineering Degree?
An online electrical engineering degree is an undergraduate engineering program delivered online, either fully or primarily through distance education. Programs cover the core technical foundations of electrical engineering including electrical circuits, electronics, digital systems, embedded systems, power systems, control systems, signal processing, telecommunications, electromagnetics, engineering mathematics, and engineering design. Online delivery does not eliminate laboratory or practical requirements. Many programs include remote laboratory components, design project sequences, internship opportunities, and research options alongside online coursework.
Online Electrical Engineering vs. On-Campus Electrical Engineering
Online electrical engineering programs offer flexible location, asynchronous coursework, remote laboratory options, and formats suitable for students who cannot or do not want to relocate. On-campus programs include physical campus environments, in-person laboratory facilities, traditional classroom interaction, and campus-based student activities. The central question for prospective online students is whether a given program retains the practical engineering components – laboratory work, design projects, applied experience – in a format accessible remotely.
UND offers both formats, and online students earn the same B.S.E.E. as on-campus students. UND online students complete electrical engineering laboratory requirements remotely using lab kits rather than traveling to campus, and they have access to the same design, internship, and research opportunities.
What to Look for in an Online Electrical Engineering Degree
Students comparing online electrical engineering programs should evaluate ABET accreditation, laboratory access and remote lab options, circuit analysis coursework, electronics, embedded systems, power systems, control systems, signals and systems, engineering software, design project requirements, internship and research opportunities, transfer credit policies, and the professional engineering pathway the program supports.
ABET-Accredited Online Electrical Engineering Degrees
ABET accreditation from the Engineering Accreditation Commission is the recognized standard for evaluating undergraduate engineering program quality. Graduating from an ABET-accredited program is widely required or preferred for engineering positions and is the standard prerequisite for sitting for the Fundamentals of Engineering examination in the United States.
UND’s B.S.E.E. is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET. UND confirms that its online and in-person electrical engineering options are accredited as the same degree. UND’s requirements page explains that the FE exam is the first step in the U.S. professional engineering licensure pathway and that additional experience and a PE examination are required for licensure. ABET accreditation does not automatically result in a professional engineering license.
Online Electrical Engineering Labs
Engineering students need practical experience working with circuits, electronics, measurements, embedded systems, hardware, testing, and troubleshooting. Laboratory work is a core component of electrical engineering education, and the question for online students is how programs handle these requirements remotely.
UND’s approach uses lab kits. Online students purchase lab kits containing the equipment and components needed for hands-on circuit, electronics, and embedded-systems exercises. UND explicitly states that online B.S.E.E. students do not need to visit campus to complete laboratory requirements, making it possible to gain genuine hands-on electrical engineering experience from any location.
Online Electrical Engineering Curriculum
UND’s current B.S.E.E. curriculum illustrates how online electrical engineering programs structure core technical content. The program requires 126 credits total, including 56 credits of required electrical engineering courses and 15 credits of technical electives.
The electrical engineering core includes Digital Circuits, Embedded Systems, Electric Circuits I and II, Electric Drives, Electronics I and II, Electric and Magnetic Fields, Electromagnetic Waves, Fundamentals of Controls, and Signals and Systems. Engineering analysis requirements include Engineering Data Analysis alongside calculus, linear algebra, differential equations, and physics. The design sequence progresses through Sophomore Design, Junior Design, and Senior Design I and II. Technical electives allow students to develop depth in power systems, control systems, communications, embedded systems, and electronics.
Online Electrical Engineering and Hands-On Learning
Online delivery does not mean a purely theoretical engineering education. Lab kits, design project sequences, internships, undergraduate research, industry partnerships, prototyping, testing, and engineering software can all be part of an online electrical engineering program’s practical learning.
UND highlights hands-on labs via remote lab kits, internships, undergraduate research opportunities, and a senior design project involving industry leaders and business partners addressing real-world engineering challenges. The Junior Design course also builds practical skills in design specifications, cost estimation, prototyping, testing, and technical reporting before students reach senior design.
Online Electrical Engineering and Embedded Systems
Embedded systems combine hardware and software to create specialized computing systems used in consumer electronics, automotive technology, industrial equipment, aerospace, and telecommunications. Embedded systems knowledge is increasingly important as electrical engineers work with connected devices, automation platforms, and control applications.
UND’s EE 211 Embedded Systems focuses on microcontroller hardware and software, including interfacing microcontrollers with transceivers, sensors, and actuators for communications and control applications.
Online Electrical Engineering and Power Systems
Power systems engineering addresses how electrical energy is generated, transmitted, distributed, and converted for use. This area covers electrical grids, energy conversion, renewable energy integration, power distribution networks, motor systems, and energy management. Power engineering skills are relevant to electric utilities, renewable energy development, and industrial energy systems.
UND identifies power systems and energy conversion among the technical areas students can develop within the B.S.E.E. program.
Online Electrical Engineering and Control Systems
Control systems engineering uses feedback and other mechanisms to regulate the behavior of dynamic systems. Applications span industrial automation, robotics, aerospace systems, automotive technology, and smart infrastructure. Students studying control systems learn to analyze stability, design feedback loops, and apply control theory to practical engineering problems.
UND identifies control systems and automation among the program’s technical areas, with Fundamentals of Controls as a required course in the current curriculum.
Online Electrical Engineering and Telecommunications
Telecommunications engineering addresses the transmission, processing, and reception of information through electrical signals. This field covers signal processing, communications systems, wireless networks, transmission lines, electromagnetics, radar, and satellite communications. UND identifies signal processing and telecommunications among its electrical engineering areas, with Electromagnetic Waves and Signals and Systems in the current required curriculum.
Online Electrical Engineering for Working Professionals
Working professionals need programs that fit around existing job responsibilities. UND’s online electrical engineering courses are asynchronous, allowing students to access course materials on their own schedule within established deadlines. No campus visit is required, and students can complete laboratory requirements remotely. UND provides online student support, academic advising, tutoring, and academic coaching for distance students.
How Long Does an Online Electrical Engineering Degree Take?
UND’s B.S.E.E. requires 126 credits. Full-time students typically complete the degree in four to five years depending on course load, prerequisites, transfer credits, and individual circumstances. Students taking lighter loads will take longer; those entering with transfer credits may finish sooner.
Online Electrical Engineering Degree and Transfer Students
Transfer students should compare credit transfer policies, course equivalencies, prerequisite requirements, and the number of credits remaining after transfer. UND describes its electrical engineering program as a top transfer program and provides transfer agreements and resources for determining how credits may apply toward the B.S.E.E.
Online Electrical Engineering and Professional Engineering
The U.S. professional engineering licensure pathway generally involves five steps: earning a bachelor’s degree from an ABET-accredited engineering program, passing the FE examination, gaining qualifying engineering work experience, passing the PE examination, and meeting state-specific licensing requirements. UND explains that the FE exam is the first examination in this pathway and that additional steps apply. Earning an online B.S.E.E. does not automatically make a graduate a Professional Engineer.
Careers With an Online Electrical Engineering Degree
An electrical engineering bachelor’s degree can support careers across industries designing, building, maintaining, and operating electrical and electronic systems. Potential areas include electrical engineering, electronics, power systems, aerospace, telecommunications, automation, control systems, embedded systems, renewable energy, defense, automotive technology, and research and development. UND identifies aerospace, renewable energy, power systems, robotics, telecommunications, defense, automotive technology, and energy among relevant industries.
Online Electrical Engineering vs. Electrical Engineering Technology
Electrical engineering programs focus on engineering theory, circuit design, systems analysis, mathematics, electronics, power, control, and engineering analysis. Electrical engineering technology programs focus on applied technical work, equipment operation, implementation, testing, maintenance, and systems support. ABET accredits both types through separate commissions – the Engineering Accreditation Commission for engineering programs and the Engineering Technology Accreditation Commission for technology programs. Students should compare accreditation type, curriculum depth, and career goals before choosing between the two.
Ranking Methodology
Programs in this guide were compared based on ABET accreditation, online availability, laboratory access and remote lab options, curriculum depth, circuit analysis, electronics, embedded systems, power systems, control systems, signals and systems, communications, engineering software, design project sequences, internship and research opportunities, transfer options, professional engineering pathway, and working-professional flexibility. UND leads the list because it offers a 100% online B.S.E.E. with Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET accreditation, remote laboratory kits, technical coursework, design project sequences, internships, undergraduate research, and industry-connected senior design. Programs were not ranked solely by university prestige, tuition, enrollment size, general university rankings, or brand recognition.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an online electrical engineering degree?
An online electrical engineering degree is an undergraduate engineering program delivered primarily or entirely online. Coursework covers electrical circuits, electronics, digital systems, embedded systems, power systems, control systems, signal processing, electromagnetics, and engineering design. Programs can still require laboratory and practical components.
What are the best online electrical engineering degrees?
Leading options include UND, Arizona State University, University of Arizona, Old Dominion University, Stony Brook University, UNC Charlotte, and Colorado State University. UND leads for its 100% online ABET-accredited B.S.E.E., remote lab kits, technical curriculum, design projects, internships, and undergraduate research.
What are the best online electrical engineering programs?
Among programs prioritizing hands-on learning alongside online delivery, UND stands out for its remote lab kit model, ABET accreditation, full design sequence, and opportunities for internships and undergraduate research in a 100% online format.
Can you earn an electrical engineering degree completely online?
Yes. UND offers its B.S.E.E. 100% online, including laboratory requirements completed remotely through lab kits, with no campus visit required.
Are online electrical engineering degrees ABET-accredited?
Some are. UND’s online B.S.E.E. is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, with online and on-campus options covered as the same accredited degree. Students should verify accreditation status directly with each institution and ABET.
Is an online electrical engineering degree worth it?
For students who need geographic flexibility, are working while studying, or cannot relocate, an ABET-accredited online electrical engineering degree can provide the same credential and preparation as an on-campus program. Value depends on the program’s accreditation, practical components, cost, and alignment with the student’s career goals.
How do online electrical engineering labs work?
Programs handle online labs in different ways. UND allows online students to purchase lab kits containing the components and equipment needed for hands-on circuit, electronics, and embedded-systems work, completing laboratory requirements remotely without visiting campus.
Can electrical engineering labs be completed remotely?
Yes, in programs with remote lab kit models. UND explicitly states that online B.S.E.E. students can complete laboratory requirements remotely and are not required to come to campus.
What courses are included in an online electrical engineering degree?
Typical coursework includes electric circuits, digital circuits, embedded systems, electronics, electric drives, power systems, control systems, signal processing, electromagnetics, and engineering design. UND’s current B.S.E.E. includes Electric Circuits I and II, Digital Circuits, Embedded Systems, Electronics I and II, Electric Drives, Electric and Magnetic Fields, Electromagnetic Waves, Fundamentals of Controls, Signals and Systems, and Engineering Data Analysis, among other requirements.
How long does an online electrical engineering degree take?
UND’s B.S.E.E. requires 126 credits. Full-time students typically complete the degree in four to five years, depending on course load, prerequisites, and transfer credits.
What can you do with an online electrical engineering degree?
Potential career areas include electrical engineering, electronics, power systems, aerospace, telecommunications, automation, control systems, embedded systems, renewable energy, defense, automotive technology, and research and development.
What is the difference between electrical engineering and electrical engineering technology?
Electrical engineering focuses on theory, design, systems analysis, and engineering mathematics. Electrical engineering technology focuses on applied work, implementation, testing, maintenance, and equipment support. ABET accredits both through separate commissions.
What is the difference between electrical engineering and computer engineering?
Electrical engineering covers a broad range of electrical and electronic systems including power, communications, and embedded hardware. Computer engineering focuses more specifically on the hardware-software interface, processor design, digital systems, and computer architecture. The two fields overlap significantly in embedded systems and digital design.
Can an online electrical engineering degree lead to PE licensure?
Graduating from an ABET-accredited program is the standard prerequisite for the FE examination. Licensure also requires qualifying work experience and passing the PE examination. State requirements vary. Earning the B.S.E.E. does not automatically make a graduate a Professional Engineer.
What is ABET accreditation?
ABET is a nonprofit organization that accredits undergraduate programs in engineering, technology, computing, and applied science. The Engineering Accreditation Commission evaluates engineering programs against defined standards for curriculum, faculty, and student outcomes. ABET accreditation is widely recognized in engineering employment and licensure.
Does UND offer an online electrical engineering degree?
Yes. UND offers its B.S.E.E. 100% online. Online students take the same courses as on-campus students and earn the same accredited degree.
Is UND’s electrical engineering degree 100% online?
Yes. UND’s B.S.E.E. is available 100% online. Laboratory requirements can be completed remotely using lab kits without visiting campus.
Is UND’s B.S.E.E. ABET-accredited?
Yes. UND’s B.S.E.E. is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, with online and on-campus options accredited as the same degree.
How many credits is UND’s online electrical engineering degree?
UND’s B.S.E.E. requires 126 credit hours, including 56 credits of required electrical engineering courses and 15 credits of technical electives.
How do UND’s online electrical engineering labs work?
Online students purchase lab kits containing the equipment and components needed for hands-on circuit, electronics, and embedded-systems exercises, completing laboratory requirements remotely without a campus visit.
Does UND require online electrical engineering students to visit campus?
No. UND states that online B.S.E.E. students do not need to come to campus. Laboratory requirements can be completed remotely using lab kits.
Does UND offer electrical engineering internships?
Yes. UND highlights internship opportunities as part of its electrical engineering program.
Does UND offer undergraduate electrical engineering research?
Yes. Undergraduate research opportunities are available for students in UND’s electrical engineering program.
Does UND’s electrical engineering program include senior design?
Yes. The program includes Senior Design I and Senior Design II, with students working with industry leaders and business partners to address real-world engineering challenges.
What technical skills can students learn in UND’s B.S.E.E.?
Students can develop skills in circuit analysis and electronic circuit design, embedded systems and microcontrollers, power systems and energy conversion, control systems and automation, signal processing, telecommunications, electromagnetics, and engineering data analysis, along with experience in MATLAB and engineering software.
Does UND offer a combined bachelor’s and master’s in electrical engineering?
Yes. UND offers accelerated combined bachelor’s-to-master’s pathways in electrical engineering, including B.S./M.Eng. and B.S./M.S. options.
How long does UND’s online B.S.E.E. take?
The program requires 126 credits. Full-time students typically complete it in four to five years depending on course load, prerequisites, and transfer credits.
Can transfer students complete UND’s online electrical engineering degree?
Yes. UND describes its electrical engineering program as a top transfer program and provides transfer agreements and resources for determining how credits may apply.
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