Engineering Master's Admission Requirements: What Online Programs Ask For

Admission to an online engineering master's program is usually decided on paper: transcripts, a statement, letters and sometimes test scores. The categories look similar from school to school, but the details inside them differ a lot, and those details decide whether you can apply now, need a prerequisite course first or should look elsewhere. This guide walks through each requirement with examples taken from programs' own pages, so you know what to look for when you compare online engineering master's programs.

The prior degree comes first

Almost every program asks for a bachelor's degree, but the field it accepts varies.

• Broad wording. Columbia's online MS in Electrical Engineering states that admitted students "must possess an undergraduate degree in engineering, science, mathematics, computer science or other related field."
• Specific and accredited. Kansas State's online civil engineering master's asks for a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from an ABET-accredited institution.
• Engineering technology. Policies split here. Kansas State's online electrical and computer engineering master's says an electrical engineering technology degree "does not usually qualify for admission," and Colorado State's online MS in Electrical Engineering does not accept B.S.E.E.T. degrees. Kennesaw State's online MS in Mechanical Engineering, by contrast, lists engineering technology among the accepted majors.

If your bachelor's is outside engineering, read our guide to applying without an engineering bachelor's.

GPA: read how it is calculated

A 3.0 on a 4.0 scale is a common floor; Columbia's online MS programs and Purdue's online Master of Nuclear Engineering both state it. What changes is the coursework the GPA is drawn from and what happens below the line.

• Arizona State's online MS in Materials Science and Engineering counts the last 60 hours of the first bachelor's degree. Its online MSE in Electrical Engineering uses a 3.00 junior-senior GPA, and 3.50 for international applicants.
• Colorado State's online Master of Materials Engineering mentions conditional admission through an admissions pathway program for applicants with a 2.8 to 2.99 GPA.
• Kennesaw State's online MSME requires a 3.0 but lists alternatives for applicants between 2.75 and 2.99, including a GRE Quantitative score of 148 or passing the FE exam.

A stated minimum is a threshold for review, not a promise of admission.

Math and technical prerequisites

Engineering master's courses assume undergraduate math, and many programs spell it out.

• Purdue's online MS in Civil Engineering lists three semesters of calculus, differential equations and linear algebra.
• Johns Hopkins' part-time online MS in Mechanical Engineering lists Calculus I to III and two semesters of college physics.
• Colorado State's online Master of Materials Engineering asks for a year of college chemistry and proficiency in MATLAB, Python or another coding language.

Check where any missing course can be taken. Penn State's online Master of Engineering in Electrical Engineering notes that it "does not offer online prerequisite courses," so a gap would have to be closed elsewhere before you start.

GRE policies vary, and many are unpublished

The GRE General Test has three sections (Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning and Analytical Writing) and can be taken at home or at a test center, according to ETS. ETS describes scores as valid for five years.

In our directory (October 2026), the 260 online engineering master's programs break down like this by the GRE policy their pages state (how we collect data):

Three patterns matter more than the headline:

• Conditional rules. Kansas State's online civil master's asks for a GRE only from applicants whose bachelor's is not from an ABET-accredited institution, and then at the 80th percentile on the quantitative portion. NC State's online Master of Civil Engineering states the GRE is automatically waived for applicants with an engineering degree from a US institution.
• Score targets. Missouri S&T's online MS in Mechanical Engineering lists combined Verbal and Quantitative of at least 302, Quantitative of at least 157 and Analytical Writing of at least 3.5.
• Silence is not a waiver. A program that publishes nothing about the GRE has not told you it is waived. Ask the department. Our no-GRE list only includes programs that state it.

Letters, statements and experience

Most applications combine several documents. Purdue's online Master of Nuclear Engineering, for example, lists three recommendation letters, an academic statement of purpose, a professional resume and transcripts from all universities attended. Colorado State's online MS in Electrical Engineering asks for two professional recommendations.

For working engineers, supervisors who know your technical work can often speak to your readiness better than former instructors, but follow the program's instructions on who should write.

Work experience is usually optional. A few programs make it a condition: St. Cloud State's Professional Science Master's in Software Engineering states that applicants should have two years of computing work experience after the undergraduate degree or be employed full time with a US-based organization.

English proficiency for international applicants

English tests are stated with program-specific minimums:

• Columbia's CVN application page lists TOEFL 100, IELTS 7 or a Duolingo English Test score of 120 for applicants whose degree comes from a country not on its exempt list.
• Colorado State's online Master of Materials Engineering lists TOEFL 80, IELTS 6.5 or Duolingo 120 for admission without condition.
• Arizona State's online MSE in Electrical Engineering lists a TOEFL iBT minimum of 90.

Exemption rules and accepted tests change, so confirm them on the school's admissions page before you book a test.

A short checklist before you apply

• Does the program accept your bachelor's field, and does it treat engineering technology differently?
• Which GPA does it calculate (cumulative, last 60 hours, junior-senior) and is there a conditional route?
• Are the math, science and programming prerequisites listed, and can missing courses be taken online?
• What is the stated GRE policy, and does a waiver depend on your degree or GPA?
• How many letters, and from whom?
• Which English tests and minimum scores apply to you?

Our admissions overview collects these points by program, and you can line up several programs side by side with the compare tool.