MS vs. MEng: Which Engineering Master's Fits?

Most online engineering master's degrees carry one of two names: Master of Science (MS, sometimes MSE or a field abbreviation such as MSME) or Master of Engineering (MEng, ME or M.Engr.). The usual shorthand is that the MS is the research degree and the MEng is the professional one. That shorthand is often right, but it is a pattern, not a rule, and the differences that matter (thesis, funding, PhD pathway) are set program by program. This guide explains what to look for, with examples from schools' own pages.

The general pattern

In our directory (October 2026), 176 of the 260 online engineering master's programs award an MS-type degree, 65 award an MEng-type degree and 19 use another title, such as "Master of Civil Engineering" (methodology).

Schools describe the difference in similar terms:

• Iowa State University says its Master of Engineering "is a course-based program primarily for online students."
• The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign catalog says its MEng in Engineering "differs from the Master of Science degree in that it is a terminal degree and not a pathway to a doctoral program."
• Virginia Tech says the final project in its online MEng in Nuclear Engineering "tends to focus on a problem in industry as opposed to a novel research idea."

So the MEng is typically built around coursework, sometimes with an applied project, for engineers who plan to stay in practice. The MS is the degree that more often offers a thesis and connects to research.

The thesis question

The clearest practical difference is whether you can write a thesis.

Across the 260 online master's programs in our directory, 89 list a thesis option, 136 a non-thesis option, 39 a project or report option and 39 a coursework-only route. Many programs list more than one, so these counts overlap.

Two things are easy to miss:

1. An MS does not guarantee an online thesis. At Auburn University, online students in several MS programs "may choose the non-thesis option, except with special permission from the department to complete a thesis." Some schools also require a campus visit for a thesis defense.
2. "Non-thesis" does not always mean "no research." Some programs require a research report, a capstone or directed research instead. Read the requirement, not the label.

Missouri S&T frames the choice for its online MS in Mechanical Engineering as selecting thesis or non-thesis tracks "based upon whether you work in industry or plan to push the boundaries through academia." West Texas A&M describes its in-person thesis track as designed for students "planning to continue to a doctoral program or considering a career in R&D," while its 36-hour non-thesis program has 100% online options.

For the full comparison, see Thesis vs. Non-Thesis Engineering Master's.

If a PhD might come next

If you think you may apply to a PhD later, look first at MS programs with a thesis. Schools themselves aim thesis tracks at future doctoral students, as West Texas A&M does above, and a thesis is supervised research work with a faculty advisor. Some MEng degrees are described by the school itself as terminal, as at Illinois above. That does not mean an MEng holder can never be admitted to a doctoral program, but it means the degree was not designed as a step toward one.

Before you choose, ask the doctoral program you have in mind how it treats each degree, and whether thesis credits can transfer. Our online PhD listings show which schools offer distance doctoral pathways.

Funding and admissions differences

Funding is another place where the two degrees often part ways, although for online students funding is limited in either case:

• Iowa State lists assistantship consideration "for MS/thesis and PHD," adding: "MEng is not considered."
• The University of Idaho says funding for its M.Engr. students "is generally not available in the form of teaching assistantships, research assistantships, or fellowships."
• The University of Maryland's online MEng application asks applicants to acknowledge that "there is no research or thesis in the program and no financial assistance provided."

The professional-versus-research split can also exist inside the MS. The University of Colorado Boulder's professional master's students "earn the same Master of Science degree as a traditional master's student," but the same page states that professional master's students "are not eligible for teaching or research assistantships." The degree name alone does not tell you which track you are on.

How an engineering management master's differs

Engineering management degrees (Master of Engineering Management, MEM, or MS in Engineering Management) are a third option that often appears next to MS and MEng programs. They are outside the 22 engineering majors in our directory, so we do not list them, but they are worth understanding:

• Lamar University describes its Master of Engineering Management as "a non-thesis degree program" that "teaches both management and advanced technical skills."
• Kennesaw State describes its online MS in Engineering Management as "a unique alternative to an MBA" that "blends engineering expertise with essential business principles like project management, quality systems, and leadership."

In short, an MS or MEng deepens your engineering discipline, while an engineering management degree adds business and leadership content to an engineering background. If you want to lead technical teams but stay close to engineering work, compare an MEng with an engineering management degree side by side. If you want deeper technical expertise in, say, structures or power systems, a discipline MS or MEng is the closer fit.

Choosing between them

A short way to decide:

• Choose an MS with a thesis if you want research experience, may apply to a PhD, or want to work closely with a faculty advisor. Confirm that distance students can do a thesis and whether any campus visit is required.
• Choose an MEng or non-thesis MS if you want advanced coursework that fits around a job, plan to stay in industry practice, or want a defined course list and finish date.
• Consider engineering management if your goal is managing projects and people rather than deeper discipline knowledge.

For licensure, the choice between MS and MEng rarely decides anything. NCEES describes the common path as an EAC/ABET-accredited bachelor's degree, experience and the FE and PE exams, and a master's of either type does not on its own replace an accredited engineering bachelor's degree. Each state board sets its own rules, so check yours.

Then compare the programs that pass your filter on the details that differ most: thesis access for online students, required campus visits, total credits and total tuition. Browse online engineering master's programs by major to start.