Thesis vs. Non-Thesis Engineering Master's: How to Choose Online

Many online engineering master's programs let you finish either with a thesis or without one. The choice affects how you spend your final credits, whether you work closely with a faculty advisor, how you finish (a defense, an exam or simply your last course) and, in some programs, which funding you can be considered for. This guide explains the common options, shows how often they appear in our directory and lists the questions worth asking before you commit.

What the options mean

Programs use their own labels, but four patterns cover most of them.

• Thesis. Part of the degree is research credit leading to a written thesis, usually defended before a committee. At Missouri S&T, the online MS in Electrical Engineering requires 30 credit hours for both routes, with six hours of research for the thesis. Mississippi State's online MS in Civil Engineering describes its thesis option as 24 hours of coursework and at least six hours of research, and its online electrical and computer engineering program says students "are required to orally defend their thesis."
• Non-thesis with a final exam. Coursework replaces the research credits, and some programs add a culminating exam. Mississippi State's online MS in Chemical Engineering requires all non-thesis students to pass a comprehensive examination. Texas Tech's industrial engineering MS ends with an MS final examination for non-thesis students and a thesis defense for thesis students.
• Project or report. A smaller, often applied piece of work. Purdue's online Master of Nuclear Engineering can be earned with 30 credits of coursework or with a six-credit project course plus 24 credits of coursework. Johns Hopkins' part-time online MS in Electrical and Computer Engineering lets students choose a special project or a thesis research project, "but not both."
• Coursework only. Every credit is a class. Arizona State's MS in Materials Science and Engineering shows how one program can offer several routes: 30 credit hours plus a portfolio, a thesis or an applied project course.

How common each option is in our directory

In our directory (October 2026), 260 online engineering master's programs are listed. Because many programs offer more than one route, these counts overlap (how we collect data):

• 136 list a non-thesis option.
• 89 list a thesis option.
• 39 list a coursework-only option.
• 39 list a project or report option.
• Some do not state their completion options on the pages we reviewed.

A thesis option on paper does not always mean the same thing for online students, so read the next section before treating these numbers as availability.

Is the thesis really open to online students?

Some programs offer both routes to everyone. Auburn's online MS in Electrical Engineering says online students "may choose either the thesis or non-thesis option." Others make the thesis the exception. Auburn's online MS in Mechanical Engineering lets online students choose the non-thesis option, "except with special permission from the department to complete a thesis." The University of Central Florida says its non-thesis MS in Materials Science and Engineering "is primarily designed for part-time and online students."

A few online programs work the other way and require research:

• Texas A&M describes its online MS in Petroleum Engineering as "a thesis-option, research-based degree."
• Texas A&M's online MS in Nuclear Engineering requires completion of a master's thesis.
• Oklahoma State's online MS in Electrical Engineering requires six hours of thesis credit within its 30 hours.

If you are a working engineer who wants a coursework degree, those programs may not fit. If you want research experience, they may be exactly what you are looking for.

Which route suits which goal

Missouri S&T's online MS in Mechanical Engineering puts the decision plainly, inviting students to choose a track "based upon whether you work in industry or plan to push the boundaries through academia."

A thesis tends to fit you if you are considering a PhD, want a faculty member who knows your research well enough to write a detailed recommendation, or want to work on a problem from your job in depth. It does not guarantee doctoral admission, and research done remotely depends on access to equipment, data or software, which you should settle with an advisor early.

A non-thesis, project or coursework route tends to fit you if you want breadth across more courses, need a predictable schedule around full-time work, or are studying mainly for professional skills. The distinction often tracks the difference between an MS and an MEng, which our guide on MS vs. MEng explains.

The funding link

At some universities, the route you choose decides which support you can be considered for. Iowa State's Graduate College page for civil engineering states "Assistantship consideration for MS/thesis and PHD. MEng is not considered." The University of Illinois catalog says students in its non-thesis aerospace MS "are not eligible for funding from the department." Neither statement says whether a thesis student studying at a distance could hold an assistantship, so being in a thesis track does not by itself mean funding is open to you; ask the department directly.

Outside funding can also depend on research. The National Science Foundation's Graduate Research Fellowship Program supports students pursuing full-time, research-based master's and doctoral degrees in STEM fields. See our scholarships page for more options.

Questions to ask before you choose

• Is the thesis open to online students by default, by permission or not at all?
• How are online students matched with a thesis advisor, and when?
• Where will the research happen: at home, at work, in a campus lab or in a shared computing environment?
• Is the defense held remotely, or do you need to travel?
• For the non-thesis route, is there a comprehensive or final exam, and how is it proctored?
• Can you switch routes after starting, and do credits carry over?
• Does the route affect eligibility for assistantships, tuition awards or later PhD admission at the same school?

When you compare programs, filter the online engineering master's list and check each program page for the completion options it states. If the page is silent, treat the answer as unknown until the department confirms it.