Online master’s programs in computer engineering are more widely available than online bachelor’s programs, and the reason is structural: graduate coursework leans on analysis, design, and simulation rather than on introductory bench laboratories, which makes it far easier to deliver at a distance. Many of the longest-running distance engineering programs in the country are graduate programs originally built to serve working engineers at employer sites.
The degree is awarded as an MS in Computer Engineering, and equally often as an MS in Electrical and Computer Engineering or an MS in Electrical Engineering with a computer engineering concentration. Some schools deliver similar content through a Master of Engineering, which is typically a coursework and project degree rather than a research degree. Read the required course list rather than the diploma text.
Quick answers
What is an online master’s in computer engineering?
It is a graduate program delivering advanced training in computer architecture, digital and embedded systems design, VLSI, and hardware-software integration through online coursework. It is typically taken by engineers who already hold a bachelor’s in computer engineering, electrical engineering, or a closely related field and want to specialize or move into design work.
What degree titles are common?
MS in Computer Engineering is the most direct title. Equivalent training is offered as an MS in Electrical and Computer Engineering, an MS in Electrical Engineering with a computer engineering concentration, or a Master of Engineering with a coursework and project structure. Compare required core courses rather than titles.
How many credits is a master’s, and how long does it take?
Typically 30 to 36 semester hours, commonly one to two years full-time and longer part-time. Programs built for working engineers often run three years at one or two courses per term, which is how most online students complete them.
What prerequisites do these programs assume?
Most assume an ABET-accredited or equivalent engineering bachelor’s, along with circuits, digital logic, computer architecture, differential equations, and programming in C. Applicants from computer science or physics are commonly admitted with a bridge sequence covering circuits and signals. Confirm the specific expectations before applying rather than inferring them from the catalog.
Does ABET accredit master’s programs in computer engineering?
ABET does accredit some master’s-level engineering programs, but programmatic accreditation at the graduate level is far less common and far less important than at the bachelor’s level. The credential that matters for licensure and for most employers is the ABET-accredited bachelor’s. At the master’s level, confirm recognized institutional accreditation and evaluate the program on faculty, curriculum, and specialization depth.
What is the difference between a thesis track and a project track?
A thesis track culminates in original research supervised by a faculty member and is the better preparation for doctoral study or research and development roles. A project or coursework track culminates in a design project or additional electives and is generally the better fit for practicing engineers. Many programs offer both, and online students more often take the project track.
At a Glance
- Degree type: MS in Computer Engineering, MS in Electrical and Computer Engineering, or a Master of Engineering
- Typical duration: 1-2 years full-time, commonly 2-3 years part-time
- Credits: Typically 30-36 semester hours
- Prerequisites: Engineering bachelor’s plus circuits, digital logic, architecture, differential equations, and C programming
- Accreditation: ABET matters most at the bachelor’s level; verify institutional accreditation for the master’s
Schools to compare
How We Rank Schools
Every school list on this site is ordered by the BOC Score, computed from the most
recent school-level data published by the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard and IPEDS).
To qualify, a school must be currently operating and accredited by an agency recognized by the
U.S. Department of Education. Each eligible school is then scored on five measures, percentile-ranked
against schools at the same credential level:
BOCSCORE
- Graduation rate 30%
- Median earnings, 10 years after entry 25%
- Average net price (lower is better) 20%
- Retention rate 15%
- Fully online availability 10%
Schools without enough outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score.
Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.
Acceptance rate
46%
Graduation rate
69%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$64,403
Avg net price
$10,440/yr
TuitionIn‑state$7,350
Out‑of‑state$19,950
Key stats- Retention rate: 86%
- Programs offered: 41
Source:Accreditor: Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission · IPEDS · College Scorecard
Graduation rate
91%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$92,538
Avg net price
$30,915/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Key stats- Retention rate: 97%
- Programs offered: 46
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
Graduation rate
63%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$92,538
TuitionContact school for pricing
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
Graduation rate
46%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$40,594
Avg net price
$12,037/yr
TuitionIn‑state$2,664
Out‑of‑state$9,576
Source:Accreditor: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges · IPEDS · College Scorecard
Graduation rate
47%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$57,556
Avg net price
$15,488/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Key stats- Retention rate: 55%
- Programs offered: 24
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
Graduation rate
29%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$37,981
Avg net price
$8,172/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Key stats- Retention rate: 73%
- Programs offered: 18
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
Graduation rate
25%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$45,987
TuitionContact school for pricing
Key stats- Retention rate: 100%
- Programs offered: 13
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
Graduation rate
22%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$45,987
Avg net price
$36,609/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Key stats- Retention rate: 67%
- Programs offered: 11
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
Typical topics in a master’s program
| Course Topic | What You Learn |
|---|
| Advanced Computer Architecture | Superscalar and out-of-order execution, memory consistency, multicore and cache coherence |
| VLSI Design | CMOS logic design, layout, timing closure, power analysis, and the digital design flow |
| Advanced Digital Design | Complex synthesizable designs in VHDL or Verilog, verification methodology, and FPGA prototyping |
| Embedded & Real-Time Systems | Real-time scheduling, device drivers, RTOS design, and constrained-resource firmware |
| Digital Signal Processing | Filter design, transforms, and the architecture of processors built for signal work |
| Computer Networks & Interconnects | Protocol design, on-chip and system-level interconnect, and network hardware |
| Hardware Security | Side channels, trusted execution, supply-chain integrity, and hardware roots of trust |
| Hardware for Machine Learning | Accelerator architectures, quantization, and the memory-bandwidth limits of model inference |
| Thesis or Design Project | Original research, or an engineering design project taken from specification through validation |
Common specializations
Master’s programs are where computer engineering splits into recognizable specialties, and the split matters because the coursework has little overlap:
- Computer architecture – processor and memory system design, performance modeling, and the simulation tools the field runs on
- VLSI and integrated circuit design – physical design, timing and power, and the electronic design automation flow used in industry
- Embedded and cyber-physical systems – real-time firmware, control, and devices where a missed deadline is a failure rather than a slowdown
- Hardware security – attacks and defenses that operate below the software layer, an area with strong defense and semiconductor demand
- Signal processing and communications – the mathematics-heavy branch shared with electrical engineering
- Hardware acceleration – FPGA and ASIC design for specific workloads, including machine learning inference
A program that lists all of these as electives but only runs two of them online each year is not offering you six specializations. Ask for the actual online course rotation.
Skills and outcomes to compare
Outcomes vary by program, but you can compare:
- Depth of architecture and VLSI coursework versus embedded and systems coursework
- Whether a thesis track exists, and how faculty research supervision works at a distance
- Which industry-standard EDA and simulation tools are taught, and whether student licenses are provided
- Whether hardware is shipped for design courses, or whether design work stays in simulation
- Whether a design project is required, and how project teams are formed among distributed students
- Access to computing resources for synthesis, simulation, and place-and-route runs, and whether that access carries a separate cost
For pacing and delivery comparisons, see: How Online Computer Engineering Degrees Work
How to compare online master’s programs
- Identify the program type: standalone MS in Computer Engineering, a concentration inside an electrical and computer engineering master’s, or a Master of Engineering.
- Read the required core and confirm it covers both architecture and digital design rather than one at the expense of the other.
- Check which specializations are genuinely available online, with a multi-year course rotation to back it up.
- Confirm the prerequisite policy and whether bridge coursework is available if you are coming from computer science or physics.
- Decide between a thesis and a project track based on whether you are aiming at research or engineering practice.
- Ask what EDA tool licenses and compute resources are provided for coursework, and whether they are included in tuition.
- Verify recognized institutional accreditation through the U.S. Department of Education database.
Vendor certifications in particular FPGA toolchains, processor architectures, or EDA suites are credentials issued by companies, not accreditation, and a degree does not confer them. They can be worth holding alongside a degree, but they do not substitute for one and they say nothing about program quality.
Admissions requirements
Requirements vary by school, but most programs require a completed bachelor’s degree, usually in computer engineering, electrical engineering, computer science, or a closely related field. Common elements include transcripts, a resume, and a statement of purpose. Letters of recommendation are frequently requested. Many online engineering master’s programs are test-optional, though some still ask for GRE scores.
Applicants from outside engineering are not automatically excluded. A computer science graduate typically needs circuits and signals coursework added; an electrical engineering graduate typically needs additional programming and architecture. Programs handle this with conditional admission, a required bridge sequence, or a recommendation to complete prerequisites first. Ask admissions directly what they expect for your specific background.
Practicing engineers should also ask whether the program accepts graduate credit earned elsewhere, since many people accumulate a few graduate courses through employer-sponsored study before formally enrolling.
Master’s vs a bachelor’s pathway
A bachelor’s in computer engineering is the standard entry credential for hardware, firmware, and embedded roles, and most of the field is entered at that level. A master’s is more commonly pursued to specialize in architecture, VLSI, or hardware security, to move into research and advanced development, or to redirect an adjacent degree toward hardware-facing work. It is also the more practical online option, since graduate coursework distributes more easily than introductory laboratories.
Compare degree options:
For a value and fit discussion, see: Is an Online Computer Engineering Degree Worth It. For adjacent fields, see the Computer Science Program Guide and the Engineering Program Guide.
Data verified: August 11, 2026.
Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; Employment Projections 2024–2034) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2023 cohort). The source agency and data year are cited inline with every statistic.
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