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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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
Schools without enough outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.
Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard
Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard
Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard
Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard
Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard
Source:Accreditor: Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard
Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard
Source:Accreditor: Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard
| 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 |
Master’s programs are where computer engineering splits into recognizable specialties, and the split matters because the coursework has little overlap:
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.
Outcomes vary by program, but you can compare:
For pacing and delivery comparisons, see: How Online Computer Engineering Degrees Work
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.
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.
