Your degree has to do more than fit your schedule; it has to survive an employer’s review and, potentially, a licensing board’s. An ABET accredited online electrical engineering bachelor’s gives you an outside quality check and keeps the broadest route to engineering licensure open. It is not required for every electrical engineering job, but skipping it can create questions later.
Key Takeaways
- Verify the exact degree program in ABET’s current database, not just the school.
- Match the listed program name, campus, and delivery format to the option you plan to enter.
- Treat a missing ABET listing as a decision point, especially if professional licensure may matter later.
That verification matters because accreditation attaches to a specific program, not automatically to every engineering degree a school offers. A university may have an ABET-accredited option alongside another program, campus, or delivery format that is not listed. Compare the database entry with the degree name and online format you are actually considering before you assume the credential carries the same status.
The practical answer is clear: favor an ABET-accredited program unless a degree without ABET accreditation meets a specific employer requirement and you have checked the licensure rules where you expect to work. Accreditation does not promise a job, and it does not replace experience or technical ability. It does, however, remove one avoidable source of doubt when an employer or licensing authority reviews your education.
What an ABET Accredited Online Electrical Engineering Bachelor’s Proves
ABET accreditation is programmatic accreditation, not a seal applied automatically to every degree a college offers. ABET reviews a specific degree program rather than approving an entire college. According to ABET, an eligible engineering program in the United States must be offered by a degree-granting school with regional institutional accreditation. A college can therefore have recognized institutional accreditation while its electrical engineering program lacks ABET accreditation. Those are separate checks, and passing one does not establish the other.
ABET also reports that it applies the same review criteria to online and campus engineering programs. It defines a fully online program as one in which students can complete all graduation requirements online. This definition gives you a useful boundary: a program may still require an in-person component, or a campus and online version may have different records, if the school does not identify the degree as fully online. Related programs can also carry different names, requirements, and accreditation status, so the school’s general engineering accreditation statement is not enough.
Start with the exact program title shown on the school’s site. Then search that title in ABET’s program database and confirm the school, location, degree level, and delivery format. Pay particular attention to the record attached to the degree you would actually enroll in, rather than relying on a department page or a nearby program with a similar name. A campus electrical engineering degree does not establish the status of an online electrical engineering degree, and accreditation for one engineering major does not extend automatically to another. You can compare current online electrical engineering bachelor’s programs before checking each program separately.
- Institutional Check: Confirm that the college has recognized institutional accreditation. This establishes the school-level status, but it does not answer whether the specific engineering program is ABET accredited.
- Program Check: Find the exact electrical engineering degree in ABET’s database. Match the degree name rather than treating a related major as an equivalent record.
- Format Check: Make sure the record covers the program and location you will attend. This is the step that separates an online option from a campus program with a similar title.
Compare Engineering and Engineering Technology Degrees
Degree titles deserve close reading. Electrical engineering and electronics engineering technology may lead to overlapping jobs, but they are not interchangeable academic labels. An engineering curriculum generally places more weight on mathematical analysis, modeling, and system design, while an engineering technology curriculum may place more weight on applying, testing, and implementing that work. The distinction is not a guarantee of what one specific school teaches, so read the course list instead of treating the title as a complete description. Employers, graduate schools, licensing boards, and ABET may classify the two paths differently.
That classification can matter later, even if the programs appear similar at first glance. A degree that fits one employer’s hiring process may not satisfy a graduate program’s admission expectations or a licensing board’s educational review. Compare the required mathematics, laboratory work, design courses, and any stated prerequisites, then confirm how the school identifies the program for accreditation purposes. Check the exact program rather than relying on the word engineering somewhere in the title.
The program options below illustrate how much degree titles can vary. They are useful comparisons, not substitutes for reviewing the curriculum and accreditation record of the program you plan to enter. Confirm the current accreditation status of any program directly through ABET before enrolling.
GetEducated's Picks
- American Public University System Bachelor of Engineering / Electrical Engineering
- Arizona State University Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering - Electric Power & Energy Systems
- National University Bachelor of Science in Electrical & Computer Engineering
| School and Program | Degree Family Shown in Title | What to Verify |
|---|---|---|
| Lamar University offers the Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering. | Electrical engineering | Match the full title to the current ABET record. |
| ECPI University offers the Bachelor of Science in Electronics Engineering Technology. | Engineering technology | Check the applicable ABET commission and employer requirements. |
| American Public University System offers the Bachelor of Engineering / Electrical Engineering. | Electrical engineering | Confirm the listed school, program title, and delivery format. |
| National University offers the Bachelor of Science in Electrical & Computer Engineering. | Electrical and computer engineering | Verify that the combined title matches your intended career and the ABET listing. |
Cost still matters, but compare it after checking legitimacy. Review the full price, including mandatory fees, rather than relying only on an advertised tuition rate. A lower price does not resolve a mismatch between the degree and your intended employment, graduate study, or licensing path. This electrical engineering bachelor’s cost comparison can help you examine price without losing sight of program-level accreditation.
When Accreditation Changes the Career Decision
Many electrical engineering jobs do not require a Professional Engineer license, so licensure should not be treated as the only reason to choose an ABET-accredited program. Accreditation can still matter during hiring because it gives an employer a recognized measure of the program’s curriculum, faculty, facilities, and student outcomes. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that electrical engineers typically need a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, electronics engineering, electrical engineering technology, or a related engineering field. For a student still deciding between industry roles and a path that may eventually require a license, the accreditation question belongs in that larger career decision.
The labor market makes the degree decision financially significant. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, electrical engineers had a median annual wage of $111,910 in May 2024. Employment of electrical and electronics engineers is projected to grow 7% from 2024 to 2034, with about 17,500 openings each year. Those figures do not guarantee an outcome, but they show why employers will examine the degree behind an application. They also put the cost of an online program in context: a lower-priced degree is not necessarily the better purchase if its accreditation status narrows the roles, employers, or licensure options available to you.
Licensure creates the sharper dividing line. The National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying says the usual process includes education, engineering experience, and the Fundamentals of Engineering and Principles and Practice of Engineering exams. ABET reports that graduates from engineering programs without ABET accreditation may need an additional 4–8 years of work experience, depending on the jurisdiction. That difference may have little effect on a student who has already ruled out licensure, but it can materially change the timeline for someone who expects to work on public projects, offer services to the public, or keep the Professional Engineer option open. A specialization can shape the work you want to do; it does not resolve an accreditation requirement.
- Favor ABET Accreditation if you may work on public projects, offer services to the public, or seek a Professional Engineer license.
- Ask the Employer if a promotion or tuition benefit names an acceptable degree or accreditation requirement. A degree that qualifies for one employer’s policy may not satisfy another’s.
- Check the State Board before enrolling if you expect to pursue licensure in a specific state. The jurisdiction matters because the additional experience associated with a non-ABET program can vary.
If you are still comparing roles and concentrations, review the skills and specializations in online electrical engineering degrees without treating a specialization as a substitute for accreditation. The practical choice is between preserving more career options with ABET accreditation and accepting a narrower path when you are confident licensure will not matter to your work.
Run the Exact Program Check Before You Apply
A legitimate program should publish a clear degree title, curriculum, credit requirement, admissions rules, institutional accreditation, and program accreditation status. Arizona State University offers the Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering - General, which requires 120 credit hours and is structured for completion over four years, according to Arizona State University. That level of detail gives you a record to compare with the school catalog and ABET database. It also lets you distinguish the degree itself from a related major, concentration, or delivery format that may not carry the same accreditation status. If the title on the school’s page does not match the title in the accreditation record, stop there and resolve the discrepancy before applying.
Admissions rules can also show whether the program expects enough preparation for college engineering. The university states that first-year applicants need four years of math, three years of laboratory science, and at least a 2.00 GPA in each competency area. Applicants must also meet a benchmark that can include a 3.00 GPA in competency courses, class rank, or specified test scores. Those requirements matter beyond admission: they indicate which academic background the program assumes before you begin technical coursework. A student who falls short in one area may need preparation before enrollment, which can affect both the start date and the cost of reaching the degree.
Transfer students need a separate check. The same university reports that applicants with at least 24 transferable post-high-school credits need a minimum 2.50 cumulative transfer GPA. Published admission rules do not prove ABET accreditation, but missing or vague requirements should lead to more questions before you pay an application fee. Transfer admission and transfer application are different decisions, too: meeting the GPA threshold does not tell you which prior courses will satisfy engineering, laboratory, mathematics, or design requirements. Request a formal prerequisite evaluation so you know whether accepted credits actually shorten your remaining course sequence.
- Save the ABET database record and the school catalog page that applies to your degree.
- Confirm whether your selected concentration appears under the accredited program, rather than assuming the school’s broader engineering listing covers it.
- Ask how laboratories, exams, and design work are completed online, including whether any activity requires a scheduled session or separate location.
- Check whether transfer credits change the courses you must complete in residence, and whether they replace required engineering courses or only general education.
- Review your state engineering board’s education rules if licensure is a goal, because an admission decision and an accreditation decision answer different questions.
Use the broader online engineering bachelor’s directory if you need to compare electrical engineering with other engineering majors. That comparison is useful only after you identify the exact degree and its accreditation record; otherwise, you may be comparing a fully specified program with a school-level description that leaves the important details unstated.
Find Your Online Engineering Degree
Narrow 19 accredited online Engineering degree programs to find the perfect fit.
Arizona State University
Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering - Electric Power & Energy Systems
Daytona State College
Bachelor of Science in Engineering Technology / Electrical Engineering Technology
Do not let a familiar school name replace this review. The unit that matters is the exact degree you will earn under the catalog that applies to you. Save the program title, accreditation listing, admission rules, and transfer decision together so you can check that the same program is being described across the school’s pages and the ABET record.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is ABET accreditation required for electrical engineering jobs?
Not for every job. Private employers set their own hiring rules, but some prefer or require graduates from ABET-accredited programs. Accreditation matters more when a position involves licensure, public responsibility, or work covered by state engineering law. If those possibilities are part of your plan, treating ABET status as a minor detail can limit your options later.
Do employers accept online electrical engineering degrees?
Many employers accept online degrees from legitimate schools. They may examine the school’s institutional accreditation, the program’s ABET status, laboratory work, technical courses, and relevant experience. The delivery format alone does not answer those questions. An online program can therefore be evaluated alongside campus programs, but its published course plan and laboratory component still deserve a close comparison.
Can an online electrical engineering program earn ABET accreditation?
It can. Search ABET’s database for the exact online program rather than assuming that accreditation for a campus program also covers the online option. The distinction matters because accreditation attaches to the specific program, not simply to the school’s name. Confirm the listing before relying on an accreditation claim in an enrollment decision.
Is school accreditation the same as ABET accreditation?
No. School accreditation applies to the school, while ABET accreditation applies to a specific engineering or engineering technology program. A sound review checks both. One does not substitute for the other, so the school’s institutional status and the program’s separate ABET listing should appear in your comparison notes.
Can I become a professional engineer without an ABET degree?
Possibly, but state rules differ. A degree without ABET accreditation may require more experience or an education review, which can add another hurdle to the licensure process. Check the engineering board in the state where you plan to seek licensure, rather than assuming the rule in one state will apply elsewhere. That state-specific answer can change which degree is the more practical investment.
How do I verify a Program’s ABET accreditation?
Search ABET’s current program database. Match the school, exact degree title, location, degree level, and delivery format. Keep a copy of the record with the catalog that governs your enrollment. Those details give you a way to distinguish the online program you are considering from a similarly named campus option.
Is engineering technology the same as electrical engineering?
No. The fields overlap, but their curricula and career aims can differ. Licensing boards and employers may also treat the degrees differently, so compare the full course plan and accreditation listing. Do not rely on the word “engineering” in a degree title to tell you how the program will fit your intended work or licensure path.
Can a program lose ABET accreditation?
Accreditation status can change after later reviews. Confirm the current listing before enrolling, and ask the school which accreditation status applies to your expected graduation period. Save the response with the program record and enrollment catalog so you can see what was represented when you made the decision.
Sources
- ABET program eligibility requirements
- ABET accredited program search guidance
- ABET guidance on licensure and programs without accreditation
- NCEES engineering exam information
- Bureau of Labor Statistics electrical engineer outlook
- Electrical engineering degree requirements
- First-year admission requirements
- Transfer admission requirements