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2021 Best Engineering Colleges for Non-Traditional Students

267 Colleges
125,469 Bachelor's Degrees
$34,017 Avg Cost*

Finding the Best Engineering Schools for Non-Traditional Students

Best Engineering Colleges for Non-Traditional StudentsIn <nil>, 125,469 engineering students received their bachelor's degrees, making the major the 6th most popular in the country.

This year's Best Engineering Colleges for Non-Traditional Students ranking looked at 267 colleges that offer a bachelor's in engineering. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent engineering programs, but they also offer a lot of support to non-traditional students.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the engineering program at the school, affordability, and non-traditional population. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

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As a non-traditional student, you have a lot to consider when it comes to choosing an education. That's why we've developed rankings specifically for you. Check out more major-related rankings here..

In addition to College Factual's rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

2021 Best Engineering Schools for Non-Traditional Students in the United States

Check out the engineering programs at these schools if you want to see which ones are the best for non-traditional students.

Top 25 Engineering Schools for Non-Traditional Students

1

Missouri University of Science and Technology tops the 2021 list of our schools in the United States that are best for non-traditional engineering students. Located in the remote town of Rolla, Missouri University of Science and Technology is a public college with a medium-sized student population. Missouri University of Science and Technology also took the #2 spot in our Best Colleges for Engineering rankings.

The student loan default rate at Missouri University of Science and Technology is lower than is typical, just 0.8% of students default in three years. There are approximately 2,726 students at Missouri University of Science and Technology that take at least one class online. 1,272 of Missouri University of Science and Technology students are attending part time.

Read full report on Engineering at Missouri University of Science and Technology

2

Georgia Institute of Technology - Main Campus comes in at #2 in this year's ranking. Georgia Tech is a fairly large public school located in the city of Atlanta. Georgia Tech also took the #4 spot in our Best Colleges for Engineering rankings.

The school has a low student loan default rate of 0.4%. 19,058 of Georgia Tech students are exclusively distance learners. 21,273 students are part time.

Read More…

3

The #3 spot in this year's ranking belongs to Michigan Technological University. Michigan Tech is a medium-sized public school located in the remote town of Houghton. Michigan Tech also made our Best Colleges for Engineering list, coming in at #8.

The student loan default rate at Michigan Tech is lower than is typical, just 0.9% of students default in three years. There are approximately 522 students at Michigan Tech that take at least one class online. 724 students are part time.

Full Engineering at Michigan Technological University Report

4

North Carolina State University earned the #4 spot in our 2021 rankings. Located in the city of Raleigh, NC State is a public college with a fairly large student population. In addition to being on our bet for non-traditional students list, NC State is in the top 5% of all schools on our Best Colleges for Engineering list.

The student loan default rate at NC State is lower than is typical, just 1.0% of students default in three years. Approximately 14,604 students take at least one class online at NC State. About 7,732 of the students at NC State are attending part time.

Read full report on Engineering at North Carolina State University

5

The #5 spot in this year's ranking belongs to Texas A&M University - College Station. Texas A&M College Station is a fairly large public school located in the city of College Station. Texas A&M College Station also claimed a spot on our Best Colleges for Engineering list. It's in the top 5% of all schools in this category.

The student loan default rate at Texas A&M College Station is lower than is typical, just 0.6% of students default in three years. There are approximately 24,343 students at Texas A&M College Station that take at least one class online. 9,943 of Texas A&M College Station students are attending part time.

Read full report on Engineering at Texas A&M University - College Station

6

Our rankings recognize Illinois Institute of Technology as the #6 school in this year's rankings. Located in the city of Chicago, Illinois Tech is a private not-for-profit school with a moderately-sized student population. In addition to being on our bet for non-traditional students list, Illinois Tech is in the top 5% of all schools on our Best Colleges for Engineering list.

The student loan default rate at Illinois Tech is lower than is typical, just 0.8% of students default in three years. There are approximately 1,752 students at Illinois Tech that take at least one class online. 1,354 of Illinois Tech students are attending part time.

Read full report on Engineering at Illinois Institute of Technology

7

Pennsylvania State University - Main Campus landed the #7 spot in our 2021 best engineering schools for non-traditional students. Penn State University Park is a very large public school located in the city of University Park. Penn State University Park excels when it comes to major quality. It's ranked in the top 5% of all schools on our Best Colleges for Engineering list.

The student loan default rate at Penn State University Park is lower than is typical, just 0.0% of students default in three years. All students are part time.

Read More…

8

Milwaukee School of Engineering earned the #8 spot in our 2021 rankings. Located in the large city of Milwaukee, MSOE is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population. In addition to being on our bet for non-traditional students list, MSOE is in the top 5% of all schools on our Best Colleges for Engineering list.

The school has a low student loan default rate of 1.1%. There are approximately 211 students at MSOE that take at least one class online. 181 of MSOE students are attending part time.

Full Engineering at Milwaukee School of Engineering Report

9

The #9 spot in this year's ranking belongs to Montana Technological University. Montana Tech is a small public school located in the remote town of Butte. As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Montana Tech also is in the top 10% of our Best Colleges for Engineering ranking.

The school has a low student loan default rate of 2.8%. Approximately 508 students take at least one class online at Montana Tech. There are roughly 230 part time students in attendance at Montana Tech.

Read More…

10
Virginia Tech crest
Virginia Tech
Blacksburg, VA

Virginia Tech landed the #10 spot in our 2021 best engineering schools for non-traditional students. Virginia Tech is a very large public school located in the small city of Blacksburg. In addition to being on our bet for non-traditional students list, Virginia Tech is in the top 10% of all schools on our Best Colleges for Engineering list.

The school has a low student loan default rate of 0.5%. Approximately 19,796 students take at least one class online at Virginia Tech. 2,831 students are part time.

Read full report on Engineering at Virginia Tech

11

New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology earned the #11 spot in our 2021 rankings. Located in the remote town of Socorro, New Mexico Tech is a public college with a small student population. New Mexico Tech excels when it comes to major quality. It's ranked in the top 10% of all schools on our Best Colleges for Engineering list.

About 1.7% of New Mexico Tech students default on their loans in three years, which is lower than average. Approximately 519 students take at least one class online at New Mexico Tech. 360 of New Mexico Tech students are attending part time.

Read full report on Engineering at New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology

12

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor landed the #12 spot in our 2021 best engineering schools for non-traditional students. Located in the medium-sized city of Ann Arbor, U-M is a public college with a fairly large student population. As a testament to the quality of education it offers, U-M also is in the top 5% of our Best Colleges for Engineering ranking.

About 0.2% of U-M students default on their loans in three years, which is lower than average. There are approximately 15,737 students at U-M that take at least one class online. 3,568 students are part time.

Full Engineering at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor Report

13

California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo comes in at #13 in this year's ranking. Located in the small suburb of San Luis Obispo, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo is a public college with a fairly large student population. In addition to being on our bet for non-traditional students list, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo is in the top 10% of all schools on our Best Colleges for Engineering list.

About 0.8% of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo students default on their loans in three years, which is lower than average. Approximately 15,682 students take at least one class online at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. About 1,455 of the students at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo are attending part time.

Read full report on Engineering at California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo

14
UF crest
University of Florida
Gainesville, FL

University of Florida landed the #14 spot in our 2021 best engineering schools for non-traditional students. Located in the midsize city of Gainesville, UF is a public school with a very large student population. UF also claimed a spot on our Best Colleges for Engineering list. It's in the top 10% of all schools in this category.

The school has a low student loan default rate of 0.9%. Approximately 22,865 students take at least one class online at UF. 11,205 students are part time.

Full Engineering at University of Florida Report

15

New Jersey Institute of Technology earned the #15 spot in our 2021 rankings. NJIT is a fairly large public school located in the city of Newark. As a testament to the quality of education it offers, NJIT also is in the top 15% of our Best Colleges for Engineering ranking.

The school has a low student loan default rate of 0.7%. There are approximately 3,018 students at NJIT that take at least one class online. There are roughly 3,015 part time students in attendance at NJIT.

Read full report on Engineering at New Jersey Institute of Technology

16

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign landed the #16 spot in our 2021 best engineering schools for non-traditional students. Located in the city of Champaign, UIUC is a public college with a fairly large student population. In addition to being on our bet for non-traditional students list, UIUC is in the top 10% of all schools on our Best Colleges for Engineering list.

The student loan default rate at UIUC is lower than is typical, just 0.6% of students default in three years. There are approximately 35,475 students at UIUC that take at least one class online. About 10,007 of the students at UIUC are attending part time.

Full Engineering at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Report

17

University of California - Berkeley earned the #17 spot in our 2021 rankings. Located in the city of Berkeley, UC Berkeley is a public school with a very large student population. In addition to being on our bet for non-traditional students list, UC Berkeley is in the top 10% of all schools on our Best Colleges for Engineering list.

About 0.5% of UC Berkeley students default on their loans in three years, which is lower than average. There are approximately 26,398 students at UC Berkeley that take at least one class online. There are roughly 4,099 part time students in attendance at UC Berkeley.

Full Engineering at University of California - Berkeley Report

18

Our rankings recognize Purdue University - Main Campus as the #18 school in this year's rankings. Located in the small city of West Lafayette, Purdue is a public school with a fairly large student population. Purdue excels when it comes to major quality. It's ranked in the top 10% of all schools on our Best Colleges for Engineering list.

About 0.8% of Purdue students default on their loans in three years, which is lower than average. There are approximately 19,239 students at Purdue that take at least one class online. About 7,612 of the students at Purdue are attending part time.

Full Engineering at Purdue University - Main Campus Report

19

University of Wisconsin - Madison comes in at #19 in this year's ranking. Located in the large city of Madison, UW - Madison is a public school with a fairly large student population. As a testament to the quality of education it offers, UW - Madison also is in the top 10% of our Best Colleges for Engineering ranking.

About 0.2% of UW - Madison students default on their loans in three years, which is lower than average. There are approximately 11,375 students at UW - Madison that take at least one class online. 4,683 students are part time.

Full Engineering at University of Wisconsin - Madison Report

20

Johns Hopkins University landed the #20 spot in our 2021 best engineering schools for non-traditional students. Johns Hopkins is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the large city of Baltimore. In addition to being on our bet for non-traditional students list, Johns Hopkins is in the top 10% of all schools on our Best Colleges for Engineering list.

The school has a low student loan default rate of 0.6%. 14,847 of Johns Hopkins students are exclusively distance learners. 14,794 students are part time.

Read More…

21

Our rankings recognize Ohio State University - Main Campus as the #21 school in this year's rankings. Located in the city of Columbus, Ohio State is a public college with a fairly large student population. In addition to being on our bet for non-traditional students list, Ohio State is in the top 10% of all schools on our Best Colleges for Engineering list.

The student loan default rate at Ohio State is lower than is typical, just 1.2% of students default in three years. Approximately 42,293 students take at least one class online at Ohio State. About 8,459 of the students at Ohio State are attending part time.

Full Engineering at Ohio State University - Main Campus Report

22

Iowa State University comes in at #22 in this year's ranking. Located in the small city of Ames, Iowa State is a public school with a fairly large student population. As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Iowa State also is in the top 15% of our Best Colleges for Engineering ranking.

The school has a low student loan default rate of 0.7%. There are approximately 14,911 students at Iowa State that take at least one class online. 3,155 of Iowa State students are attending part time.

Read full report on Engineering at Iowa State University

23
Drexel crest
Drexel University
Philadelphia, PA

Our rankings recognize Drexel University as the #23 school in this year's rankings. Drexel is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the large city of Philadelphia. As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Drexel also is in the top 15% of our Best Colleges for Engineering ranking.

The student loan default rate at Drexel is lower than is typical, just 0.9% of students default in three years. Approximately 6,249 students take at least one class online at Drexel. About 5,829 of the students at Drexel are attending part time.

Full Engineering at Drexel University Report

24

Our rankings recognize Cornell University as the #24 school in this year's rankings. Located in the small city of Ithaca, Cornell is a private not-for-profit college with a fairly large student population. In addition to being on our bet for non-traditional students list, Cornell is in the top 10% of all schools on our Best Colleges for Engineering list.

About 0.4% of Cornell students default on their loans in three years, which is lower than average. There are approximately 2,837 students at Cornell that take at least one class online. 574 students are part time.

Full Engineering at Cornell University Report

25

The #25 spot in this year's ranking belongs to University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. UMN Twin Cities is a very large public school located in the city of Minneapolis. On top of its placing in our non-traditional rankings, UMN Twin Cities also did well on our Best Colleges for Engineering list. It's in the top 20% of all schools reviewed in that analysis.

About 0.6% of UMN Twin Cities students default on their loans in three years, which is lower than average. Approximately 21,237 students take at least one class online at UMN Twin Cities. 13,655 students are part time.

Full Engineering at University of Minnesota - Twin Cities Report

Rest of the Top Schools for Best Engineering Colleges for Non-Traditional Students

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39
Syracuse crest
Syracuse University
Syracuse, NY
40

Additional Noteworthy Schools

These are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also great but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Best Engineering Colleges for Non-Traditional Students award.

Rank College Location
41 University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA
42 Clemson University Clemson, SC
43 Auburn University Auburn, AL
44 Vanderbilt University Nashville, TN
45 University of Connecticut Storrs, CT
46 University of Maryland - College Park College Park, MD
47 University of Utah Salt Lake City, UT
48 SUNY Maritime College Throggs Neck, NY
49 Arizona State University - Tempe Tempe, AZ
50 University of Delaware Newark, DE
51 University of Arizona Tucson, AZ
52 Wentworth Institute of Technology Boston, MA
53 Trine University Angola, IN

Engineering by Region

View the best for non-traditional students Engineering schools in a specific region near you.

Region
Southeast
New England
Rocky Mountains
Plains States
Middle Atlantic
Far Western US
Southwest
Other U.S. Territories
Great Lakes

Engineering Majors to Study

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Notes and References

Footnotes

*Avg Cost is for the top 25 schools only.

References

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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