Online Engineering Schools in Kentucky

For aspiring engineers in Kentucky (KY), the state provides a wealth of opportunities in education, training, employment, and professional networking. To be sure, while 26,900 engineering and architectural professionals already have jobs in the Bluegrass State, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2024), employment opportunities are only expected to increase in the coming decade.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (2024) further reported that job opportunities for architecture and engineering occupations are expected to grow faster than the 4 percent average for all occupations nationwide between 2023 and 2033. About 195,000 openings are projected each year, on average, in these occupations.

That said, some specializations are expected to be in demand nationwide more than others. Here are a few of the fastest-growing engineering subfields nationally, listed with their expected growth:

Industrial engineering – 12 percent increase (40,900 new jobs)
Mechanical engineering – 11 percent increase (32,100 new jobs)
Chemical engineering – 10 percent increase (2,100 new jobs)
Electrical and electronics engineering – 9 percent increase (26,200 new jobs)
Agricultural engineering – 8 percent increase (100 new jobs)
Computer hardware engineering – 7 percent increase (6,100 new jobs)
Environmental engineering – 7 percent increase (2,900 new jobs)
Materials engineering – 7 percent increase (1,800 new jobs)
Bioengineers and Biomedical engineering – 7 percent increase (1,500 new jobs)
Civil Engineering – 6 percent increase (22,100 new jobs)

The expected percentages were higher in Kentucky (KY). According to Projections Central (2025), the top-growing subfields of engineering between 2022 and 2032 included:

Nuclear Engineers – 25 percent increase (10 new jobs)
Industrial Engineers – 19.9 percent increase (1,100 new jobs)
Mechanical Engineers – 15.1 percent increase (420 new jobs)
Materials Engineers – 12.1 percent increase (40 new jobs)
Chemical Engineers – 11.8 percent increase (20 new jobs)

In sum, engineering is a fast-growing and relatively lucrative occupation in Kentucky and beyond.

Finally, there are a myriad of engineering organizations and societies that operate across Kentucky. Here is a list of the most prominent engineering associations that offer support through continuing education, networking opportunities, events, advocacy efforts, training resources, and more:

National Society of Professional Engineers of Kentucky (NSPE-KY)
Structural Engineers Association of Kentucky (SEAoK)
Kentucky Society of Healthcare Engineers (KSHE)
Kentucky Board of Engineers and Land Surveyors

Historically, aspiring engineers in KY would attend exclusively on-campus programs, but there’s a growing array of distance-based programs available in the state. While online engineering programs are a relatively new concept, they generally provide a high-quality education and can allow for much greater flexibility than their in-person counterparts.

This guide examines accredited online engineering programs in KY, including the expected coursework, accreditation information, and admission requirements.

Featured Online Engineering Programs
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Online Bachelor’s Degrees in Engineering in KY

To secure employment as an engineer in KY, a bachelor’s degree is a typical entry-level education. In addition to the abundance of campus-based programs in the state, here are two standout online bachelor’s degrees in engineering. Please note that a majority of online engineering programs are at the master’s degree level due to the hands-on nature of the fundamentals taught in undergraduate courses.

Bachelor of Science in Engineering Technology Management – Western Kentucky University

At Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, aspiring engineers can pursue an online bachelor of science program in engineering technology management. Qualifying applicants must hold a certificate or associate’s degree from a technical school, two-year college, or four-year institution.

This engineering technology management program is a capstone program that provides a two-year management emphasis for those working toward a supervisory position in the industry. Graduates are empowered to obtain a position of leadership in industry, business, or workforce development in support of innovation and global competitiveness.

This 120-credit program includes courses such as industrial statistics; senior research for engineering technology management; manufacturing operations; safety in industry; systems design and operation; project management; technology management; quality assurance; and lean systems.

Location: Bowling Green, KY
Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
Expected Time to Completion: Two years

Bachelor’s Degree in Fire Protection and Safety Engineering Technology – Eastern Kentucky University

Eastern Kentucky University in Richmond offers aspiring engineers the chance to pursue a distance-based bachelor’s degree in fire protection and safety engineering technology. This program prepares graduates to use their knowledge of fire prevention and suppression to recommend and design equipment to assist organizations in safeguarding property and life against explosion, fire, and related hazards.

This 120-credit program can be completed entirely online with courses on fire prevention; fire behavior and combustion; fire detection and suppression systems; applied learning in fire and safety engineering; water-based fire protection systems design; fire arson and explosion investigation; engineering thermodynamics; computer-aided drafting; and fire arson and explosion investigation.

Location: Richmond, KY
Accreditation: ABET; IFSAC; Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
Expected Time to Completion: Four years

Bachelor of Science in Manufacturing Engineering Technology – Murray State University

Murray State University offers an online manufacturing engineering technology (MET) program preparing students for careers in a variety of manufacturing industries. Offered in conjunction with two-year community college technical programs, this program requires students to have a technical associate’s degree to complete this program online.

This 120-credit program includes courses such as manufacturing processes and materials; computer-aided design; machine tool processes; electrical systems; introduction to fluid power systems; electric machinery and controls; programmable logic controllers; power distribution; manufacturing analysis; and manufacturing control systems.

Graduates will develop abilities in prototyping, principles of automated manufacturing systems, and product design using the tools and machines available in a number of laboratories as manufacturing engineers.

Location: Murray, KY
Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
Expected Time to Completion: Two years

Online Master’s Degrees in Engineering in KY

Pursuing an online master’s degree in engineering can help a person develop specialized competencies and knowledge in a given subfield of the profession and enhance one’s employability or earning prospects. Here are two distance-based programs to consider.

Master of Science in Manufacturing Systems Engineering – University of Kentucky

At the University of Kentucky in Lexington, engineers can earn an online master’s degree in manufacturing systems engineering. All classes are offered entirely online. This online program provides engineers with the skills, attitude, and knowledge needed to design, manufacture, and manage sustainable processes, systems, and products efficiently.

Applicants to the program must have a bachelor’s degree in engineering from an ABET-accredited college or equivalent, or a bachelor’s degree in physical science or a related area with additional preparatory coursework. A cumulative undergraduate GPA of 2.8 or higher is required. GRE scores are not required for admission.

The curriculum includes courses such as modeling of manufacturing processes and machines; modeling simulation and control for manufacturing; manufacturing seminar/project; and sustainability, ethics, & leadership in manufacturing organizations.

Location: Lexington, KY
Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
Expected Time to Completion: Two years

Master of Science in Engineering Management – Western Kentucky University

Western Kentucky University of Bowling Green provides an online master of science program in engineering management preparing graduates for a variety of professions that require an in-depth understanding of business, technology, management, engineering, and leadership capabilities.

Offering both thesis and non-thesis options, this 30 to 33-credit program includes courses such as research methods in technology management; resource management; operations leadership; project management; emerging technologies; legal and ethical issues in technology; supply chain management; and lean systems.

Location: Bowling Green, KY
Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
Expected Time to Completion: Two years

Master of Science in Industrial Engineering – University of Louisville

The University of Louisville offers an online master of science program in industrial engineering that is designed for working professionals from a variety of industry backgrounds looking to expand their business understanding and technical engineering skills. Students in this program will have the option to either focus their coursework on one of four specialized areas or customize their coursework by selecting courses from across all the available options.

Focus area options include advanced manufacturing; data analytics and operations research; logistics and supply chain; and human factors. Courses in this 30-credit program include probability and statistics for engineers; experiment design in engineering; additive manufacturing processes; predictive analytics for decision making; facility location and layout; models for design and analysis of logistical systems; advanced topics in human factors engineering; and usability engineering.

Graduates will be ready to take up positions such as human factors engineers, health systems engineers, process improvement engineers, data scientists, operations engineers, and procurement engineers.

Location: Louisville, KY
Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
Expected Time to Completion: 18 months to two years

Other Online Engineering Programs in KY

Lastly, in addition to online bachelor’s and master’s degrees in engineering, there are various graduate certificates available through KY-based institutions as well. Here are two exceptional distance-based programs to consider.

Graduate Certificate in Transportation Engineering – University of Louisville

University of Louisville’s Civil and Environmental Engineering Department at the J.B. Speed School of Engineering offers an online graduate certificate in transportation engineering. This program is entirely online and can be completed in a 12-month period.

Applicants to the program must have a baccalaureate degree in civil engineering or its equivalent from an accredited institution with an undergraduate grade point average of 2.75 or above.

The certificate program comprises 12 credits and covers courses such as traffic engineering; geometric design of highways; fundamentals of intelligent transportation systems; transportation planning and urban development; environmental analysis of transportation systems; special topics in civil engineering; and pavement design.

All credits earned in this certificate can be applied to a master’s degree in civil engineering.

Location: Louisville, KY
Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
Expected Time to Completion: One year

Graduate Certificate in Manufacturing Systems – University of Kentucky

In addition to its excellent master’s degree program, the University of Kentucky provides a graduate certificate program in manufacturing systems as well. Ideal for professionals and engineers aiming to specialize in optimizing supply chain management and industrial processes, this program prepares students to become highly skilled engineers.

This 12-credit program includes coursework in subjects such as the modeling of manufacturing processes; systems for factory information and control; global issues in manufacturing; and sustainability, ethics, and leadership in manufacturing organizations. Notably, credits from this program can be applied toward a master’s degree, should the student choose.

Location: Lexington, KY
Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
Expected Time to Completion: One year

Online Engineering Programs – What to Consider

Aspiring engineering students should consider various factors in their program search, seeking out answers to the following queries:

What are the total costs of the program?
Can students complete the program on a part-time basis while still maintaining their current employment?
Does the school offer job placement assistance after graduation or any other student services?
How often, if ever, are students required to visit the campus for classes or other events?

Additionally, students are encouraged to verify their program’s accreditation and state authorization status.

Accreditation

Earning a diploma or degree from an accredited program is often necessary to obtain certain types of employment; to qualify for licensure as a Professional Engineer (PE), or to be granted admission into some graduate schools. There are many organizations that accredit online engineering programs, but they’re not all created equal. Here are the most well-known and established accreditation organizations, which have been recognized by the U.S. Department of Education’s Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA):

National accreditation

Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC)
Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training (ACCET)
Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC)

Regional accreditation

Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)

Programmatic accreditation

Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET)
Association of Technology, Management, and Applied Engineering (ATMAE)

State Authorization

Although the issue of state authorization will likely not cause problems for Kentucky-based students attending distance-based programs based in their state, it is still something to consider for anyone attending an out-of-state online institution. Indeed, students in Kentucky are only eligible to study in online engineering programs that have received authorization to operate in the state. Most schools with online programs list this information on their websites, and for those that don’t, students should contact student advisors to ensure eligibility.

Admissions Requirements

Lastly, drawing from real admissions criteria for online engineering degree programs in Kentucky and nationwide, here are the common admissions materials and prerequisites to apply:

Online Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering Requirements

Complete the application and fee
An official transcript from a high school or GED program
Proof of prerequisite coursework
Competitive GPA (e.g., >2.75), particularly in math and science courses
Two letters of recommendation
SAT or ACT scores
A personal essay

Online Master’s Degree in Engineering Requirements

Complete application(s) and fee; please note that some schools require separate applications to the graduate school and engineering department
An official transcript from an undergraduate degree in engineering or a related field
Proof of prerequisite coursework
Competitive GPA (e.g., >3.0), particularly in math and science courses
Letters of recommendation
GRE scores
A statement of purpose

Online Graduate or Professional Certificate Requirements

Complete the application and fee
An engineering bachelor’s degree
Resume or CV
Letters of recommendation
A personal essay

Jocelyn Blore

After graduating from UC Berkeley, Jocelyn traveled the world for five years as an English teacher and freelance writer. After stints in England, Japan, and Brazil, she settled in San Francisco and worked as a managing editor for a tech company. She’s recently become interested in the underrepr...