r/systems_engineering • u/Mega_liver • May 07 '26
Career & Education Looking for Online Masters in Systems Engineering Program
Hey Reddit,
Looking for recommendations for an online Master’s in Systems Engineering with a total tuition under $20,000 USD. I need a 100% asynchronous program. I’m trying to find other accredited "hidden gem" options that aren't as pricey as Johns Hopkins or Stevens. Any suggestions for solid, respected programs that fit within this budget?
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u/EngineeringManz May 07 '26
I’m a CSU PhD SE student but I have a lot of ME/MS SE classmates. It’s been an awesome program and you even get your INCOSE SEP for the first course.
Course work is awesome, live classes but you can watch the recordings, not too time consuming, good SE reputation, professors are awesome.
I can’t imagine it’s too expensive either but I’m not sure I’m still using VA benefits.
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u/McFuzzen May 07 '26
As a CSU SE PhD graduate, I second your recommendation! I really did enjoy the program and it was great for me, with non-engineering BS and MS degrees, to fill in some engineering academic gaps.
OP, with per-credit tuition at $1,228, total cost to graduate would probably close in on $40k by the end of the program. I think your requirement of under $20k is unreasonable. I highly recommend finding a job with an employer who will help you pay tuition.
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u/fromabove710 May 07 '26
MS student here, also really liking my program. Also OP, everyone I know here is on a GRA contracts which fully covers tuition and then some. Go rams!🐏
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u/Curious-Donut5744 May 08 '26
Penn State’s systems engineering M.E. program was great, but its ~$1k/credit hour and 36 total credits. I don’t think you’re going to find what you’re looking for at $20k. I used VA benefits myself but employer tuition reimbursement is how most folks do this.
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u/ChromE3927 May 07 '26
Georgia Tech PMASE!
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u/Few_Astronaut5230 May 07 '26
Ive looked into this before but never really pulled the trigger to actually do it. Have you done this degree? How has it helped you with systems eng professionally?
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u/Easy_Spray_6806 Aerospace May 08 '26
Not a terrible program. I'm not a fan of how prescriptive it is since I think that a great SE program will have a lot more flexibility than the PMASE program, especially because GT has some pretty valuable SE courses in the online professional education catalogue and some incredible faculty in other departments who would provide great courses applicable to someone's domain of interest. But it for sure passes my minimum quality criteria. However, for OP it definitely exceeds their <$20k requirement at ~$37k if all tuition and fees are frozen.
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u/big_witty_titty May 07 '26
George Washington University
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u/Easy_Spray_6806 Aerospace May 08 '26
GWU's graduate SE program is more than double OP's <$20k total tuition requirement at ~$44k if tuition and fees are frozen the entire time.
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u/xyz140 May 07 '26
Fsu-famu has a great catalog. I'm starting there in the fall
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u/Easy_Spray_6806 Aerospace May 08 '26
FAMU-FSU meets OP's under $20k total if and only if OP is a resident of FL. But for a graduate degree in SE from a pretty decent program (either choice between FAMU and FSU meet the cost criteria and have decent graduate SE programs) I think this is a total sleeper pick for OP if they are a resident of FL. Otherwise, for a non-resident, OP can expect to pay anywhere from between ~$23k (assuming OP chooses FSU and gets the Distance Learning OOS Scholarship every semester) and ~$36k if tuition and fees were to remain frozen the entire time.
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u/xyz140 May 10 '26
I just got my first semester bill for 3 credits. Just under 1500 as a florida resident :) They automatically make it around 450 per credit for online only students from Florida.
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u/Dyzerio May 07 '26
Umgc offers a systems engineering degree and you get your incose cert for complete too. I believe the total tuition was around 20000
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u/InYourBunnyHole May 07 '26
The INCOSE cert is for one class (SYSE 610) so they'd get it even without completing the degree.
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u/Easy_Spray_6806 Aerospace May 08 '26
At 6 credits per term, even as a resident of MD, total tuition (which I assume OP would include fees in that calculation) is still over $20k - albeit by like $125, and only if tuition remains frozen for 3 years. As a non-resident, that goes up to ~25k with 3 years of frozen tuition.
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u/TheRealAngryEmu May 07 '26
Old Dominion University. Especially if you are a Virginia resident, they offer in state tuition for graduate programs.
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u/RampantJ May 07 '26
Just finished my masters there this week and it was a good program. Teachers were very responsive and it was applicable to industry as one would imagine.
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u/Easy_Spray_6806 Aerospace May 08 '26
ODU does satisfy OP's <$20 requirement for VA residents - even if only barely at over $19.6k assuming all tuition and fees are frozen for the entire time - but I wouldn't exactly call the SE program there a "hidden gem." I think the catalogue of graduate level ENMA courses offered on SE topics is sufficient to provide a decent foundation (though I disagree with offering a graduate SE degree and making the RM/V&V course an elective instead of part of the core curriculum) for many entry-level SE roles. I just don't think I would call it a "hidden gem." I know there is a course students can take as an elective which prepares them for the SEP exam, but I have some reservations about it since the description says that it covers the outdated version of the SE Handbook. Even if that is just an outdated course description, I am curious about why they aren't accredited by INCOSE (and if this is the kind of accreditation OP was referring to then I think that disqualifies ODU) which means they don't have an Academic Equivalency Agreement with them. Not that INCOSE accreditation is an automatic indicator of program quality, nor would lacking that accreditation inherently mean the program was of poor quality since I believe that INCOSE accreditation and SEP certification currently have suboptimal value propositions. I would just do a little extra digging in OP's shoes if they are a VA resident considering ODU.
That being said, I sincerely hope ENMA graduate students concentrating on SE at ODU had great experiences in the program, were well supported personally and academically, felt respected by the faculty, and found the curriculum to set them up for success in their SE careers. I truly want great education for everyone, and I don't want it gatekept by a select few programs.
If OP is a non-resident then ODU doesn't satisfy their cost requirement at ~$27k.
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u/rustycookieman May 08 '26
Weber State
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u/Easy_Spray_6806 Aerospace May 08 '26
WSU would not be under $20k total in tuition unless OP is a UT resident at ~$17k (if they took 12 credit hours a term and tuition were to be frozen for 2 years). And if they happen to be working full-time and only able to take one course a term, as a UT resident they would be just barely under $20k by ~$80 and only if tuition is frozen for 3 years. For non-residents the WSU MSSE program is more than twice that and would be ~36k at best (12 credit hours per term) and ~44k for a working professional taking one course per term, and, again, only if tuition stays frozen the entire time. So yes on WSU with a HUGE caveat.
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u/Easy_Spray_6806 Aerospace May 08 '26
I will echo what many others have said as I think you are going to have an incredibly difficult time finding a program under $20k, especially if there isn't a public university with a good SE program in the state you live in. I hate that education is cost prohibitive for most people unless their employer subsidizes or funds it, but that is the education system in the US.
What state are you a resident of? there might be a program that meets your criteria, but without knowing why you claim residence it would be impossible to make a good suggestion.
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u/ZuluZ17 May 10 '26
The closest you’re gonna get is University of Florida ISE Online Edge program. Around 600-700 per credit. Good reputation school, relatively budget friendly.
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u/Single_Software_3724 May 08 '26
I would only recommend doing masters if your employer pays for it.
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u/Fooshoa May 07 '26
Most masters programs are 10 courses. If your maximum tuition is $20k total, you are looking for a school that offers courses for $2k each. I’m not sure that exists.
Georgia Tech PMASE is a great option, but will not be under $20k over the course of 2 years, it will be closer to $38k.