2027 Accredited Online Electrical Engineering Degree Programs With No GRE or GMAT Requirements
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Choosing an online electrical engineering program is harder when test policies, accreditation, cost, and career value all vary by school. Many accredited programs now admit students without GRE or GMAT scores, reducing application time and testing costs. The decision matters because the U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a May 2024 median pay of $118,780 for electrical and electronics engineers. This guide is for working professionals, career changers, and recent graduates who want a credible online degree without unnecessary testing and need a practical way to compare programs.
Key Things You Should Know
- Many accredited online electrical engineering master's programs are test-free or test-optional, but "no GRE" does not mean open admission; GPA, prerequisite engineering coursework, recommendations, and technical experience usually carry more weight.
- The GRE General Test costs about $220 in the U.S., and the GMAT can cost about $275, so skipping standardized tests can reduce both direct application costs and preparation time.
- Accreditation and outcomes matter more than test policy: the BLS reports May 2024 median pay of $118,780 for electrical and electronics engineers, but salary depends on role, location, experience, and specialization.
Which Accredited Online Electrical Engineering Degree Programs Do Not Require the GRE or GMAT?
Most no-GRE online electrical engineering options are graduate programs, especially Master of Science, Master of Engineering, or electrical and computer engineering degrees. The GMAT is rarely used for engineering admissions, so the key question is usually whether the GRE is required, optional, waived, or not accepted.
The table below highlights examples of accredited U.S. institutions that have offered online electrical engineering or closely related electrical and computer engineering graduate programs without a standard GRE or GMAT requirement. Policies can change, so applicants should confirm the current requirement directly with the program before applying.
| Institution | Online degree | Test policy to verify | Accreditation context | Best fit |
| University of Colorado Boulder | Online MS in Electrical Engineering | No GRE or GMAT required for the performance-based admissions pathway | Regionally accredited institution; graduate engineering programs are typically evaluated through institutional accreditation rather than ABET program accreditation | Students who want a flexible, course-first admissions model |
| Arizona State University | Online Master of Science in Electrical Engineering | GRE commonly not required for many applicants; verify current department policy | Regionally accredited institution; undergraduate engineering accreditation does not automatically extend to graduate degrees | Working engineers seeking a large public research university option |
| Purdue University | Online MS in Electrical and Computer Engineering | GRE may not be required for online applicants under current policies; verify before applying | Regionally accredited institution with a strong engineering reputation | Applicants seeking a highly recognized engineering school |
| University of Arizona | Online MS in Electrical and Computer Engineering | GRE often not required or not emphasized; confirm current graduate admissions rules | Regionally accredited institution | Students interested in electrical engineering, computer engineering, communications, or embedded systems |
| Colorado State University | Online Master of Engineering in Electrical Engineering | GRE not typically required for many online engineering applicants; verify current policy | Regionally accredited institution | Professionals who prefer an applied engineering degree over a thesis-based research degree |
A test-free program does not automatically mean a weaker program. It usually means the school believes undergraduate performance, prerequisite preparation, engineering experience, and course readiness are better predictors for online graduate success than a standardized test score.
Why Have Accredited Online Electrical Engineering Degree Programs Eliminated GRE and GMAT Requirements?
Engineering schools have moved away from universal testing for several practical reasons. Online graduate programs often serve working adults who have already demonstrated technical ability through engineering jobs, military experience, programming work, undergraduate projects, or employer-sponsored professional development.
The shift also reflects broader changes in technical education. Electrical engineering now overlaps with AI hardware, signal processing, robotics, autonomous systems, power electronics, communications, and semiconductor design. Students comparing electrical engineering with adjacent fields may also look at best online AI degree programs when their goals lean more toward machine learning systems than circuit design or power engineering.
For many applicants, the GRE adds cost and delay without clarifying whether they can complete advanced coursework in electromagnetics, digital systems, control systems, embedded computing, or power systems. Removing the requirement can help schools evaluate applicants through more relevant evidence, such as transcript strength, upper-division math performance, and technical work history.
However, "no GRE" is not the same as "no standards." In selective programs, admissions committees may scrutinize the rest of the file more closely because there is no test score to offset a weak academic record.
What Admissions Criteria Matter Most Without GRE or GMAT Scores?
Without GRE or GMAT scores, the strongest applications usually show clear evidence of readiness for graduate-level engineering work. Committees want to know whether the applicant can handle advanced mathematics, modeling, programming, labs or simulations, and technical writing in an online format.
The table below compares the admissions factors that commonly become more important when standardized tests are removed. Use it to identify where your application is strong and where you may need additional preparation.
| Admissions factor | Why it matters | How to strengthen it |
| Undergraduate GPA | Shows consistency in academic performance, especially in technical courses | Explain upward grade trends, retake key prerequisites if needed, or complete graduate certificates |
| Prerequisite coursework | Confirms preparation in calculus, differential equations, physics, circuits, signals, and programming | Check missing prerequisites before applying and ask whether bridge courses are available |
| Engineering or technical work experience | Demonstrates applied problem-solving and maturity in professional settings | Use the résumé to quantify projects, tools, systems, and responsibilities |
| Statement of purpose | Connects the degree to a focused academic and career goal | Name intended specialization areas and explain why the program fits those goals |
| Recommendations | Provides third-party evidence of technical ability, reliability, and readiness | Choose recommenders who can discuss engineering work, not just general character |
Applicants with technical leadership or product-focused goals should also be honest about whether they need engineering depth or broader business training. For some professionals, a business administration degree online may align better with management, operations, or entrepreneurship goals than an advanced electrical engineering curriculum.
If your GPA is below the preferred threshold, do not assume the absence of a GRE makes the application easier. Instead, contact admissions and ask whether nondegree graduate courses, certificates, professional experience, or a strong prerequisite record can improve your file.
They can be easier to apply to, but they are not necessarily easier to enter or complete. The main advantage is administrative: applicants can avoid test scheduling, preparation, score reporting, and the cost of taking an exam that may not reflect their engineering readiness.
The better question is whether the program is test-free, test-optional, or waiver-based. These terms sound similar, but they can create different admissions strategies.
| Policy type | What it usually means | Applicant strategy |
| Test-free | The program does not require or consider GRE or GMAT scores | Focus entirely on GPA, prerequisites, résumé, recommendations, and purpose statement |
| Test-optional | You may submit scores, but they are not required | Submit scores only if they clearly strengthen a weak area of the application |
| Waiver-based | The test is required unless you qualify for a waiver | Confirm the waiver criteria before spending time on the full application |
A no-GRE policy may help applicants with strong engineering experience but average standardized test performance. It may not help applicants who lack prerequisite coursework, have weak grades in core math or circuits courses, or cannot clearly explain why they are ready for graduate engineering study.
Taking the GRE can still make sense if a program is test-optional and your score is strong enough to offset concerns about GPA or an older academic record. It may also help if you are applying to multiple programs and some still require it.
Skipping the GRE or GMAT does not determine academic quality or accreditation. Accreditation is based on institutional review, academic governance, faculty qualifications, student support, and educational standards, not on whether a program requires a standardized entrance exam.
For electrical engineering degrees, applicants should understand the difference between institutional accreditation and programmatic accreditation. Institutional accreditation applies to the university as a whole and is essential for federal financial aid eligibility and general degree legitimacy. ABET accreditation is most commonly associated with undergraduate engineering programs and is less common for master's degrees, especially online graduate programs.
Quality should be evaluated through program-specific evidence. Important signs include faculty expertise, course rigor, available concentrations, access to simulation tools or remote labs, student support, employer relevance, and whether the curriculum includes current areas such as power electronics, embedded systems, semiconductor devices, communications, and machine learning applications.
Employers generally care more about the institution, degree title, skills, projects, experience, and specialization than whether the applicant submitted a GRE score. A no-GRE admissions policy is usually invisible on a résumé or transcript.
No-GRE and no-GMAT programs are especially useful for applicants whose strongest evidence is professional or academic performance rather than test-taking. They can also help working adults move faster from research to application because the testing step is removed.
The students most likely to benefit usually fall into a few categories. Consider whether one of these profiles matches your situation before prioritizing no-test programs.
- Working engineers who already use electrical engineering, controls, power systems, electronics, communications, or embedded systems in their jobs and can document technical experience.
- Recent engineering graduates with solid grades in math, physics, circuits, programming, and upper-division technical electives.
- Military or defense-sector professionals with hands-on electronics, radar, avionics, communications, or systems experience.
- Career changers from adjacent STEM fields, such as computer science, mechanical engineering, physics, or applied mathematics, who have enough prerequisites to handle graduate coursework.
- Applicants balancing work and family obligations who would benefit from avoiding several months of test preparation.
Students should avoid choosing a no-GRE electrical engineering program if they mainly want general management, marketing, finance, or entrepreneurship training. In those cases, a bachelor of business administration online or graduate business pathway may be more relevant than advanced engineering coursework.
The strongest fit is a student who wants technical depth and can show readiness without a test score. If your goal is professional engineering advancement, research preparation, technical leadership, or specialization in a high-demand engineering area, admissions flexibility can be a meaningful advantage.
No-GRE programs are not automatically cheaper or more expensive than test-required programs. Tuition usually depends on the institution, residency rules, credit count, delivery model, fees, and whether the program charges online students a flat per-credit rate.
The direct savings from skipping the GRE or GMAT are modest compared with tuition, but they are still real. U.S. test takers may avoid about $220 for the GRE or about $275 for the GMAT, plus score reports, prep materials, travel, and retesting costs. For applicants applying quickly or paying out of pocket, that can remove one barrier.
The table below shows the cost categories that matter most when comparing online electrical engineering programs. These are more useful than focusing only on the advertised per-credit tuition rate.
| Cost factor | Why it affects total cost | Question to ask |
| Credits required | A 30-credit program can cost much less than a longer program with similar per-credit tuition | How many credits are required for graduation, and are prerequisites extra? |
| Online tuition rate | Some schools charge the same rate regardless of residency, while others distinguish in-state and out-of-state students | Is there a separate online rate for all students? |
| Engineering fees | Technology, lab, platform, and distance-learning fees can add to the bill | What mandatory fees apply each term? |
| Employer tuition assistance | Engineering employers may reimburse job-related graduate coursework | Does the program qualify under my employer's education benefit? |
| Transfer or prior graduate credit | Approved credits can reduce both cost and time | How many graduate credits may transfer, and what grade is required? |
Students comparing ROI should also think beyond tuition. Engineering degrees often require specialized software, reliable hardware, proctored exams, and time away from paid work. By contrast, students whose goals are organizational strategy or executive leadership may compare technical master's options with an online doctorate in organizational leadership later in their careers, depending on whether they want to lead technical systems or people and organizations.
Federal financial aid may be available if the institution and program meet eligibility rules, but students should confirm enrollment status requirements. Part-time online students may need a minimum number of credits per term to qualify for certain aid or defer existing loans.
A no-GRE policy does not define career outcomes; the degree, school reputation, specialization, portfolio, experience, and labor market do. Online electrical engineering graduates may pursue or advance in roles connected to power systems, electronics, semiconductors, controls, signal processing, communications, embedded systems, defense technology, renewable energy, robotics, and hardware-adjacent computing.
The BLS reports that the median annual wage for electrical and electronics engineers was $118,780 in May 2024. That figure is a national median, not a promise; compensation can be higher or lower depending on industry, region, clearance requirements, seniority, and whether the role requires advanced skills in areas such as RF systems, power electronics, chip design, or embedded software.
Electrical engineering also benefits from trends that require physical infrastructure and advanced hardware, including grid modernization, electric vehicles, semiconductor investment, industrial automation, defense communications, and AI compute systems. Graduates who combine electrical engineering fundamentals with software, data, or systems skills may be better positioned for interdisciplinary roles.
Some engineers eventually move away from individual technical contributor roles into product leadership, engineering management, systems architecture, or technical strategy. Others discover that their interests are closer to digital media or user-facing design, where an online graphic design degree may be a more appropriate path than an advanced engineering degree.
For ROI, ask whether the program helps you qualify for a specific next step: a promotion, a more specialized engineering role, a doctoral program, a move into a regulated industry, or a transition from technician-level work into engineering analysis and design.
The most common mistake is treating "no GRE required" as the main selection criterion. Admissions committees still need evidence that you can succeed in rigorous graduate engineering courses, especially if the program includes advanced math, modeling, or design-heavy work.
Before submitting applications, watch for mistakes that can weaken an otherwise qualified file. These errors are avoidable if you review requirements early and tailor each application.
- Ignoring prerequisite gaps in calculus, differential equations, physics, circuits, programming, probability, or signals and systems.
- Submitting a generic statement of purpose that does not name a specialization, faculty strength, course sequence, or career goal.
- Using recommenders who cannot speak to technical ability, project ownership, quantitative skills, or graduate-level readiness.
- Assuming a waiver policy is permanent rather than confirming the current rule for the term in which you plan to apply.
- Choosing the cheapest or fastest program without checking accreditation, faculty, curriculum depth, student services, and employer relevance.
- Failing to explain older low grades, career changes, employment gaps, or why online learning fits your schedule and responsibilities.
A strong application tells a coherent story: you have the preparation, motivation, and support system to complete an online electrical engineering degree. If one part of your file is weak, use the other materials to address it directly rather than hoping the admissions committee overlooks it.
How Should Students Compare Accredited Online Electrical Engineering Degree Programs Without GRE or GMAT Requirements?
The best program is not simply the one with the fewest admissions barriers. It is the program that matches your technical goals, schedule, budget, academic background, and desired career outcome while holding credible accreditation.
Use a structured comparison process before applying. This keeps you from overvaluing a no-test policy and undervaluing factors that affect graduation, learning quality, and long-term return.
- Confirm institutional accreditation and understand whether any programmatic accreditation claims apply to the specific degree level.
- Verify the current GRE or GMAT policy for your intended start term, including whether scores are optional, waived, or not considered.
- Compare curriculum depth in your target area, such as power systems, electronics, controls, communications, signal processing, electromagnetics, or embedded systems.
- Review online format details, including asynchronous courses, live sessions, exam proctoring, pacing, and maximum time to completion.
- Calculate total program cost using credits, tuition, fees, books, software, travel, and potential lost work time.
- Ask how many credits can transfer and whether graduate certificates can stack into the degree.
- Evaluate career support, employer partnerships, faculty research, alumni outcomes, and whether the program supports doctoral preparation if that is your goal.
- Contact admissions with a short summary of your background and ask whether your GPA, prerequisites, and experience make you competitive without test scores.
If your interests are split between engineering, AI, business, design, and leadership, compare degree types before committing. Electrical engineering is best for students who want rigorous technical depth; other online degrees may be better if your goal is creative production, broad business operations, or nontechnical leadership.
The final decision should balance admissions flexibility with academic fit. A no-GRE program is most valuable when it removes an unnecessary barrier while still offering the curriculum, credibility, and outcomes you need.
Other Things You Should Know About Electrical Engineering
Some do, but the format varies. Graduate programs may use simulations, design projects, remote-access tools, or software-based labs, while undergraduate engineering programs are more likely to require structured lab components.
Possibly, but licensure rules vary by state. Students interested in becoming a Professional Engineer should check state board requirements, ABET expectations, work experience rules, and exam eligibility before enrolling.
Neither is universally harder. Electrical engineering often emphasizes circuits, signals, power, electronics, and electromagnetics, while computer engineering leans more toward digital systems, embedded computing, hardware-software integration, and architecture.
Many online master's programs take about two to three years part time, though some students finish faster with heavier course loads. Timeline depends on credits required, prerequisites, course availability, and work schedule.
- Accredited Online Engineering Schools in California (CA) https://www.onlineengineeringprograms.com/usa/california
- Online MBA Programs with No GMAT Requirement: Best Schools for 2025 https://www.onlinemastersdegrees.org/best-programs/mba-programs/no-gmat/
- 2025 Most Affordable Bachelor's in Engineering Online https://www.onlineu.com/most-affordable-colleges/engineering-degrees
- Program Eligibility Requirements - ABET https://www.abet.org/accreditation/what-is-accreditation/eligibility-requirements/
- Tuition & cost of attendance https://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/tuition-financial-aid/tuition-cost-of-attendance/
- 6 Best Online Electrical Engineering Degree Programs for Future Engineers https://www.myprivatetutor.com/blog/best-online-electrical-engineering-degree-programs
- Opintopolku https://opintopolku.fi/konfo/en/hakukohde/1.2.246.562.20.00000000000000090398/valintaperuste
- Top Electrical Engineering Schools Ranked for 2025 - Delta Wye Electric https://deltawye.com/top-electrical-engineering-schools/
