Mechanical engineering

B.S.
Online You can complete all or nearly all requirements of this program online.*
delivery
$428 Based on current tuition rates. No additional charge for nonresident students. Does not include course materials and associated fees and expenses.†
per credit
4
start terms/year

Mechanical engineers create, build and ensure the safety of many of the world’s most relied-upon systems. Whether you work in the field of transportation, infrastructure, manufacturing or energy production, you’ll play a critical role in keeping the world moving as a mechanical engineer.

When you earn a mechanical engineering bachelor’s degree online from Oregon State University, you’ll gain traditional mechanical engineering training alongside computational engineering skills that are essential to the future of this field. You’ll also learn how to use computational models and algorithms to simulate, analyze and optimize how different mechanical systems perform — all so you can better anticipate issues and rapidly prototype to solve complex engineering problems.

Skills you’ll gain in OSU’s online mechanical engineering degree program

As a student in Oregon State’s online mechanical engineering degree program, you’ll gain the in-demand skills you need to stand out in an increasingly technology-driven and data-centric career. You’ll learn from expert Oregon State faculty who have real-world industry experience.

  • Mechanical engineering
  • Computer-aided design
  • Product development
  • 3D modeling
  • Systems engineering
  • Manufacturing processes
  • Engineering design process
Three engineers sitting at desks while working on computers in an office
Best Online Bachelor's Programs 2024 - U.S. News & World Report

Program details

Oregon State’s mechanical engineering focal areas and expertise include design, manufacturing, materials, mechanics, robotics and control, and thermal-fluid sciences. In addition to taking traditional mechanical engineering courses, you’ll explore topics in computational engineering such as data structures, computer-aided design, simulation, algorithms and programming.

The online mechanical engineering bachelor’s program is offered by Oregon State’s College of Engineering.

Degree requirements

A minimum of 180 quarter credits — at least 60 of which must be upper-division credits — are required to graduate with your mechanical engineering degree, including:

A person in a blue uniform and orange hard hat stands facing the front of a large industrial turbine with multiple metallic blade discs

Additional program features

Enhance your engineering education with specialized training in computational engineering. You’ll learn how to employ computational methods to optimize designs, predict performance and explore innovative mechanical engineering solutions. This required option in computational engineering will fulfill 24 of the 60 upper-division credits necessary to complete this degree.

At the end of this program, you’ll participate in a capstone project that uses engineering methodologies to develop real-world solutions to an engineering problem. This project will further develop your skills in project planning, product design, selection of major tools and processes, selection and training of personnel, and long-run policies and strategy.

Some degree requirements may be transferred from other institutions. Please note that a minimum of 45 credits of the last 75 credits in this degree program must be completed at Oregon State (online or on campus) to meet the academic residency requirement.

Previously earned credits must be reviewed upon admittance to OSU for appropriate articulation. Additional information about transferring credits is available through OSU’s Transfer Credit Central.

Oregon State’s B.S. in Mechanical Engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET — a nonprofit, nongovernmental agency that offers accreditation through a voluntary peer review process. ABET only offers accreditation to degree programs like this one that meet the highest quality standards in preparing graduates for their professions.

Beginning in summer 2025, you can be directly admitted into the B.S. in Mechanical Engineering program if you are considered ready to take calculus at OSU. This determination is based on the completed coursework shown on your transcripts and courses that are in progress or planned for later in the school year.

If you are not calculus-ready based on your application materials but are admitted to OSU, you will be invited to enroll initially as an undeclared student in the University Exploratory Studies Program or another non-engineering major of your choice. Rest assured, you will still have available pathways to enroll in the B.S. in Mechanical Engineering program. You can find full calculus-ready details on the Office of Admissions website.

As an undergraduate degree-seeking student, you can apply to earn an honors degree online in your academic major. Earning this prestigious degree gives you the opportunity to collaborate with faculty on research, complete a comprehensive thesis experience and engage in co-curricular activities.

Get a jump-start on your MEng in Engineering Management or MHP in Radiation Health Physics degree while working toward your bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. Through Oregon State’s Accelerated Master’s Platform, current undergraduate students can take graduate-level courses online that will be applied to their bachelor’s degree. 

The credits you earn will be transferred to the MEng in Engineering Management or MHP in Radiation Health Physics program. Students enrolled in Oregon State’s online graduate courses will pay the graduate tuition and fees rate.

You can gain highly specialized skills that are in demand by employers — and do it with less of a time and financial commitment — when you earn a certificate or microcredential online with Oregon State. Choose from a large collection of short-form offerings that can help you upskill quickly.

Mechanical engineering careers

The knowledge you acquire in Oregon State’s online mechanical engineering degree program will help you fill in-demand jobs in the global marketplace. As a leader in this area, you’ll enter the workforce ready to provide expertise in economic sectors that need talented engineers.

Job market outlook

Use the interactive tool on this page to discover employment trends, top occupations and salary details for professionals who have skills related to mechanical engineering. Please be aware that completing a program related to the job market information shown here does not guarantee employment or a specific salary.