Before pursuing an online engineering degree, students must first gain admission into the college of their choice. Plan early and know the requirements of the college. If you're a prospective undergraduate, have your GPA and SAT scores ready and make sure they meet the minimum requirements for consideration. Be sure to apply before the admissions dates listed on the school's website. Usually after you're admitted, they'll send you information about the next steps you should take to get enrolled.

Students will be required to take at least 120 hours to earn a bachelor's degree in engineering, most of which will be theory classes, and some will be lab classes. The first four semesters will consist of classes in math, science and basic engineering. Courses usually include College Algebra, Calculus, General Chemistry and Physics. At Grantham College, for example, online computer engineering technology students enroll in Engineering and Ethics, Fundamentals of DC Circuits, DC Circuits Lab, Fundamentals of AC Circuits, AC Circuits Lab and Programming Essentials just in their first two semesters. They will also be expected to complete English, Humanities, and Social Science classes – this goes for every undergraduate program in engineering. Students at Grantham also complete capstone projects at the end of their undergraduate careers.

Classes are transmitted online where a professor will deliver lectures by video, most of which are interactive, allowing students to either text or chat. Some lectures are recorded so they can be viewed at a later time; this helps students with busy schedules who can't always login to the lecture as it occurs. These files can usually be accessed in an electronic classroom, which serves as an online place for the students and their professor to gather. It contains email, information related to your professor and classmates, assignments, tests, grade reports, notes, chatrooms and message boards. Students are typically required to login with their school ID a minimum number of hours per week to ensure they're making progress in the class. This isn’t a problem for serious online students who watch the lectures, take notes and turn in their assignments on time. Also, some universities, like North Carolina State University, require that students find their own proctor with whom to take an exam. They can be found at nearby colleges. Although technology as made accessing a higher education easier, earning an online degree in engineering is every bit as challenging as earning it on campus – the same work is required.