Best Electrical Engineering Master’s Programs in Washington, DC
George Washington's campus electrical MS includes five in-person colloquia alongside the degree's thirty credits. At least two presentations must be attended during the first two semesters, with attendance verified before graduation. The requirement gives a prospective student a clear reason to plan participation on campus beyond the classes appearing in a course schedule.
Our 2026 selection of electrical engineering master’s programs in Washington, DC reviews GW's on-campus MS. Students choose a focus area and complete an advisor-approved educational plan during the first semester. A six-credit thesis is available within the degree, while the non-thesis route devotes the thirty-credit plan to approved coursework in the chosen technical direction.
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How we ranked electrical engineering master’s programs in District of Columbia
This Washington, DC collection reviews George Washington University's campus MS in Electrical Engineering. Its current bulletin supplies focus-area requirements, colloquium attendance and admission preparation. The financial discussion uses the engineering school's published 2026–27 campus rate, keeping those charges attached to the campus award.
GW is selected for a defined focus-area curriculum, early advisor approval and regular in-person technical presentations. The assessment also considers the thesis option and limits on outside-department coursework. The review evaluates those documented program features without treating the university's location as a guarantee of an internship or job.
$2,195 · Campus graduate engineering tuition per credit
Cost basis & conditions +
The campus engineering rate is $2,195 per credit. Nine credits in fall 2026 or spring 2027 cost $19,755 in tuition. The school separately lists a $495 one-time matriculation fee and a $3-per-credit student association fee, capped at $45 per semester; other applicable charges and living expenses are additional.
George Washington's campus electrical MS requires a focus area and an advisor-approved educational plan during the first semester. Students complete thirty credits, with six thesis credits included when they choose the research option. Five in-person colloquia are also required, including two during the first two semesters. Those attendance and planning obligations make the campus experience more specific than a general course list. Focus-area rules establish technical foundations and advanced electives in subjects such as power, communications, devices, signals and controls.
Where it stands out
GW suits a student who wants an in-person graduate program with a defined electrical focus and an optional thesis. The power-and-energy curriculum, for example, starts with Electrical Power Systems and then requires analytical preparation and selected advanced power courses rather than unrestricted engineering electives.
What to weigh
The reviewed requirements and tuition apply to the campus program; GW's online electrical MS has separate provisions. The five colloquia require in-person attendance, and outside-department courses are normally limited to two. Students from other academic backgrounds may need deficiency courses, which should be considered when estimating the full study commitment.
Both campus routes require 30 credits in an approved focus area; thesis students include six thesis credits.
Students attend five in-person, non-credit colloquia, including at least two within the first two semesters, and submit verified attendance before graduation.
The advisor-approved DegreeMAP Educational Planner must be completed by the end of the first semester. Normally no more than two outside-department courses can count.
Admission & progression
Applicants normally hold a bachelor’s degree in biomedical, electrical or computer engineering, or computer science, with a 3.0 GPA over the final 60 undergraduate credits.
Other backgrounds may be considered with department-determined deficiency courses. Applicants select an area of focus in the application.
Materials include two recommendations, transcripts, a résumé or CV and a 250–500 word statement of purpose. GRE scores are optional and applicable English-proficiency evidence is required.
Research & project requirements
The electrical power and energy focus includes Electrical Power Systems, approved analytical foundation courses and advanced power electives.
The signal and image processing, systems and controls focus includes stochastic processes and selected advanced topics in controls, signals, imaging or machine learning.
The thesis option uses Thesis Research I and II, while the required colloquia bring students into in-person technical presentations.
What matters in electrical engineering master’s programs in District of Columbia
A focus selected at application
The chosen technical area determines required foundations and approved advanced electives.
Early academic planning
The advisor-approved DegreeMAP plan must be completed before the first semester ends.
Campus participation and pricing
Required in-person colloquia and the campus graduate tuition rate affect attendance and budgeting.
The electrical MS focus-area plan at George Washington
The campus electrical MS bulletin requires thirty credits for either finish. A thesis student includes Thesis Research I and II within that total. The precise mix of foundations, focus electives and broader electives depends on the selected area. Students document their approved studies in a DegreeMAP Educational Planner before the end of the first semester.
The electrical power and energy area begins with Electrical Power Systems, then requires approved analytical foundations and advanced power courses. Potential subjects include generation, conversion, power electronics, distribution, protection, economics and smart grids. The signal and image processing, systems and controls area begins with stochastic processes and adds approved advanced topics. These structures help an applicant connect prior preparation to the intended graduate field before choosing a thesis subject or a course-only plan.
Campus requirements for electrical engineering master’s programs in Washington, DC
Every student in the reviewed campus program attends five in-person colloquia. Faculty verify attendance, and the student submits the completed attendance form before applying for graduation. At least two colloquia must be completed during the first two semesters. Put those events alongside classes, advisor meetings and any thesis work when estimating how graduate study will fit with employment or other obligations.
The bulletin normally permits no more than two courses outside the ECE department, and those courses need prior faculty-advisor approval. It also limits approved 3000- or 4000-level ECE courses used for graduate credit. A wide selection of university courses therefore does not mean an unrestricted master's curriculum. Applicants considering GW's online electrical degree should consult that program's separate requirements; the in-person attendance and focus-area details reviewed here belong to the campus award.
Admission preparation and GW’s campus graduate tuition
GW normally expects a bachelor's degree in biomedical engineering, electrical engineering, computer engineering or computer science, with a 3.0 GPA over the final sixty undergraduate credits. Other fields can be considered with deficiency courses determined by the department. The application includes two recommendations, transcripts, a résumé or CV and a 250–500 word statement of purpose. Applicants name the focus area that best matches their interests; GRE scores are optional and language evidence applies where required.
The published 2026–27 campus engineering tuition rate is $2,195 per credit. Nine credits in fall 2026 or spring 2027 therefore cost $19,755 in tuition. GW separately lists a $495 one-time matriculation fee and a $3-per-credit student association fee, capped at $45 per semester, with other applicable charges and living expenses added to the budget. Use the cost guide to organize the intended enrollment and confirmed aid. Compare other structures in the national electrical master’s ranking, read the methodology and visit the Washington, DC bachelor’s rankings for undergraduate routes.
Questions, answered
What else should you know?
Which electrical engineering master’s programs in Washington, DC are reviewed?+
This page reviews George Washington University’s on-campus electrical MS, including the thesis and non-thesis options. The degree’s campus requirements and tuition are distinguished from its online version.
How many colloquia must GW electrical MS students attend?+
The campus program requires five in-person colloquia, including at least two during the first two semesters. Attendance is verified and documented before graduation.
When is the GW electrical MS study plan approved?+
The student develops an Educational Planner through DegreeMAP with a faculty advisor. It must be completed and approved before the end of the first semester.
Can a student with another technical bachelor’s degree apply?+
GW can consider other backgrounds with department-determined deficiency courses. The normal preparation includes biomedical, electrical or computer engineering or computer science, with the published GPA requirement.
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Use the school reviews to check how each program structures coursework, projects and research. Our methodology explains how we select programs and assess their fit.
