Best Electrical Engineering Master’s Programs in Minnesota
Every student admitted to Minnesota's MSECE begins in coursework-only Plan C. Campus students who want a thesis can later move to Plan A when an appropriate faculty member agrees to supervise the research. A prospective student therefore applies with a viable coursework plan while treating a future thesis as a separate academic arrangement.
Our 2026 selection of electrical engineering master’s programs in Minnesota reviews the University of Minnesota Twin Cities MS. The department supports full-time, part-time and online study, but online students complete Plan C only. Both academic plans require thirty credits and six credits of approved study outside EE, with markedly different allocations to electrical coursework and thesis research.
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How we ranked electrical engineering master’s programs in Minnesota
The Minnesota collection reviews the Twin Cities MS in Electrical and Computer Engineering through the department's degree requirements and admission FAQ. Those sources establish the initial coursework route, requirements for changing to a thesis and the restriction on online study. Current application and funding pages complete the review's graduate-specific evidence.
Minnesota is selected for a clear initial coursework plan and an explicitly defined process for entering thesis study. The assessment also considers its required non-EE coursework, online option and part-time possibilities. Financial planning follows the department's master's policy rather than the separate support arrangements associated with doctoral admission.
MSECE applicants should plan to finance the degree from confirmed resources. Master’s teaching and research assistantships occasionally become available, but the department does not include a funding package with master’s admission. A later appointment should be budgeted only after its benefits and duties are confirmed; internship earnings depend on obtaining an eligible position.
Minnesota admits all MSECE students into its coursework-only Plan C. A student who later wants a thesis must find an appropriate faculty member who agrees to advise the work; that change is often arranged after time on campus. The two plans distribute thirty credits differently. Plan C includes eighteen EE credits, six non-EE credits and six additional credits, while Plan A combines fourteen EE credits, six non-EE credits and ten thesis credits. Online applicants complete Plan C through UNITE Distributed Learning.
Where it stands out
Minnesota suits an applicant who wants a defined coursework route with full-time, part-time or online scheduling possibilities. The required non-EE coursework supports a broader technical plan, and campus students can investigate a thesis when a suitable faculty connection develops rather than needing a confirmed advisor before applying.
What to weigh
A thesis change depends on faculty agreement and is unavailable through the fully online degree. Master’s students should prepare an initial financing plan; teaching or research assistantships only occasionally become available and are not guaranteed. Review course prerequisites and the intended schedule before assuming that every desired combination can be completed at the same pace.
Plan A totals thirty credits: fourteen approved EE coursework credits, six approved non-EE coursework credits and ten thesis credits.
Plan C totals thirty coursework credits: eighteen approved EE credits, six approved non-EE credits and six additional EE or non-EE credits.
All admitted MSECE students begin in Plan C. Moving to Plan A requires an appropriate faculty member’s agreement to advise the thesis; online students complete Plan C only.
Admission & progression
Applicants with strong technical backgrounds in engineering, physics or mathematics can apply; an electrical bachelor’s degree is not strictly required.
Materials include academic records, a CV, a personal statement, three recommendations and applicable English-proficiency evidence. GRE scores are optional.
Fall admission has a January 1 priority deadline and a March 1 final deadline. The spring deadline is October 1. Students should review prerequisites for the graduate courses in their intended area.
Research & project requirements
The campus thesis option supports a supervised research project once a faculty advisor agrees to the change of plan.
Plan C can be completed online through UNITE Distributed Learning, and the department supports full-time and part-time course loads.
Students can pursue electrical subjects connected with energy, communications, biomedical devices, nanotechnology, robotics and computing through an approved academic plan.
What matters in electrical engineering master’s programs in Minnesota
A common starting plan
All admitted master’s students begin in coursework-only Plan C.
An advisor-approved research change
Moving to the thesis plan requires a suitable faculty member’s agreement to supervise the work.
A defined online option
Online students complete Plan C through UNITE Distributed Learning, with the same approved coursework categories.
Starting Minnesota’s electrical MS in Plan C
The MSECE requirements allocate Plan C's thirty credits to eighteen approved EE credits, six approved non-EE credits and six additional EE or non-EE credits. The outside-department requirement is part of the degree structure rather than an optional extra. A student should identify courses that support the intended electrical subject while meeting the department's approval rules for each category.
Applicants do not need to secure a faculty advisor before applying to the MS. They should still examine the prerequisites for graduate courses in the area they intend to study. The department permits applicants with strong technical backgrounds in engineering, physics or mathematics, so the prior degree title alone does not establish readiness for every advanced electrical class. Use the intended graduate courses to identify which foundations need attention before enrollment.
Moving from coursework to an electrical thesis at Minnesota
Plan A combines fourteen approved EE coursework credits, six approved non-EE credits and ten thesis credits. It therefore devotes a substantial share of the thirty-credit degree to research. A campus student who wants to change from Plan C must find an appropriate faculty member who agrees to advise the thesis. The department says this is typically arranged after at least one semester on campus, when a student has had an opportunity to develop academic connections.
A thesis change should be discussed together with the proposed problem, the supervising faculty member and the coursework already completed. The two plans have different distributions, so a course selected for Plan C should not automatically be assumed to satisfy every part of a revised research program. Online students remain in Plan C. Compare the approved research arrangement with other thesis degrees in the national electrical master’s ranking if a substantial research project is central to your graduate goal.
Online study and financing electrical engineering master’s programs in Minnesota
Plan C is available online through UNITE Distributed Learning, and the department supports both full-time and part-time study. It describes about one-and-a-half to two years as a typical full-time completion period, with part-time students taking longer. The actual plan depends on the chosen classes and course load. Before accepting an offer, review the intended technical area, prerequisites and schedule together, including how the required non-EE coursework will be completed.
Master's admission does not include a funding package. Teaching and research assistantships occasionally become available, but they are not guaranteed, so applicants should budget from confirmed resources. The application requires academic records, a CV, personal statement, three recommendations and applicable language documentation; GRE scores are optional. Fall has a January 1 priority deadline and March 1 final deadline, while spring applications are due October 1. The cost guide, methodology and Minnesota bachelor’s rankings support the financial, selection and undergraduate parts of the decision.
Questions, answered
What else should you know?
Which electrical engineering master’s programs in Minnesota are reviewed?+
This collection reviews the University of Minnesota Twin Cities MSECE. Students enter the coursework-only plan, with an online option and a possible campus change to faculty-supervised thesis study.
Do Minnesota MSECE applicants need a thesis advisor before admission?+
No. All admitted students start in coursework-only Plan C. A later move to Plan A requires an appropriate faculty member to agree to supervise the thesis.
Can Minnesota’s electrical MS thesis be completed through the online option?+
The department restricts the online degree to coursework-only Plan C. The thesis option is a campus arrangement requiring faculty supervision and an approved change of plan.
Do Minnesota master’s students receive the doctoral funding package?+
The master’s funding policy is separate. MS admission does not include a funding package, and occasional teaching or research assistantships should be included in a budget only after an actual offer is confirmed.
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Read the degree requirements behind each ranking
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.
