ISABELA PALMIERI
Staff Writer | ipa001@latech.edu
In recent years, Louisiana Tech University has had no shortage of high national rankings for its education system.
Tech’s engineering and technology management online master’s program was nationally ranked the number one most affordable program in 2016 by the SR Education Group, an online education research team. Tech took the prize with a $5,424 annual tuition, nearly $1,000 less than its second-place competitor.
Melissa Mangum, a master’s degree candidate in engineering management, said her initial reaction to the news of Tech’s No. 1 ranking was pride for her university.
“I am very proud of both my undergraduate and master’s degree from Louisiana Tech University,” Mangum said. “For me personally, my master’s degree from Tech will cost $25,000 and $35,000 less than the two other degree programs I considered. As I did with my undergraduate degree, I will complete my master’s degree with no student debt.”
Mangum said she was seeking a program which provided the basic elements of an MBA and would further her engineering skills, and Tech program surpassed her criteria.
“There were three degree programs I initially considered,” she said. “Tech’s affordability, flexibility and the recently offered Black Belt program were the determining factors for my decision to return to Louisiana Tech University for my master’s degree.”
Brennan White, another graduate student in the engineering and technology management program, was not surprised with the news of the ranking.
“Tech has continued to rank highly according to value proposition and performance,” White said. “Affordability was a factor when looking at this program, and I couldn’t find another that came close.”
The program was not only ranked as most affordable, but has also been ranked in the top 10 “Best Buy in Online Master’s Degrees in Engineering” by GetEducated.com and in the top 20 “Top Student Rated Masters in Engineering Management Programs” for 2015 by GraduatePrograms.com.
White said the faculty’s willingness to work with its students made it the best program available to work with his lifestyle.
“The program is extremely flexible, which makes getting my master’s degree possible,” White said. “I work full time as an engineering manager and also have a family that I love to spend time with. For the most part, the professors understand the nature of working full-time and going to school online.”
White said Beth Hegab, the program coordinator, caters the program to working students.
“Every class in the curriculum has been valuable in my current role,” he said. “She is readily available for assistance to ensure that the program is providing the most benefit to students.”
Hegab said the staff works hard to offer a degree which provides technical and managerial training that prepares students for leadership roles and that they are pleased the degree stands out as most affordable online degree in the nation.
“The online engineering and technology management program is a great option for working professionals to further their career options, and we are very pleased to see the national recognition that it continues to attract,” Hegab said .