2025 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

The engineering graduate school experience, from start to finish, varies widely for different individuals. Researchers hoped to better understand the factors which impact this experience. To do this, a web-based survey was sent to numerous universities throughout the United States which asked engineering graduate students a series of questions. This paper focuses on the decision making process to pursue an engineering masters’ degree, and how that process differs based on full time and part time student status. The data from questions regarding the decision making process was separated by full time and part time status and was analyzed using standard statistical methods. From this analysis, results were obtained which can be used to better guide university marketing teams and academic advisors in their engagement and guiding of prospective graduate students of either type.