Though you might encounter, as a part-time graduate student, faculty members who will assume that you are not as committed to your program as full-timers, many schools have come to recognize that part-time graduate school is a legitimate choice. Increasingly, engineering schools are accommodating the needs of part-time students by offering classes at night and by creating programs for non-degree-seeking graduate students. Technology has also made life easier for part-time students, who can in some cases take all their classes at work, via satellite.

Benefits of attending graduate school full-time:
	You can totally commit your intellectual, physical and emotional energy to your education
	You can complete your degree more quickly
	You are more likely to enjoy the graduate experience by being able to spend time on campus studying and socializing with other graduate students
Benefits of attending graduate school part-time:
	Work income helps pay for your education
	Less disruptive to your life; you can maintain a family and career while in school
	Many employers will pay for part or all of your education

In order to earn a non-thesis master's degree part-time, you can expect to spend at least two to three years. If you plan to write a thesis (for an M.S.) or complete a project (for an M.E.), the time it takes to complete your degree may be about the same as for the non-thesis option, depending on how well integrated your research or project is with your regular job responsibilities. Relatively few students pursue the doctorate on a part-time basis.