America's 10 Best Schools for Aerospace Engineering in 2023

Laura Ross July 27, 2023

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Do you dream of becoming a rocket scientist? It doesn’t impress Shania Twain much, but for a lot of people, a career in aerospace sounds pretty exciting.

Aerospace engineers are involved in the design, development, building, and testing of aeronautical and astronautical technologies, be it commercial aircraft, spacecraft, satellites, or military missiles.

Pursuing a successful career in this industry starts with acquiring a degree in aerospace engineering. Undergraduate students study the fundamentals of engineering alongside more specialist subjects, including aerodynamic fluid flow, structural design, instrumentation and communication, robotics, and propulsion.

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the California Institute of Technology, and Stanford University are considered the top three schools in the United States. However, different colleges for aerospace engineering offer distinct benefits, and it’s important to determine your top priorities and long-term career goals before applying.

Criteria for Evaluating the Best Aerospace Engineering Programs

Some of the factors to consider when evaluating aerospace engineering schools include:

Accreditation: Many of the top programs for aerospace engineering are accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). ABET accreditation “assures confidence that a collegiate program has met the standards essential to prepare graduates to enter critical STEM fields in the global workforce.” You can search for accredited programs using ABET’s research tool.
Curriculum: All undergraduate aerospace students will be required to study foundational engineering principles as part of their degree program. However, you will also be encouraged to select courses that appeal to you and your career aspirations. Be sure to select a school whose research interests align with your own.
Faculty: The best aerospace engineering colleges boast a faculty of inspiring and innovating industry leaders. They may be leading groundbreaking research and developing products that will change the world. It’s a wonderful opportunity to learn from, and work alongside, these professionals.
Internship Opportunities: Hands-on learning is one of the best ways to advance your skills and gain real-world experience. Many universities offer paid internships, some of which count as course credit.
Alumni Success: Upon completion of a challenging and costly degree, it’s nice to know you’ll be gainfully employed. Many aerospace engineering schools provide some information about alumni success on their websites — including graduation and employment rates and average salaries.

Top Aerospace Engineering Programs

Below is a full rundown of the 10 best aerospace engineering colleges in the United States.

1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Application Fee: $75 (non-refundable)

Entry Requirements: 1,560 SAT / 35 ACT

Acceptance Rate: 4%

Undergraduate Tuition Fees (2022-2023): $57,986

Graduation Rate: 96%

The Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is committed to educating the next generation of leaders, creative engineers, and entrepreneurs who will push boundaries to shape the future of aerospace and impart lasting positive impact.

As an undergraduate student, you will acquire a deep working knowledge of the discipline’s fundamentals, gain hands-on experience at the school’s state-of-the-art facilities, and work alongside a uniquely talented and passionate faculty,

The university’s primary research capabilities include autonomous systems and decision-making, earth and space sciences, human-system collaboration, and vehicle design and engineering.

The undergraduate program is ABET-accredited and includes an opportunity for a year's study abroad.

2. California Institute of Technology

Application Fee: $75 (non-refundable)

Acceptance Rate: 3%

Undergraduate Tuition Fees (2022-2023): $60,864

Graduation Rate: 93%

While there is no undergraduate program at the California Institute of Technology, the school does offer an aerospace minor. This course is designed for students who wish to broaden their knowledge beyond their normal major or pursue a graduate program involving aerospace or aeronautical engineering.

Caltech’s aerospace engineering program offers courses to undergraduate students in spacecraft navigation, space propulsion, and computational navigation. Students also have the option to produce a substantive undergraduate research report for course credit.

Those who go on to further education will study subjects including the physics of fluids and solids, the mechanics of materials, space technology, aeronautical engineering, and propulsion, as well as the biomechanics of fluids and solids and control of aerospace systems and materials.

3. Stanford University

Application Fee: $90 (non-refundable)

Entry Requirements: 1,550 SAT / 35 ACT

Acceptance Rate: 4%

Undergraduate Tuition Fees (2022-2023): $58,416

Graduation Rate: 96%

The Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics at Stanford University offers one undergraduate degree program, three graduate degree programs, and two online graduate certificate programs. These courses are designed to prepare students for fulfilling careers in aircraft and spacecraft engineering, space exploration, robotics, and commercial space transportation.

The faculty’s main research areas include autonomous systems and controls, cyber safety for transportation, multidisciplinary computational aerosciences, and multifunctional materials and intelligent structures.

Students gain access to three major interdisciplinary research centers: The Stanford Center for Position, Navigation and Time, The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Center of Excellence for Commercial Space Transportation, and The King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) Center of Excellence for Aeronautics and Astronautics.

4. Georgia Institute of Technology

Application Fee: $75 (non-refundable)

Entry Requirements: 1,480 SAT / 33 ACT

Acceptance Rate: 17%

Undergraduate Tuition Fees (2022-2023): $32,876

Graduation Rate: 92%

The Daniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering — based at the Georgia Institute of Technology — is ranked number one in the nation by the U.S. News & World Report. Since it was established in the early 1900s, the school has stressed both fundamental engineering and ground-breaking research.

Students here acquire state-of-the-art skills, knowledge, and perspective on the fast-changing field of aerospace engineering and enjoy countless opportunities for hands-on learning. In fact, as many as 80% of undergraduate students complete research projects before graduation.

Students at the Georgia Institute can take courses in 3D dynamics, aircraft or space system design, jet and rocket propulsion, and aerodynamics. At the end of senior year, students complete a capstone undergraduate research project in one of three application areas: rotorcraft, fixed-wing, or spacecraft.

5. University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

Application Fee: $75 (non-refundable)

Entry Requirements: 1,470 SAT / 33 ACT

Acceptance Rate: 18%

Undergraduate Tuition Fees (2022-2023): $55,334

Graduation Rate: 94%

The University of Michigan’s Aerospace Engineering Department is the oldest of its kind in the United States. The university is committed to providing comprehensive aerospace engineering education that teaches students strong fundamentals while incorporating applied engineering knowledge.

The undergraduate aerospace engineering program, which ranked third in the country by the U.S. News & World Report, provides opportunities for hands-on learning, independent research, overseas study, and paid internships. Students are part of a multidisciplinary team studying aerodynamics and propulsion; autonomous systems and control; structures and materials; space systems; and computation.

Students can gain access to a range of industry-leading research centers, including the Center for Space Environment Modeling, the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), and the FXB Center for Rotary and Fixed-Wing Air Vehicle Design.

6. Purdue University, West Lafayette

Application Fee: $60 (non-refundable)

Entry Requirements: 1,330 SAT / 31 ACT

Acceptance Rate: 53%

Undergraduate Tuition Fees (2022-2023): $28,794

Graduation Rate: 83%

Purdue University’s School of Aeronautics and Astronautics is home to the world’s largest academic propulsion laboratory and is ranked fifth in the country by the U.S. News & World Report.

Most students are required to complete first-year engineering — which covers basic engineering subjects like statics, dynamics, and elementary structures — before transitioning to the School of Aeronautics and Astronautics undergraduate program in their second year.

The school’s research areas include aerodynamics, autonomy and control aerospace systems, and structures and materials. Students are encouraged to pursue internships to gain hands-on experience in the industry and have the opportunity to complete a team-based senior design project, which leads to a preliminary design of an aerospace system.

7. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Application Fee: $70 (non-refundable)

Entry Requirements: 1,440 SAT / 32 ACT

Acceptance Rate: 45%

Undergraduate Tuition Fees (2022-2023): $33,686

Graduation Rate: 85%

The University of Illinois’s ABET-accredited undergraduate aerospace engineering program is ranked seventh in the country by the U.S. News & World Report.

Students study the fundamentals of flight and space and enjoy opportunities to conduct research projects, complete internships, and study abroad. They also learn how to solve complex engineering problems, work as part of a multidisciplinary team, and produce solutions that meet the complex needs of the industry today.

The school has a range of state-of-the-art resources, which include the Aerodynamics Research Lab, the Experimental Robotics Lab, the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Research Lab (UAVRL), and the Laboratory for Advanced Space Systems at Illinois (LASSI).

8. University of Colorado, Boulder

Application Fee: $65 (non-refundable)

Acceptance Rate: 84%

Undergraduate Tuition Fees (2022-2023): $17,844 (in-state) / $37,734 (out-of-state).

Graduation Rate: 74%

The University of Colorado is the number one public university for NASA research funds. Its undergraduate aerospace program is ranked as the sixth best in the country among public schools.

The department is home to a 180,000-square-foot aerospace engineering sciences building, which provides unique laboratory facilities, collaborative research environments, and immersive educational opportunities. Students gain strong project management skills, contribute to the research and development of engineering systems and products, and set themselves up for a rewarding professional career.

Research areas include astrodynamics and satellite navigation systems, autonomous systems, bioastronautics, fluids, structures and materials, remote sensing, and earth and space sciences.

9. University of Texas at Austin

Application Fee: $90 (non-refundable)

Entry Requirements: 1,370 SAT / 30 ACT

Acceptance Rate: 31%

Undergraduate Tuition Fees (2022-2023): $41,070

Graduation Rate: 88%

The University of Texas’ undergraduate aerospace engineering program is ranked eighth in the country by the U.S. News & World Report. The university is home to several state-of-the-art research facilities, including the Oden Institute for Computational Engineering and Sciences, the Center for Space Research (CSR), and the Center for Predictive Engineering and Computational Sciences (PECOS).

Students study the fundamentals of engineering and science, including fluid mechanics, controls, structural dynamics, and materials. They also work alongside the school’s faculty to create, develop, and apply aerospace technology to solve important global and societal problems.

The department conducts research across three broad disciplines: aerospace engineering, engineering mechanics, and computational engineering, and is currently focused on projects concerning aerothermodynamics and fluid mechanics, computational engineering controls, autonomy and robotics, and orbital mechanics.

10. Princeton University

Application Fee: $75 (non-refundable)

Entry Requirements: 1,540 SAT / 35 ACT

Acceptance Rate: 6%

Undergraduate Tuition Fees (2022-2023): $57,410

Graduation Rate: 98%

The mechanical and aerospace engineering department at the world-renowned Princeton University is home to a range of superior research facilities, which include the Ceramic Materials Laboratory, the Princeton Center for Complex Materials, the Princeton Institute for the Science and Technology of Materials, and Robotics at Princeton.

Students gain access to these facilities and enjoy countless opportunities to advance their education through hands-on learning. Indeed, all aerospace engineering undergraduate students are encouraged to engage in independent research projects, supported by faculty members and graduate students, or to write a senior thesis. On several occasions, these projects have resulted in publications and design patents.

The school concentrates its research activities on five broadly defined areas, which include applied physics, biomechanics and biomaterials, fluid mechanics, materials science, and propulsion and energy sciences.

Career Opportunities in Aerospace Engineering

Aerospace engineering is a challenging and competitive field with significant barriers to entry. Once qualified, however, graduates will have an exciting array of job options to choose from and enjoy a fulfilling, fast-paced, and well-paid career.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the national median salary for aerospace engineers is $122,270 per year. Further, between 2021 and 2031, the employment of aerospace engineers is projected to grow by 6%, equating to around 3,800 new job openings.

Aerospace engineering students go on to work as engineers in various fields and become inventors, rocket scientists, academic researchers, and teachers. Among the highest-paid professionals are thermodynamics engineers, flight software test engineers, propulsion engineers, and astronauts.