Are you interested in the development and design of aircraft and spacecraft? Do you want to pursue a degree in aerospace engineering? Then, you are definitely in the right place. As an aspiring aerospace engineer, it is crucial to examine the best engineering schools that can offer you the degree and support you need to begin your engineering career.
To make this easier for you, we have compiled a list of 15 Best Aerospace Engineering Schools in the USA and world. This article will provide the necessary information you need about these top aerospace engineering universities and their rankings.
Also, at the end of the article, we would like to have provided answers to your frequently asked questions (FAQs) on the subject matter.
- What is the best college for aerospace engineering?
- Which is the best country to study aerospace engineering?
- What should I major in if I want to be an aerospace engineer?
Before we move on to know the best universities for an aerospace engineering degree, it will be best we get background knowledge of the subject matter.
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What Is Aerospace Engineering?
Aerospace engineering is an engineering field which covers the development of aircraft and spacecraft. It is one of the fastest growing, dynamic disciplines that focuses on the design, maintenance, and improvement of all types of aircraft, from airplanes to missiles and space shuttles. Similar to Aerospace engineering is the Avionics engineering which deals with the electronics side of aerospace engineering.
There are two major and overlapping branches in the aerospace engineering field: aeronautical engineering and astronautical engineering.
Aeronautics engineering is the science or art which covers the study, design, and manufacturing of air flight-capable machines. It also includes the techniques of operating aircraft and rockets within the atmosphere. On the other hand, astronautical engineering deals primarily with aircraft that function outside the atmosphere of Earth.
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Aerospace Engineering Degree Program
You can pursue a degree in Aerospace engineering at different study levels; advanced diploma, bachelor, masters, or PhD in aerospace engineering departments at many universities and in mechanical engineering departments at others.
However, some departments offer degrees in space-focused astronautical engineering. Notwithstanding, some institutions differentiate between aeronautical and astronautical engineering.
Regardless of the school, you can pursue a graduate degree in advanced or specialized areas for the aerospace industry.
In addition, high school students who want to pursue an aerospace engineering degree are to have a background in mathematics, physics, computer science, and chemistry.
Which Is the Best Country To Study Aerospace Engineering?
There are several countries that offer aerospace engineering while some focus on either of the two majors; aeronautical engineering and astronautical engineering. However, the excellence of the USA in virtually all fields and research can’t be overemphasized.
There are several top-notch colleges for study ranging from the MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology), Stanford University, Harvard University but there is very difficult to get admission.
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15 Best Aerospace Engineering Schools
As indicated above, the United States of America has a lot of topnotch aerospace engineering schools, however, there also other good ones in other countries. Therefore, we will look at the top aerospace engineering schools in the USA before listing other best aerospace engineering schools in the world.
List of the best aerospace engineering schools in the USA according to USNews Aerospace Engineering Ranking:
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Georgia Institute of Technology
- California Institute of Technology
- University of Michigan–Ann Arbor
- Purdue University–West Lafayette
- Stanford University
- University of Illinois–Urbana-Champaign
- University of Texas–Austin
- Texas A&M University–College Station
- University of Colorado–Boulder
- Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
- University of Maryland–College Park
CHECK OUT THESE STUDY IN USA OPPORTUNITIES.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology(MIT)
Cambridge, MA
MIT, the number 1 school on QS World University Rankings is one of the best places in the world to be an engineering student. The Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics offers both undergraduate and graduate programs in the field. The MIT AeroAstro, whose roots go back to 1914 is the oldest aerospace engineering program of its kind in the United States.
The AeroAstro (or Course 16 as it is called at MIT) undergraduate program prepares students for promising careers in aerospace and related engineering fields, and for continuing on to graduate school. There are also lots of opportunities available for first-year students. Also, employers value MIT graduates knowing that AeroAstro alumni are the best-prepared aerospace engineers in the world.
Tuition: $17,800/year (Summer 2019); $26,725( Fall-Spring 2-19-2021)Master’s Tuition Per Year: $51,520
Download the MITfees schedule for the 2021-2022 academic year below:
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Georgia Institute of Technology
Atlanta, GA
Each year, more than 1,200 students from around the world come to Atlanta to study aerospace engineering at the Daniel Guggenheim School of Georgia Tech, one of the oldest and largest educational programs of its kind. Those who really want to obtain an aerospace engineering degree complete a 132-credit program designed to develop well-rounded, professional engineers. The basic courses in the humanities and social sciences complement core courses in mathematics, science, and laboratory work.
Also, the school allows each engineering student to participate in a variety of enriching experiences in which they develop their understanding of aerospace vehicles and their subsystems, including hands-on learning, internships, international study, and research. They conclude their studies with a senior capstone course, focused on one of three areas — rotorcraft, fixed-wing, or spacecraft.
In addition, with more than 40 professors in position and many interdisciplinary research collaborations, the School offers the kind of depth that regularly ranks it among the top five aerospace educators in the country. According to the latest US News & World report, the school’s undergraduate program ranks number 2 and number 4 graduate programs in the country.
Tuition: $13,788/yearMaster’s Tuition Per Year: $28,568
Download the George Institute of Technology tuition fees schedule below:
Download Georgia Institute of Technology Fall Tuition fees HERE
California Institute of Technology (Caltech)
Pasadena, CA
Ranked 3rd in US News’ Aerospace Engineering Graduate school, the mission of the Aerospace department (GALCIT) at Caltech is to address fundamental problems that could lead to transformative science and technology in Aerospace and related fields by educating and training future leaders for academia, government and industry.
Caltech’s Department of Aerospace offers aerospace minor for undergraduates interested in exploring the field and graduate-level degrees in a variety of specialization, which includes aeronautics and space engineering. This school also offers an aerospace minor for undergraduates interested in exploring the field.
Also, check out these numerous opportunities available to both undergraduates and graduates.
University of Michigan – Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, MI
With one of the top rankings of aerospace engineering schools in the US News, the University of Michigan is a center not only for academic researchers and leading educators but also for many of the brightest and most enterprising young academics in the field. Michigan’s status as a world-class research institution also opens the door to a wide variety of interdisciplinary research opportunities for students in aerospace engineering, allowing them to customize their education in a variety of ways, depending on their interests and objectives. After graduating, these students join the largest aerospace engineers’ alumni base in the country, providing unparalleled advantages for professional and academic networks.
Tuition: $15,850/yearMaster’s Tuition Per Year: $10,330 per year (in-state, full-time); $29,132 per year (out-of-state, full-time)
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Purdue University – West Lafayette
West Lafayette, IN
Ranked number 5 in the News’ undergraduate aerospace engineering school ranking, Purdue University is the proud alma mater of a staggering 23 NASA astronauts (including Neil Armstrong), and dozens of other aerospace engineers who helped put those courageous men and women into outer space. The institution is one of the best and top schools to get a degree in aerospace engineering.
In addition, Purdue is also notable for its specialized engineering curriculum. Under this model, students select both a major and minor within the discipline in order to make the most of their education, choosing from topics like Aerodynamics, Structures and Materials, Propulsion, Dynamics and Controls, and Aerospace Systems Design.
Tuition & Fees: $28,804(out-of-state); $10,002(in-state)
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Stanford University
Stanford, CA
From their inception in 1957 to Summer 2017, the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics at Stanford University has been a graduate-only department. However, in Autumn 2017, they opened a new undergraduate program in response to perceived demand by the students and industry.
In addition, the major prepares students for careers in aircraft and spacecraft engineering, space exploration, air- and space-based telecommunication industries, autonomous systems, robotics, commercial space transportation, teaching, research, military service, and many related technology-intensive fields.
Tuition & Fees: $51,354
Masters: $54,015 per year (full-time)
University of Illinois – Urbana-Champaign
Champaign, IL
The Department of Aerospace Engineering at Illinois is an international leader in aerospace science and engineering. With nationally ranked undergraduate and graduate programs, internationally renowned faculty, and state-of-the-art research facilities, the department is committed to excellence and leadership in teaching, research, and service.
Also, the faculty and graduate students are active in a variety of interdisciplinary centers including Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, Coordinated Science Laboratory (CSL), Micro and Nanotechnology Laboratory, National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA), and Information Trust Institute.
In addition, Aerospace Engineering at Illinois recognizes outstanding students each spring with awards for scholastic achievement and other contributions.
Tuition & Fees: $32,568(out-of-state); $15,998(in-state)
University of Texas – Austin
Austin, Texas
Ranked number 7 Graduate Aerospace Engineering, and 8 Undergraduate Aerospace Engineering , U.S. News & World Report, the Department of Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics at the University of Texas at Austin is an interdisciplinary department with teaching and research activities in astronautics, earth-space engineering and science, aviation, energy, robotics, theoretical and experimental mechanics, and computational engineering.
In addition, students also work closely with the faculty to create, develop and apply aerospace technology to solve important global and societal problems through our strong research centers and laboratories.
Tuition & Fees: $37,480(out-of-state); $10,606(in-state)
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Texas A&M University – College Station
College Station, TX
The Texas A&M is one of the best aerospace engineering schools in the USA. The department of aerospace engineering is a major one at the Texas A&M University College of Engineering. They are also among the top Aerospace Engineering programs in the United States providing unique cutting-edge educational and research opportunities, including space exploration, national defense, air transportation, communications, and sustainable energy.
Furthermore, they offer students a modern curriculum that is balanced across the three principal disciplines of aerospace engineering: Aerodynamics and Propulsion, Dynamics and Control, and Materials and Structures. The program also benefits from strong connections to major aerospace industries, the Department of Defense and NASA.
Tuition & Fees: $36,636(out-of-state); $10,968(in-state)
University of Colorado – Boulder (CU Boulder)
Boulder, CO
Colorado is a hub of our nation’s aerospace industry, and this facility will further position the university at the center of the innovation ecosystem. CU Boulder students and faculty are pushing the limits of aeronautics and astronautics research, designing next-generation unmanned aircraft, expanding the possibilities of remote sensing, and building space instruments and satellites for orbit around Earth and beyond.
Tuition & Fees: $37,288(out-of-state); $12,534(in-state)
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Daytona Beach, FL
Students with a passion for the high-tech engineering world of airplanes, helicopters, and spacecraft are right at home in the Department of Aerospace Engineering at Embry-Riddle. The Aerospace Engineering Department is the largest in the country with 1404 Bachelor students, 119 Masters students, (including 24 distance students) and 33 PhD students as of fall 2018. Also, the department has 13.1% of its undergraduate students are honors students, while the rest of ERAU has 5.5% honors students.
In addition, Aerospace Engineering students study the core areas of aerodynamics and propulsion, dynamics and control, and structures and materials.
Tuition & Fees: $35,714
University of Maryland – College Park
College Park, MD
Through hands-on education, diverse research opportunities, and a strong academic community, aerospace engineering (AE) at Maryland prepares students for positions within aeronautic and astronautics fields across the industry, government, and academia.
Tuition & Fees: $35,216(out-of-state); $10,595(in-state)
Best Aerospace Engineering Schools in the World for Undergraduates
Below are some top engineering schools around the world for a bachelor in the aerospace engineering program. Click on any of them to know more about the program.
- University of Tokyo (Japan) Department of Aerospace Engineering
- University of Queensland (Australia)
- Delft University of Technology (Netherlands) | TU Delft Faculty of Aerospace Engineering
- Tsinghua University (China)
- Seoul National University (South Korea)
- Sapienza University of Rome (Italy)
- Technical University Munich (Germany)
It is also important to note that the schools above together with those in the United States also offer the best graduate aerospace engineering degree programs.
There are scholarships peculiar to each country. CHECK OUT THESE SCHOLARSHIPS BY COUNTRIES ON OUR PLATFORM!!!
Conclusion
The information above contains the list of 15 Best Aerospace Engineering Schools in the USA and in the World in 2022. We hope this helps you make a choice regarding your selection.
Frequently Asked Questions On Best Aerospace Engineering Schools
To become an Aerospace engineer, you must have a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering or another field of engineering or science related to aerospace systems.
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for aerospace engineers was $115,220. That is, they earn $55.39 per hour.
Yes. Considering the pay we can say that starting a career in aerospace engineering wouldn’t be a bad idea.
However, before starting a career in aerospace engineering, be sure that you are passionate about the design of aircraft, spacecraft, satellites, and missiles.
Below are some of the best schools to enroll in an Aerospace Engineering program in the US:
1) Massachusetts Institute of Technology
2) Georgia Institute of Technology
3) California Institute of Technology
4) University of Michigan–Ann Arbor
5) Purdue University–West Lafayette
6) Stanford University
7) University of Illinois–Urbana-Champaign
8) University of Texas–Austin
9) Texas A&M University–College Station
10) University of Colorado–Boulder
11) Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
12) University of Maryland–College Park
Just like every other engineering program, it takes about 4 years to complete an aerospace engineering program.
According to the US BLS, aerospace engineers are employed in industries whose workers design or build aircraft, missiles, systems for national defense, or spacecraft.
Also, aerospace engineers are employed primarily in manufacturing, analysis and design, research and development, and the federal government.
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