Top U.S. Aerospace/Aeronautical/Astronautical Engineering Programs

I wanted to compile a short list of the top aerospace engineering programs in the United States. I’ve listed the top 5 here with their respective tuitions. Remember that this is not a comprehensive list and there are many great schools not listed here. Click the “full article” links on each category to see more options. Additionally, professionals working in the aerospace field can hold degrees in many other specializations like mechanical, chemical, electrical and software engineering, business, etc. Don’t let the dollar signs scare you as there are a multitude of scholarships, grants and other opportunities to help at least partially pay for school.

Further, as graduate school application season approaches, I’ve added the top aerospace graduate programs. I added a separate list for top online Master’s programs as many choose to pursue graduate programs while working a part or full-time job, and let’s not forget the unique challenges the COVID-19 pandemic has brought this year.

I also suggest checking out my other grad school related blog posts: 1) Is Grad School “Worth It”? and 2) Graduate School Application Tips.

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Undergraduate Programs [full article]

1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Cambridge, MA)
   • $53,818/year (private)
   • enrollment: 4,530
2. Georgia Institute of Technology (Atlanta, GA)
   • $33,794/year (out-of-state), $12,682/year (in-state)
   • enrollment: 15,964
3. California Institute of Technology (Pasadena, CA)
   • $56,862/year (private)
4. University of Michigan-Ann Arbor (Ann Arbor, MI)
   • $52,266/year (out-of-state), $15,948/year (in-state)
   • enrollment: 31,266
5. Purdue University-West Lafayette (West Lafayette, IN)
   • $28,794/year (out-of-state), $9,992/year (in-state)
   • enrollment: 33,646
     

Graduate Programs [full article]

Cost of enrollment for full-time graduate programs is highly dependent on whether you are an in-state or out-of-state student and whether or not you obtain funding through a grant, scholarship, graduate research assistantship (GRA), graduate teaching assistantship (GTA), or other similar funding source. If you are interested in external funding for your graduate degree, apply early!

1. California Institute of Technology (Pasadena, CA)
2. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Cambridge, MA)
3. Stanford University (Stanford, CA)
4. Georgia Institute of Technology (Atlanta, GA)
5. University of Michigan-Ann Arbor (Ann Arbor, MI)

Online Master’s Programs [full article]

If you choose to pursue your advanced degree while working, check with your employer and see if they’ll fully or at least partially reimburse you for courses or degrees related to your job. This is a great added benefit many companies offer.

1. University of California, Los Angeles (Los Angeles, CA)
   • $1,000/credit (out-of-state)
2. Purdue University (West Lafayette, IN)
   • $1,348/credit (out-of-state)
3. University of Southern California (Los Angeles, CA)
   • $2,075/credit (private)
4. North Carolina State University (Raleigh, NC)
   • $1,295/credit (out-of-state)
5. University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign (Urbana, IL)
   • $670/credit (out-of-state)

Wishing you fair winds and following seas wherever your journey takes you.

Kate