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Aerospace Colleges Under $25,000

Programs with net price under $25,000. See our methodology.

Stanford stands out among aerospace programs under $25,000 with its $12,136 net price despite a $62,484 sticker price, proving that elite private education can compete with public options through financial aid. The earnings spread across these 15 programs ranges from $54,974 to $71,575, with New Mexico State leading despite its 52% graduation rate. California dominates the list with four universities, reflecting the state's massive aerospace industry anchored by SpaceX, Boeing, and Lockheed Martin facilities. Georgia Tech delivers the strongest combination of affordability at $13,289 and outcomes with 92% graduation rates and $69,983 median earnings. Public universities fill 14 of the 15 spots, with net prices ranging from Florida's remarkable $6,351 to Arizona State's $13,670. The West Coast concentration makes sense given that California and Washington house major commercial space companies, defense contractors, and NASA research centers that actively recruit from these programs.
50
Programs
$6,351 – $22,185
Net Price Range
$64,446
Avg. Program Earnings
72.4%
Avg. Graduation Rate

50 Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering Programs

Program rankings
# School Net Price In-State Tuition Graduation Rate Acceptance Rate
1 $6,351 $6,381 91.5% 23.4%
2 $6,747 $8,147 52.2% 78.1%
3 $8,931 $7,008 69.9% 40.0%
4 $9,957 $8,064 36.1% 64.6%
5 $10,011 $9,142 50.1% 85.3%
6 $10,089 $9,838 47.7% 84.0%
7 $10,650 $6,368 75.1% 41.0%
8 $11,580 $7,439 66.7% 55.4%
9 $11,750 $15,265 87.6% 23.7%
10 $12,136 $62,484 92.8% 3.7%
11 $12,840 $14,237 86.0% 21.2%
12 $12,997 $9,648 61.2% 88.4%
13 $13,289 $11,764 92.3% 17.1%
14 $13,485 $12,643 83.7% 47.5%
15 $13,670 $12,051 67.8% 89.8%
16 $13,741 $7,992 64.7% 76.7%
17 $13,773 $14,278 63.6% 81.5%
18 $13,776 $9,322 51.4% 94.9%
19 $13,945 $9,992 83.1% 52.7%
20 $14,013 $13,747 92.7% 8.6%
21 $14,832 $17,228 93.2% 17.7%
22 $14,981 $12,799 48.2% 82.9%
23 $15,201 $16,004 84.9% 44.8%
24 $15,235 $11,728 56.5% 80.8%
25 $15,288 $15,247 85.1% 37.3%
26 $15,501 $9,815 62.9% 75.2%
27 $15,590 $11,505 88.6% 44.6%
28 $15,624 $11,075 85.2% 30.4%
29 $15,960 $13,626 65.9% 86.8%
30 $16,174 $8,290 78.3% 39.3%
31 $16,378 $10,234 65.9% 70.6%
32 $16,931 $8,895 84.6% 47.2%
33 $17,139 $16,488 84.8% 74.9%
34 $17,365 $11,700 68.8% 87.8%
35 $17,413 $9,595 75.3% 72.9%
36 $18,109 $13,484 73.5% 68.4%
37 $18,165 $10,497 75.5% 90.2%
38 $18,292 $12,859 87.7% 52.7%
39 $18,701 $15,298 57.8% 84.6%
40 $19,353 $51,763 72.4% 61.4%
41 $19,614 $12,846 65.5% 88.0%
42 $19,678 $11,678 87.6% 31.4%
43 $19,733 $11,665 21.6% 57.7%
44 $19,813 $60,156 96.1% 4.0%
45 $19,880 $11,770 61.9% 78.1%
46 $20,470 $10,782 73.4% 67.7%
47 $20,924 $13,099 83.8% 62.7%
48 $21,480 $16,430 75.0% 80.7%
49 $22,150 $11,900 73.7% 80.1%
50 $22,185 $15,700 68.3% 76.9%

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes Stanford's aerospace program affordable compared to other private universities?

Stanford's net price of $12,136 represents one of the most generous financial aid packages in higher education, reducing the $62,484 sticker price by over $50,000. The university's massive endowment allows it to offer need-based aid that makes it cheaper than many public universities for qualifying students. With a 92.8% graduation rate and 3.68% acceptance rate, Stanford competes directly with public flagships on cost while maintaining elite academic standards.

How do graduation rates vary among these affordable aerospace programs?

Graduation rates span from West Virginia University Institute of Technology's 36.1% to Stanford's 92.8%, showing that affordability doesn't guarantee completion. Georgia Tech leads public universities with 92.3% graduation rates at a $13,289 net cost. University of Florida achieves 91.5% graduation rates while maintaining the lowest net price at $6,351, demonstrating strong value for in-state students.

Does geographic location affect aerospace engineering career earnings from these programs?

New Mexico State graduates earn the highest median of $71,575 despite the program's 52.2% graduation rate, likely reflecting the state's defense and space industry concentration. California schools show varied earnings from UC Irvine's $54,974 to Cal State Long Beach's $60,839, while Washington graduates average $67,995. The Southwest and West Coast generally offer higher starting salaries due to aerospace industry clusters and cost of living factors.

Is student debt manageable across these aerospace engineering programs?

Student debt levels range from University of Washington's low $12,410 to West Virginia schools averaging $27,242, with most programs keeping debt under $25,000. University of Florida combines the lowest net price with reasonable $17,416 debt loads. Georgia Tech graduates carry $22,000 in debt while earning $69,983, creating favorable debt-to-income ratios for aerospace careers that typically start above $60,000.

Where do these programs rank in terms of admission competitiveness?

Acceptance rates vary dramatically from Stanford's ultra-selective 3.68% to Arizona State's accessible 89.75%, offering options for different academic profiles. Georgia Tech accepts 17.13% of applicants while UC San Diego admits 23.71%, making them highly competitive public options. University of Florida's 23.35% acceptance rate combined with its $6,351 net cost makes it one of the nation's best aerospace education values for admitted students.

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Net price reflects the average cost after grants and scholarships for first-time, full-time students. See our methodology for details.