Best Colleges for Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering

Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering graduates enter a specialized field with strong earning potential, with recent graduates averaging $64,837 annually. This technical discipline prepares students to design aircraft, spacecraft, and related systems for both atmospheric and space flight applications.

When evaluating programs, students should prioritize schools with ABET accreditation, hands-on laboratory facilities, and active industry partnerships. Look for opportunities to work on real aerospace projects, access to wind tunnels and flight simulators, and faculty with current industry experience. Strong mathematics and physics foundations are essential, as coursework involves complex calculations and system analysis. With only 58 schools nationwide offering this major, research each program's specialization areas to match your career interests.

Schools Ranked

$69,937

Avg. Program Earnings

79.2%

Avg. Graduation Rate

Top 25 Schools

College rankings
#	School	Median Earnings	Graduation Rate	School Type
1	Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge, Massachusetts	$83,177	96.1%	private-nonprofit
2	California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo, California	$76,460	85.2%	public
3	University of Southern California Los Angeles, California	$75,832	92.0%	private-nonprofit
4	University of Virginia-Main Campus Charlottesville, Virginia	$74,576	95.3%	public
5	Worcester Polytechnic Institute Worcester, Massachusetts	$71,947	88.4%	private-nonprofit
6	New Mexico State University-Main Campus Las Cruces, New Mexico	$71,575	52.2%	public
7	University of Colorado Boulder Boulder, Colorado	$71,255	75.0%	public
8	University of Miami Coral Gables, Florida	$71,015	84.2%	private-nonprofit
9	University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, Michigan	$70,736	93.2%	public
10	Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus Atlanta, Georgia	$69,983	92.3%	public
11	Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Troy, New York	$69,140	83.2%	private-nonprofit
12	University of Florida Gainesville, Florida	$68,965	91.5%	public
13	University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus Norman, Oklahoma	$68,666	75.3%	public
14	San Jose State University San Jose, California	$68,219	64.7%	public
15	University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign, Illinois	$68,219	84.9%	public
16	University of Washington-Seattle Campus Seattle, Washington	$67,995	83.7%	public
17	University of Notre Dame Notre Dame, Indiana	$67,995	96.8%	private-nonprofit
18	University of Maryland-College Park College Park, Maryland	$67,899	88.6%	public
19	Clarkson University Potsdam, New York	$67,748	73.6%	private-nonprofit
20	University of Arizona Tucson, Arizona	$67,660	65.9%	public
21	Saint Louis University Saint Louis, Missouri	$66,941	79.8%	private-nonprofit
22	Texas A & M University-College Station College Station, Texas	$66,005	83.8%	public
23	Western Michigan University Kalamazoo, Michigan	$65,945	57.8%	public
24	West Virginia University Institute of Technology Beckley, West Virginia	$65,238	36.1%	public
25	West Virginia University Morgantown, West Virginia	$65,238	61.2%	public