Top 5 Aerospace engineering colleges in the US

About Aerospace engineering

Aeronautical and aerospace engineering will provide you with practical skills directly applicable to this industry and employment. Graduates of this program have a wide range of options for employment. Joining the RAF, Navy, or Army Air Corps or designing vehicles for private companies are just a few options. If you want to work in manufacturing, you have even more options. Any company requires a manufacturer with a production line of any kind to make production processes effective and efficient. So what are you waiting for? Graduate from the top aerospace engineering colleges in the US and get a great start to your career.

Why study aerospace engineering in the US?

Aerospace engineering programs in the United States prepare you for various careers. From aeronautics and astronautics to mechanical engineering and vehicle systems, you have many options ready. Some advantages of studying in aerospace engineering colleges in the United States are as follows-

• Top universities- The United States is well known for its high-quality education, academic excellence, infrastructure, and global facilities. There are numerous top universities in the United States for aeronautical engineering. Most of them rank in the QS Subject Rankings. In addition, four US universities are among the top ten in the QS rankings.
• Better learning- Most aerospace engineering universities have well-equipped labs and an easy-to-adapt education system. It makes it simple for students to understand the curriculum. Universities also provide top aeronautical tools and equipment for students to learn and understand things through hands-on experience.
• Future opportunities- The demand for aerospace engineers in the United States is expected to rise 8% between 2021 and 2031. According to reports and surveys, approximately 3,800 job openings for aerospace engineers have been projected annually.
• Salary- The average annual salary for an aerospace engineer is 122,270 USD. The lowest 10% of aerospace engineers can earn less than 77,440 USD annually, while the highest 10% can earn more than 168,370.

Course curriculum

The aerospace course curriculum varies depending on the degree level. Undergraduate aerospace engineering courses cover the fundamentals of the field. The graduate programs at aeronautical engineering colleges in the United States cover the fundamentals to advanced knowledge of the field.

• Aerospace computer-aided designing
• Engineering materials
• Aerospace flight mechanics
• Mechanical aerospace structures
• Aerospace dynamical systems
• Applied structure and control systems in aerospace
• Propulsion and system designing
• Aerodynamics algorithms

Top 5 aerospace engineering colleges in the US

Aerospace engineering colleges in the United States offer a variety of courses as well as degrees at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels. They teach aerospace engineering in approximately 146 institutions in the United States. Astronautics and aeronautics are the two major branches of aerospace engineering. 

Astronautic engineering primarily concerns the science and technology of spacecraft and their launch vehicles. On the other hand, aeronautical engineering focuses on the technology, theory, and practice of flight within the earth’s atmosphere. The Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology has accredited all aerospace programs at universities in the United States (ABET).

1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

Every university in the country looks to MIT’s renowned Aerospace Engineering program for inspiration. Aerospace students at MIT receive a solid foundation in the disciplines required to design aerospace vehicles and systems. Students will learn about aerodynamics, propulsion, fluid mechanics, structural design and analysis, advanced materials, and dynamics during their studies.

MIT’s undergraduate Aerospace Engineering program culminates in a series of aerospace laboratories and a capstone project that needs students to apply what they’ve learned and integrate multiple disciplines, such as designing an aircraft or spacecraft system.

2. Stanford University

Stanford is one of the best schools in the country for studying aerospace and aeronautical engineering. Stanford is a private, non-profit university with a large student population in the suburb of Stanford. It is an excellent university, with a Best Colleges ranking of 2 out of 2,241 colleges nationwide.

In the most recent year for which data is available, approximately 93 aerospace and aeronautical engineering students graduated with this degree from Stanford. Stanford University’s aerospace and aeronautical engineering program graduates earn $37,922 more than the average college graduate in this field shortly after graduation.

3. California Institute of Technology (Caltech)

What can you say about Caltech’s Aerospace Engineering program? Despite offering the program as a minor, it ranks near the top of the list of the best colleges for aerospace engineering. 

Caltech has an unrivaled reputation in aerospace engineering, dating back to 1891. GALCIT (Graduate Aerospace Laboratories of the California Institute of Technology) has built a reputation over the years for its stellar staff and unrivaled experimental facilities in solids, fluids, biomechanics, propulsion, combustion, and materials, as well as its unique large-scale computational capabilities.

4. The University of Michigan | Ann Arbor

Any aerospace and aeronautical engineering student should explore the University of Michigan- Ann Arbor. It is a public university with a large student population in the medium-sized city of Ann Arbor. It is an excellent university, with 3 of 25 out of 2,241 schools nationwide.

Approximately 264 aerospace and aeronautical engineering students graduated in the most recent data year. Degree recipients from the University of Michigan – Ann Arbor’s aerospace and aeronautical engineering program earn $8,612 more than the average college graduate in this field shortly after graduation.

5. Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech)

You can trace the Daniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering at Georgis Tech back over a century. Georgia Tech’s Aerospace Engineering programs are highly distinguishable by its ‘Mentors In Residence’ initiative. The initiative pairs students with professionals and provides a forum for discussion on topics ranging from career advice to the state of the industry to technological trends. 

Are you considering applying to the Daniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering? Consider that 97% of its incoming aerospace engineering students have completed AP calculus.

Career opportunities

After completing their studies, international students have great aerospace jobs in the United States. Many industries are looking for skilled engineers who can design aerospace systems using a system of systems approach. Here are some of the most common job profiles for aerospace graduates in the United States, along with their average salaries-

Job profile	Average salary
Aerospace Engineer	86,994 USD
Aircraft Quality Assurance	75,337 USD
Aviation Safety Officer	71,612 USD
Aviation Analyst	63,662 USD
Air Traffic Controller	61,681 USD
Aerospace Technician	61,473 USD

Key takeaways

• The aerospace and aeronautical engineering program ranked 94th in the United States.
• Employment in aerospace engineering can grow by 8% by 2030.
• World-class universities, learning experiences, future opportunities, and salary are some of the reasons to study aerospace engineering in the USA.
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Stanford University, the University of Michigan, and more are among the top aerospace engineering colleges in the US.

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FAQs

Q1.  Can you get into aerospace engineering in the USA after 12th?

Answer- After completing your 12th or higher education in a relevant subject, you can apply for a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering in the United States.

Q2.  What are the fees for aerospace engineering programs in the USA?

Answer- US universities’ average annual cost of studying aerospace engineering programs ranges from 15,000 USD to 55,754 USD. 

Q3.  Is IELTS necessary for aerospace engineering universities in the USA?

Answer- If you are an international student, IELTS is necessary for admission to any aerospace engineering university in the United States. However, you can also take other language tests to demonstrate your proficiency, such as the TOEFL and Duolingo.