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2023 Most Focused Colleges for Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering

85 Ranked Colleges
$32,900 Avg Cost*
Schools Highly Focused on Aerospace Engineering Major

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. College Factual has developed its “Schools Highly Focused on Aerospace Engineering Major” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

In 2021-2022, 8,671 people earned their degree in aerospace & aeronautical engineering, making the major the 94th most popular in the United States. In , aerospace & aeronautical engineering graduates who were awarded their degree in , earned an average of $70,488 and had an average of $24,395 in loans still to pay off.

This year’s “Schools Highly Focused on Aerospace Engineering Major” ranking analyzed 85 colleges that offered a degree in aerospace & aeronautical engineering. The colleges and universities that top this list are recognized because their aerospace & aeronautical engineering program is one of the largest majors offered at the school.

See our ranking methodology to learn more.

More Ways to Rank Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering Schools

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Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Schools Highly Focused on Aerospace Engineering Major” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.

Schools Highly Focused on Aerospace Engineering Major

The colleges and universities below are the best for aerospace engineering students.

Top 25 Most Focused Colleges for Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering

1

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Prescott. The school came in at #1 for the Schools Highly Focused on Aerospace Engineering Major. Embry-Riddle Prescott is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Prescott, Arizona. It awarded 125 ’s aerospace engineering degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Prescott Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering Report

2

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Daytona Beach. The school came in at #2 for the Schools Highly Focused on Aerospace Engineering Major. Located in Daytona Beach, Florida, this fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 303 diplomas to qualified ’s aerospace engineering students in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering at Embry-Riddle Daytona Beach

3
USAFA crest
United States Air Force Academy
USAF Academy, Colorado

Out of the 85 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Aerospace Engineering Major that were part of this year’s ranking, United States Air Force Academy landed the #3 spot on the list. Located in USAF Academy, Colorado, this small public school handed out 96 degrees to qualified ’s aerospace engineering students in 2021-2022.

With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read more about Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering at United States Air Force Academy

4

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Air Force Institute of Technology - Graduate School of Engineering & Management. The school came in at #4 for the Schools Highly Focused on Aerospace Engineering Major. AFIT Graduate School of Engineering & Management is located in Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 51 ’s aerospace engineering degrees to qualified students.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read full report on Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering at Air Force Institute of Technology - Graduate School of Engineering & Management

5

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. The school came in at #5 for the Schools Highly Focused on Aerospace Engineering Major. This medium-sized school is located in Troy, New York, and it awarded 146 ’s aerospace engineering degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%.

Read full report on Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering at RPI

6

Florida Institute of Technology came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Aerospace Engineering Major ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Melbourne, Florida, and it awarded 129 ’s aerospace engineering degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering at Florida Tech

7

Capitol Technology University landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Aerospace Engineering Major ranking. Capitol Technology University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Laurel, Maryland. It awarded 4 ’s aerospace engineering degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering at Capitol Technology University

8

University of Alabama in Huntsville did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Aerospace Engineering Major ranking, coming in at #8. Located in Huntsville, Alabama, this medium-sized public school handed out 160 diplomas to qualified ’s aerospace engineering students in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering at University of Alabama in Huntsville

9
Annapolis crest
United States Naval Academy
Annapolis, Maryland

United States Naval Academy landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Aerospace Engineering Major ranking. Annapolis, Maryland is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s aerospace engineering degrees to 44 students in 2021-2022.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 98%.

Full Annapolis Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering Report

10
WPI crest
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Worcester, Massachusetts

Worcester Polytechnic Institute landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Aerospace Engineering Major ranking. Worcester, Massachusetts is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s aerospace engineering degrees to 97 students in 2021-2022.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering at Worcester Polytechnic Institute

11

Southeastern Oklahoma State University ranked #11 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Aerospace Engineering Major list. Durant, Oklahoma is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s aerospace engineering degrees to 43 students in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering at Southeastern Oklahoma State University

12

University of Colorado Boulder landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Aerospace Engineering Major ranking. University of Colorado Boulder is a public institution located in Boulder, Colorado. The school has a large population, and it awarded 374 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering at University of Colorado Boulder

13

Georgia Institute of Technology - Main Campus came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Aerospace Engineering Major ranking. Located in Atlanta, Georgia, this large public school awarded 403 diplomas to qualified ’s aerospace engineering students in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology - Main Campus

14

Massachusetts Institute of Technology landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Aerospace Engineering Major ranking. This fairly large school is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and it awarded 137 ’s aerospace engineering degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 3 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 99%.

Read more about Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering at MIT

15

Missouri University of Science and Technology ranked #15 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Aerospace Engineering Major list. This medium-sized school is located in Rolla, Missouri, and it awarded 92 ’s aerospace engineering degrees in 2021-2022.

With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Missouri University of Science and Technology Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering Report

16
Purdue crest
Purdue University - Main Campus
West Lafayette, Indiana

Purdue University - Main Campus ranked #16 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Aerospace Engineering Major list. Purdue University - Main Campus is a large school located in West Lafayette, Indiana that handed out 539 ’s aerospace engineering degrees in 2021-2022.

With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering at Purdue University - Main Campus

17
Tuskegee crest
Tuskegee University
Tuskegee, Alabama

Tuskegee University ranked #17 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Aerospace Engineering Major list. This small school is located in Tuskegee, Alabama, and it awarded 8 ’s aerospace engineering degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read full report on Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering at Tuskegee

18

California Institute of Technology did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Aerospace Engineering Major ranking, coming in at #18. This small school is located in Pasadena, California, and it awarded 31 ’s aerospace engineering degrees in 2021-2022.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 3 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 99%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering at California Institute of Technology

19
Clarkson crest
Clarkson University
Potsdam, New York

Clarkson University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Aerospace Engineering Major ranking, coming in at #19. Clarkson is a small school located in Potsdam, New York that handed out 41 ’s aerospace engineering degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering at Clarkson

20

Wichita State University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Aerospace Engineering Major ranking, coming in at #20. Located in Wichita, Kansas, this fairly large public school handed out 78 diplomas to qualified ’s aerospace engineering students in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering at Wichita State University

21
Virginia Tech crest
Virginia Tech
Blacksburg, Virginia

Virginia Tech landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Aerospace Engineering Major ranking. Blacksburg, Virginia is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s aerospace engineering degrees to 265 students in 2021-2022.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 92%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Virginia Tech Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering Report

22

With a ranking of #22, Iowa State University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Aerospace Engineering Major list. Iowa State is a public institution located in Ames, Iowa. The school has a large population, and it awarded 180 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%.

Read full report on Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering at Iowa State University

23
Stanford crest
Stanford University
Stanford, California

Stanford University landed the #23 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Aerospace Engineering Major ranking. Stanford, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s aerospace engineering degrees to 83 students in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 98%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Full Stanford Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering Report

24

California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo ranked #24 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Aerospace Engineering Major list. Located in San Luis Obispo, California, this large public school awarded 121 degrees to qualified ’s aerospace engineering students in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering at California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo

25

New Mexico State University - Main Campus landed the #25 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Aerospace Engineering Major ranking. Las Cruces, New Mexico is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s aerospace engineering degrees to 71 students in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering at NMSU Main Campus

Notes and References

References

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