2026 Best Value Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
[Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering](/majors/engineering/aerospace-and-aeronautical-engineering/aerospace-aeronautical-space-engineering/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 12 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for aerospace & aeronautical engineering students.
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2026 Best Value Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in aerospace & aeronautical engineering, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering Schools
University Of Maryland College Park earned the #1 spot for value among aerospace & aeronautical engineering schools in the Middle Atlantic Region. University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public school located in the suburb of College Park. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,809, compared with $41,186 for out-of-state students. Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering graduates carry a median of $22,500 in student loans. Early-career aerospace & aeronautical engineering graduates make about $78,631. That is a strong return on a $22,500 median debt. University Of Maryland College Park admits about 45% of applicants.
A rank of #2 makes Johns Hopkins University one of the best values for aerospace & aeronautical engineering. Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Baltimore. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $64,730. Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering graduates carry a median of $13,426 in student loans. Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering graduates of Johns Hopkins University earn a median of $128,330 early in their careers. Set against $13,426 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Johns Hopkins University admits about 6% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in aerospace & aeronautical engineering will find it at University At Buffalo, which ranked #3. Located in the suburb of Buffalo, University At Buffalo is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,936, while out-of-state students pay about $31,536. Typical student debt for aerospace & aeronautical engineering graduates is $24,846. Early-career aerospace & aeronautical engineering graduates make about $69,716. Set against $24,846 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 74%.
Rutgers University New Brunswick came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value aerospace & aeronautical engineering schools. Rutgers University New Brunswick is a very large public school located in the city of New Brunswick. Students from in state pay about $17,929 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $37,441. Typical student debt for aerospace & aeronautical engineering graduates is $26,674. Soon after graduation, aerospace & aeronautical engineering degree recipients from Rutgers University New Brunswick generally make around $69,320. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 58%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Clarkson University earned it the #5 place for aerospace & aeronautical engineering. Clarkson University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Potsdam. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $59,398. Typical student debt for aerospace & aeronautical engineering graduates is $27,000. Early-career aerospace & aeronautical engineering graduates make about $71,783. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Cornell University landed the #6 spot for aerospace & aeronautical engineering value this year. Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Ithaca. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $69,314. Students borrow a median of $15,005 to complete the aerospace & aeronautical engineering program here. Early-career aerospace & aeronautical engineering graduates make about $102,439. Set against $15,005 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 9%.
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value aerospace & aeronautical engineering schools. Located in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $20,644, compared with $41,790 for out-of-state students. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $63,435. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus admits about 61% of applicants.
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute placed #8 among the best values for aerospace & aeronautical engineering. Set in the city of Troy, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $64,078 in tuition and fees. Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Early-career aerospace & aeronautical engineering graduates make about $73,213. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute admits about 64% of applicants.
Syracuse University placed #9 among the best values for aerospace & aeronautical engineering. Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Syracuse. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $65,528. Typical student debt for aerospace & aeronautical engineering graduates is $27,000. Early-career aerospace & aeronautical engineering graduates make about $71,417. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 46% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 12 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 9 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
