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2026 Best Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering Schools in the Far Western Region

11 Colleges in the United States
1,340 Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering Degrees Awarded
$90,354 Avg Early-Career Salary

Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.

College Factual analyzed 17 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best aerospace & aeronautical engineering schools.

What’s on this page:

Best Schools for Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering in the Far Western Region

If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the aerospace & aeronautical engineering degrees they offer, see the list below.

Top Schools in Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering

1

University Of Southern California is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in aerospace & aeronautical engineering. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 203 aerospace & aeronautical engineering degrees were awarded at University Of Southern California in the most recent year. Students who receive their aerospace & aeronautical engineering degree from University Of Southern California earn around $95,562 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Southern California graduates carry a median of $21,140 in student loans. More information about a degree in aerospace & aeronautical engineering from University Of Southern California

2
Stanford University crest
Stanford University
Stanford, CA

Students looking for a strong aerospace & aeronautical engineering program will find one at Stanford University, which ranked #2. Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Stanford. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 101 aerospace & aeronautical engineering degrees were awarded at Stanford University in the most recent year. Students who receive their aerospace & aeronautical engineering degree from Stanford University earn around $111,760 in the first couple years of their career. Stanford University graduates carry a median of $10,492 in student loans. See the full aerospace & aeronautical engineering program report for Stanford University

3

A rank of #3 makes University Of Washington Seattle Campus one of the top schools for aerospace & aeronautical engineering. This very large public university is located in the city of Seattle. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. About 117 aerospace & aeronautical engineering degrees were awarded at University Of Washington Seattle Campus in the most recent year. Students who receive their aerospace & aeronautical engineering degree from University Of Washington Seattle Campus earn around $93,709 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $12,000. Get the full aerospace & aeronautical engineering details for University Of Washington Seattle Campus

4

A rank of #4 makes University Of California Los Angeles one of the top schools for aerospace & aeronautical engineering. This very large public university is located in the city of Los Angeles. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. There were roughly 97 aerospace & aeronautical engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Los Angeles in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, aerospace & aeronautical engineering degree recipients from University Of California Los Angeles generally make around $90,170. University Of California Los Angeles graduates carry a median of $19,000 in student loans. See the full aerospace & aeronautical engineering program report for University Of California Los Angeles

5

A rank of #5 makes California Institute Of Technology one of the top schools for aerospace & aeronautical engineering. Located in the city of Pasadena, California Institute Of Technology is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. California Institute Of Technology graduates 94% of students within six years. California Institute Of Technology awarded about 19 aerospace & aeronautical engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering graduates of California Institute Of Technology earn a median of $173,344 early in their careers. See the full aerospace & aeronautical engineering program report for California Institute Of Technology

6

California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo placed #6 among the best aerospace & aeronautical engineering schools. Set in the suburb of San Luis Obispo, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a very large public institution. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo awarded about 107 aerospace & aeronautical engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the aerospace & aeronautical engineering program make about $96,072 in their early career. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo graduates carry a median of $22,500 in student loans. More information about a degree in aerospace & aeronautical engineering from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo

7

University Of California San Diego came in at #7 for aerospace & aeronautical engineering this year. University Of California San Diego is a very large public school located in the city of La Jolla. About 86% of students finish within six years. About 115 aerospace & aeronautical engineering degrees were awarded at University Of California San Diego in the most recent year. Graduates of the aerospace & aeronautical engineering program make about $65,401 in their early career. University Of California San Diego graduates carry a median of $21,305 in student loans. Read more about the aerospace & aeronautical engineering program at University Of California San Diego

8

San Jose State University came in at #8 for aerospace & aeronautical engineering this year. San Jose State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Jose. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. San Jose State University awarded about 83 aerospace & aeronautical engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Read more about the aerospace & aeronautical engineering program at San Jose State University

9

University Of California Irvine placed #9 among the best aerospace & aeronautical engineering schools. University Of California Irvine is a very large public school located in the city of Irvine. University Of California Irvine graduates 87% of students within six years. About 61 aerospace & aeronautical engineering degrees were awarded at University Of California Irvine in the most recent year. Students who receive their aerospace & aeronautical engineering degree from University Of California Irvine earn around $67,425 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,950. See the full aerospace & aeronautical engineering program report for University Of California Irvine

10

San Diego State University came in at #10 for aerospace & aeronautical engineering this year. This very large public university is located in the city of San Diego. About 76% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 115 aerospace & aeronautical engineering students who graduated with this degree at San Diego State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their aerospace & aeronautical engineering degree from San Diego State University earn around $74,375 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,000. See the full aerospace & aeronautical engineering program report for San Diego State University

11

University Of California Davis landed the #11 spot for aerospace & aeronautical engineering this year. Located in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a very large public university. University Of California Davis graduates 86% of students within six years. University Of California Davis awarded about 53 aerospace & aeronautical engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, aerospace & aeronautical engineering degree recipients from University Of California Davis generally make around $71,633. University Of California Davis graduates carry a median of $19,058 in student loans. Get the full aerospace & aeronautical engineering details for University Of California Davis

12

California State Polytechnic University Pomona came in at #12 for aerospace & aeronautical engineering this year. California State Polytechnic University Pomona is a very large public school located in the suburb of Pomona. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 123 aerospace & aeronautical engineering degrees were awarded at California State Polytechnic University Pomona in the most recent year. Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering graduates of California State Polytechnic University Pomona earn a median of $78,320 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,295 to complete this degree. Read more about the aerospace & aeronautical engineering program at California State Polytechnic University Pomona

13

California State University Long Beach earned the #13 position for aerospace & aeronautical engineering this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Long Beach. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. California State University Long Beach awarded about 146 aerospace & aeronautical engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering graduates of California State University Long Beach earn a median of $66,477 early in their careers. California State University Long Beach graduates carry a median of $25,300 in student loans. See the full aerospace & aeronautical engineering program report for California State University Long Beach

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Notes and References

The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 17 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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