Best Schools for Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering in the United States
These are the top schools for a bachelor’s degree in aerospace & aeronautical engineering, based on student outcomes and program quality.
Top Schools in Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in aerospace & aeronautical engineering. This very large public university is located in the city of University Park. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus graduates 86% of students within six years. There were roughly 150 aerospace & aeronautical engineering students who graduated with this degree at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus in the most recent data year.
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University Of Michigan Ann Arbor came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best aerospace & aeronautical engineering schools. Located in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public university. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor graduates 93% of students within six years. There were roughly 128 aerospace & aeronautical engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor in the most recent data year. Students who receive their aerospace & aeronautical engineering degree from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn around $80,225 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor graduates carry a median of $21,603 in student loans.
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University Of Southern California is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in aerospace & aeronautical engineering, landing the #3 spot this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Los Angeles. The six-year graduation rate is 92%. About 61 aerospace & aeronautical engineering degrees were awarded at University Of Southern California in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, aerospace & aeronautical engineering degree recipients from University Of Southern California generally make around $78,980. Typical student debt for the program is $21,140.
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Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in aerospace & aeronautical engineering, ranking #4. Located in the city of Atlanta, Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus awarded about 248 aerospace & aeronautical engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the aerospace & aeronautical engineering program make about $79,300 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,750.
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Massachusetts Institute Of Technology came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best aerospace & aeronautical engineering schools. Massachusetts Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cambridge. Massachusetts Institute Of Technology graduates 96% of students within six years. Massachusetts Institute Of Technology awarded about 55 aerospace & aeronautical engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the aerospace & aeronautical engineering program make about $113,129 in their early career. Massachusetts Institute Of Technology graduates carry a median of $17,724 in student loans.
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University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign placed #6 among the best aerospace & aeronautical engineering schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Champaign. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates 85% of students within six years. There were roughly 141 aerospace & aeronautical engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent data year. Graduates of the aerospace & aeronautical engineering program make about $75,859 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,951.
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University Of Washington Seattle Campus landed the #7 spot for aerospace & aeronautical engineering this year. University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Seattle. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. There were roughly 64 aerospace & aeronautical engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of Washington Seattle Campus in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, aerospace & aeronautical engineering degree recipients from University Of Washington Seattle Campus generally make around $76,881. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete this degree.
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Purdue University Main Campus ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best aerospace & aeronautical engineering schools. This very large public university is located in the city of West Lafayette. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. About 323 aerospace & aeronautical engineering degrees were awarded at Purdue University Main Campus in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, aerospace & aeronautical engineering degree recipients from Purdue University Main Campus generally make around $71,989. Purdue University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans.
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The University Of Texas At Austin landed the #9 spot for aerospace & aeronautical engineering this year. The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public school located in the city of Austin. The University Of Texas At Austin graduates 89% of students within six years. There were roughly 107 aerospace & aeronautical engineering students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Texas At Austin in the most recent data year. Graduates of the aerospace & aeronautical engineering program make about $81,022 in their early career. The University Of Texas At Austin graduates carry a median of $22,542 in student loans.
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University Of Maryland College Park ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best aerospace & aeronautical engineering schools. Located in the suburb of College Park, University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. University Of Maryland College Park awarded about 130 aerospace & aeronautical engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their aerospace & aeronautical engineering degree from University Of Maryland College Park earn around $78,631 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,500 to complete this degree.
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California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earned the #11 position for aerospace & aeronautical engineering this year. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a very large public school located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo awarded about 95 aerospace & aeronautical engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their aerospace & aeronautical engineering degree from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earn around $85,509 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,500 to complete this degree.
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University Of Colorado Boulder earned the #12 position for aerospace & aeronautical engineering this year. Located in the city of Boulder, University Of Colorado Boulder is a very large public university. About 74% of students finish within six years. About 206 aerospace & aeronautical engineering degrees were awarded at University Of Colorado Boulder in the most recent year. Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering graduates of University Of Colorado Boulder earn a median of $81,835 early in their careers. University Of Colorado Boulder graduates carry a median of $25,039 in student loans.
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University Of California Los Angeles earned the #13 position for aerospace & aeronautical engineering this year. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public university. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 61 aerospace & aeronautical engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Los Angeles in the most recent data year. Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering graduates of University Of California Los Angeles earn a median of $71,068 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $19,000.
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University Of Florida earned the #14 position for aerospace & aeronautical engineering this year. University Of Florida is a very large public school located in the city of Gainesville. University Of Florida graduates 91% of students within six years. University Of Florida awarded about 143 aerospace & aeronautical engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering graduates of University Of Florida earn a median of $70,760 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $19,573.
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University Of California San Diego placed #15 among the best aerospace & aeronautical engineering schools. 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 88 aerospace & aeronautical engineering degrees were awarded at University Of California San Diego in the most recent year. Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering graduates of University Of California San Diego earn a median of $65,401 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,305 to complete this degree.
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Texas A And M University College Station landed the #16 spot for aerospace & aeronautical engineering this year. Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public school located in the city of College Station. Texas A And M University College Station graduates 84% of students within six years. Texas A And M University College Station awarded about 207 aerospace & aeronautical engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their aerospace & aeronautical engineering degree from Texas A And M University College Station earn around $74,524 in the first couple years of their career. Texas A And M University College Station graduates carry a median of $22,208 in student loans.
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Stanford University came in at #17 for aerospace & aeronautical engineering this year. Located in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 92%. There were roughly 13 aerospace & aeronautical engineering students who graduated with this degree at Stanford University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their aerospace & aeronautical engineering degree from Stanford University earn around $111,760 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $10,492 to complete this degree.
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San Jose State University came in at #18 for aerospace & aeronautical engineering this year. Set in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public institution. About 69% of students finish within six years. San Jose State University awarded about 55 aerospace & aeronautical engineering degrees in the most recent data year.
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Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University placed #19 among the best aerospace & aeronautical engineering schools. Set in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public institution. About 86% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 202 aerospace & aeronautical engineering students who graduated with this degree at Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University in the most recent data year. Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering graduates of Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University earn a median of $76,856 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000.
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Auburn University placed #20 among the best aerospace & aeronautical engineering schools. Located in the city of Auburn, Auburn University is a very large public university. About 82% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 94 aerospace & aeronautical engineering students who graduated with this degree at Auburn University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the aerospace & aeronautical engineering program make about $68,607 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,458.
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University Of California Irvine came in at #21 for aerospace & aeronautical engineering this year. Located in the city of Irvine, University Of California Irvine is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 87%. University Of California Irvine awarded about 61 aerospace & aeronautical engineering degrees in the most recent data 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.
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North Carolina State University At Raleigh earned the #22 position for aerospace & aeronautical engineering this year. Set in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public institution. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 101 aerospace & aeronautical engineering degrees were awarded at North Carolina State University At Raleigh in the most recent year. Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering graduates of North Carolina State University At Raleigh earn a median of $70,820 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,574 to complete this degree.
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San Diego State University ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best aerospace & aeronautical engineering schools. Set in the city of San Diego, San Diego State University is a very large public institution. San Diego State University graduates 76% of students within six years. About 104 aerospace & aeronautical engineering degrees were awarded at San Diego State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the aerospace & aeronautical engineering program make about $74,375 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,000 to complete this degree.
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University Of California Davis came in at #24 for aerospace & aeronautical engineering this year. University Of California Davis is a very large public school located in the suburb of Davis. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 53 aerospace & aeronautical engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Davis in the most recent data year. Students who receive their aerospace & aeronautical engineering degree from University Of California Davis earn around $71,633 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $19,058 to complete this degree.
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California State Polytechnic University Pomona landed the #25 spot for aerospace & aeronautical engineering this year. California State Polytechnic University Pomona is a very large public school located in the suburb of Pomona. About 68% of students finish within six years. California State Polytechnic University Pomona awarded about 118 aerospace & aeronautical engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the aerospace & aeronautical engineering program make about $78,320 in their early career. California State Polytechnic University Pomona graduates carry a median of $26,295 in student loans.
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Rest of the Top 50 Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s aerospace & aeronautical engineering ranking:
Other Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering rankings across degree levels:
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 99 schools evaluated.
- 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.
