2027 Best Value Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region

[Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering](/majors/engineering/aerospace-and-aeronautical-engineering/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 9 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value aerospace & aeronautical engineering schools.
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2027 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
Johns Hopkins University earned the #1 spot for value among aerospace & aeronautical engineering schools in the Middle Atlantic Region. Located in the city of Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $64,730. Students borrow a median of $13,426 to complete the aerospace & aeronautical engineering program here. Early-career aerospace & aeronautical engineering graduates make about $128,330. Set against $13,426 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 6%.
University Of Maryland College Park is a great value for students pursuing a degree in aerospace & aeronautical engineering, landing the #2 spot this year. University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public school located in the suburb of College Park. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,809, with out-of-state students paying around $41,186. Students borrow a median of $22,500 to complete the aerospace & aeronautical engineering program here. Soon after graduation, aerospace & aeronautical engineering degree recipients from University Of Maryland College Park generally make around $78,631. Set against $22,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 45% of applicants are accepted.
University At Buffalo came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value aerospace & aeronautical engineering schools. Set in the suburb of Buffalo, University At Buffalo is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,936, compared with $31,536 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,846 to complete the aerospace & aeronautical engineering program here. Early-career aerospace & aeronautical engineering graduates make about $69,716. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University At Buffalo admits about 74% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in aerospace & aeronautical engineering will find it at Rutgers University New Brunswick, which ranked #4. Set in the city of New Brunswick, Rutgers University New Brunswick is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $17,929, compared with $37,441 for out-of-state students. 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. That is a strong return on a $26,674 median debt. Rutgers University New Brunswick admits about 58% of applicants.
Cornell University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in aerospace & aeronautical engineering, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Ithaca, Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $69,314. Typical student debt for aerospace & aeronautical engineering graduates is $15,005. Soon after graduation, aerospace & aeronautical engineering degree recipients from Cornell University generally make around $102,439. That is a strong return on a $15,005 median debt. The acceptance rate is 9%.
Clarkson University landed the #6 spot for aerospace & aeronautical engineering value this year. Set in the town of Potsdam, Clarkson University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $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. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus earned the #7 position for value in aerospace & aeronautical engineering this year. 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, while out-of-state students pay about $41,790. Typical student debt for aerospace & aeronautical engineering graduates is $26,969. Soon after graduation, aerospace & aeronautical engineering degree recipients from Pennsylvania State University Main Campus generally make around $73,100. Set against $26,969 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 61%.
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute earned the #8 position for value in aerospace & aeronautical engineering this year. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Troy. In-state tuition and fees average $64,078. Typical student debt for aerospace & aeronautical engineering graduates is $25,000. Soon after graduation, aerospace & aeronautical engineering degree recipients from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute generally make around $73,213. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute admits about 64% of applicants.
Syracuse University earned the #9 position for value in aerospace & aeronautical engineering this year. Set in the city of Syracuse, Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $65,528. Typical student debt for aerospace & aeronautical engineering graduates is $27,000. Early-career aerospace & aeronautical engineering graduates make about $71,417. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 46%.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 9 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.