2026 Best Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 12 schools to find the best for aerospace & aeronautical engineering students.
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Best Schools for Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering in the Middle Atlantic Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall aerospace & aeronautical engineering education in the Middle Atlantic Region.
Top Schools in Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering
Our analysis ranked Johns Hopkins University the best school in the country for a degree in aerospace & aeronautical engineering. Located in the city of Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Johns Hopkins University graduates 94% of students within six years. About 129 aerospace & aeronautical engineering degrees were awarded at Johns Hopkins University in the most recent year. Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering graduates of Johns Hopkins University earn a median of $128,330 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $13,426.
More information about a degree in aerospace & aeronautical engineering from Johns Hopkins University
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in aerospace & aeronautical engineering, ranking #2. Located in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public university. About 86% of students finish within six years. About 192 aerospace & aeronautical engineering degrees were awarded at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus in the most recent year.
See the full aerospace & aeronautical engineering program report for Pennsylvania State University Main Campus
A rank of #3 makes University Of Maryland College Park one of the top schools for aerospace & aeronautical engineering. Located in the suburb of College Park, University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public university. About 89% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 163 aerospace & aeronautical engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of Maryland College Park in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, aerospace & aeronautical engineering degree recipients from University Of Maryland College Park generally make around $78,631. Students borrow a median of $22,500 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in aerospace & aeronautical engineering from University Of Maryland College Park
A rank of #4 makes Cornell University one of the top schools for aerospace & aeronautical engineering. Located in the city of Ithaca, Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 95% of students finish within six years. About 32 aerospace & aeronautical engineering degrees were awarded at Cornell University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, aerospace & aeronautical engineering degree recipients from Cornell University generally make around $102,439. Students borrow a median of $15,005 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in aerospace & aeronautical engineering from Cornell University
Students looking for a strong aerospace & aeronautical engineering program will find one at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, which ranked #5. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Troy. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute awarded about 120 aerospace & aeronautical engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering graduates of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute earn a median of $73,213 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000.
Get the full aerospace & aeronautical engineering details for Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Rutgers University New Brunswick earned the #6 position for aerospace & aeronautical engineering this year. Set in the city of New Brunswick, Rutgers University New Brunswick is a very large public institution. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. Rutgers University New Brunswick awarded about 65 aerospace & aeronautical engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, aerospace & aeronautical engineering degree recipients from Rutgers University New Brunswick generally make around $69,320. Rutgers University New Brunswick graduates carry a median of $26,674 in student loans.
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University At Buffalo ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best aerospace & aeronautical engineering schools. University At Buffalo is a very large public school located in the suburb of Buffalo. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. University At Buffalo awarded about 117 aerospace & aeronautical engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the aerospace & aeronautical engineering program make about $69,716 in their early career. University At Buffalo graduates carry a median of $24,846 in student loans.
See the full aerospace & aeronautical engineering program report for University At Buffalo
Syracuse University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best aerospace & aeronautical engineering schools. Set in the city of Syracuse, Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. Syracuse University awarded about 39 aerospace & aeronautical engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering graduates of Syracuse University earn a median of $71,417 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
Get the full aerospace & aeronautical engineering details for Syracuse University
Clarkson University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best aerospace & aeronautical engineering schools. Set in the town of Potsdam, Clarkson University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. Clarkson University awarded about 28 aerospace & aeronautical engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, aerospace & aeronautical engineering degree recipients from Clarkson University generally make around $71,783. Clarkson University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
Read more about the aerospace & aeronautical engineering program at Clarkson University
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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 · 12 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.