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What is Aeronautical and Aerospace Engineering?

Aeronautical and aerospace engineering is a field of study focused on the design and functionality of spacecraft, aircraft, satellites, and military applications.  Aerospace engineering can include a variety of engineering specialties such as:

  • Avionics
  • Aerodynamics
  • Materials Science
  • Propulsion
  • Manufacturing
  • Fabrication
  • Structural Analysis

Aerospace engineering degree students will garner academic knowledge and hands-on experience to understand many of the following: fluid mechanics, astrodynamics, engineering mechanics, mathematics, electrotechnology, propulsion, control engineering, solid mechanics, aircraft structures, aeroelasticity, aerospace computer software, noise mitigation, flight test, aeroacoustics, computational fluid dynamics, wind tunnels, and hydrodynamics.

The domain study of Aerospace and Aeronautical Engineer can also include the vital facet of component integration and its related subsystems aligned with its useful lifecycle.

Degree Median Salary vs Adjacent Degree Types

Source: BLS, US Census, and IPEDS

2024 Best Aeronautical and Aerospace Engineering Degree

As a freshman at Purdue University, you will complete the first-year engineering program. The sophomore year sets the inspiration of basic engineering, including statics, dynamics, elementary structures, thermodynamics, and a broad introduction to the planning of both aircraft and spacecraft. In the junior year, students study aerodynamics, propulsion, structures, dynamics, and control systems. This is commonly chosen from the disciplines like: Aerodynamics, Aerospace Systems Design and Astrodynamics and Space Applications. Each senior must complete their senior project. which integrates the technical disciplines and leads to the design of an aerospace system. 

Acceptance Rate

59.83

Student to Faculty Ratio

13:1

LeTourneau University is a nonprofit private Christian higher education institution. The Interdenominational affiliation at the university is a crucial part of the history, education and mission that defines the school.  Each year there are around 3,000 students enroll at the university.  The Paul and Betty Abbott Aviation Center is a world-class facility located across the airport some sixty years ago.  The students at LeTourneau University College of Aviation and Aeronautical Science study in state-of-the-art laboratories and fly airplanes that are maintained to the highest standard. The Faculty at LeTourneau University encourage a hands-on  learning experience in conjunction with rigorous coursework in the classroom.   

Acceptance Rate

44.51

Student to Faculty Ratio

11:1

Farmingdale State College is a public college founded in 1912 and is situated in East Farmingdale on 380 acres of beautiful land.  Commonly knowns as SUNY Farmingdale, the school enrolls approximately ten thousand students each year.  The student to faculty ratio is around 19:1 with each class typically having fewer than twenty students by design. The college has many excellent programs to choose from that range from business to engineering. SUNY Farmingdale has a top rated aerospace aeronautical engineering program. Farmingdale’s aerospace aeronautical engineering program is a four-year degree in Aviation. Farmingdale owns a fleet that consists of 17 aircraft that the school owns and operates near the main campus. 

Acceptance Rate

54.89

Student to Faculty Ratio

20:1

Bowling Green State University is a public university that features a large number of degree programs for qualifying students to consider.  Annual enrollment at BGSU is approximately eighteen thousand students.  A mixture of classroom and hands-on learning in BGSU’s Aviation Studies program takes you to new heights as you consider flying or managing aspects within the exciting aviation industry. With three specializations to settle on: Aviation Management and Operations, Aviation Engineering Technology, and Flight Technology and Operations–core classwork in aviation-specific courses complemented by business and humanistic discipline . The aviation education and training facilities are located at the University-owned airport just across from the BGSU campus. Aviation students enjoy highly skilled faculty and instructors who use new technologies to organize you for employment at airports and airlines, engineering and consulting firms, general aviation facilities and aviation-oriented auxiliary businesses.

Acceptance Rate

71.82

Student to Faculty Ratio

17:1

Kent State University is located in Kent, Ohio and is situated on 953 acres.  KSU enrolls approximately twenty-three thousand students per year including undergraduate and graduate students.  The University has many highly regarded academic programs from humanities to computer science.  Kent State offers a top-rated degree in aeronautics. Students will gain the knowledge of aerodynamics, engineering materials and associated processes needed to have a successful career. Students will also study structures, propulsion, flight mechanics, and control. Graduates from KSU will be able to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics.

Acceptance Rate

85.54

Student to Faculty Ratio

20:1

Lawrence Technological University is a nonprofit private college located in Southfield, Michigan.  LTU has a variety of degrees to consider that are situated within four primary schools: art, business, business, and design.  Enrollment at Lawrence Technological University is typically near three thousand students with most of those being undergraduate students.  Each year, students successfully compete in SAE Aero Design competitions and are active on campus in the student branch of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. Aeronautical engineering is one among the fastest-growing engineering fields today. Lawrence Technological University’s programs provide you with a strong academic foundation with a comprehensive curriculum focused on the fundamentals of aeronautical engineering necessary for aircraft design, analysis, and testing.

Acceptance Rate

79.27

Student to Faculty Ratio

11:1

Students who attend the University of Maine come from across the country and from more than seventy-five different countries.  The University of Maine is the birthplace of Phi Kappa Phi which was founded back in 1897.  The student-faculty ratio at University of Maine is fifteen to one and most classes have fewer than 20 students. The University has around twelve thousand students enrolled each year. The University has more than 100 degree programs in which students can pursue.  Our study this year reveals that UM has an outstanding Aerospace Engineering degree program. The program focuses on the research, design and development of a wide range of aerial vehicles. Some of the systems that students will learn about include: airplanes, helicopters, satellites, launch vehicles, projectiles, and airdrop vehicles.

Acceptance Rate

90.24

Student to Faculty Ratio

15:1

Fairmont State University is a comprehensive, student-centered, state-supported institution offering dozens of certificate and degree programs at the associate, bachelor, and master levels via 41-degree programs and over 90 fields of study. FSU, Fairmont State University, offers three program options within their Department of Aviation. Students admitted to the present selective program have the chance to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Aviation Technology with an academic emphasis on business in aviation while simultaneously completing the flight hours and training required to obtain a private, instrument, and commercial rating. 

Acceptance Rate

85.36

Student to Faculty Ratio

16:1

The Aerospace Engineering degree program at Embry-Riddle has held a top ranking in aerospace and aeronautics for several years.  In fact, the school is rated the best in the country for accredited schools offering undergraduate and graduate degree programs for qualifying students.   Students enrolled in the aerospace engineering major will gain hands-on experience in addition to quality classroom time. The program offers students to learn real-world, on-the-job engineering principles practiced by global companies and government agencies.  The academic study and case studies enable students to create a design system to solve problems with growing a robust network prior to graduation.  Students enjoy modern, state-of-the-art resources available at Embry-Riddle. As a result, no other Aerospace Engineering program within the US attracts more applicants each year.

Acceptance Rate

61.98

Student to Faculty Ratio

18:1

Champlain Valley Technical College, or Champlain College, was founded in 1878 and is located in Burlington, Vermont.  Enrollment at CC is around three-thousand students a year and the average class size is around sixteen.  A smaller class size helps to ensure students can meet with faculty as frequently as needed to provide academic assistance.  Fully ninety-one percent of Champlain College of students have employment lined up before graduation. The college has more than ninety subject areas available to study both online and on-campus.  Champlain College has been named Most Innovative School for the fifth year in a row and lands high on our study this year. 

Acceptance Rate

27.88

Tuition

$10,607 / year

Student to Faculty Ratio

2:1

Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology offers several aviation and testing degree programs for students to consider.  Established in 1928, Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology has trained over 100,000 pilots and technicians. The aviation maintenance degree at Spartan helps to train technicians ensure the security of flight. Their program is constructed to help students learn essential technical skills in electronics applicable in both aviation other adjacent industries. Students study FAA regulations and learn the right use of basic tools and equipment, study electronic theory, soldering, and wiring.  In addition, the hands-on training with installation, troubleshooting, and repair of avionics systems ensures a quicker integration into a related vocation.  Graduates from the AET Program at Spartan College are trained in theories and skills used across many various positions and industries.

Acceptance Rate

-

Student to Faculty Ratio

11:1

Southwest Technical College is commonly known at Southwest Tech and is located in Cedar City, Utah.  As a technical college, SWTC helps prepare students with career-focused academic programs from sheet metal fabrication to cosmetology.  The center has around eight hundred students enrolled each year and accept all those who apply to the school. The class sizes at SWTC average fifteen students to one teacher to ensure a small, intimate learning environment.  Over eighty percent of students who enroll at Southwest Tech continue their education at the school.  Southwest Tech is known for their aviation maintenance technology program where students work with aviation tools such as electronic, pneumatic, hydraulic, electrical and manual.

Acceptance Rate

-

Tuition

$3,725 / year

Student to Faculty Ratio

16:1

Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics is a private career college located in West Mifflin, Pennsylvania.  PIA offers a career-oriented education in the aerospace industry for students to study. Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics has been ranked the best trade school offering aerospace degree programs and is rated high on our study this year.  In fact, PIA has produced top-notch aircraft mechanics and avionics technicians ready to enter the workforce in aviation maintenance, electronics, and other related fields since 1929.  PIA’s Aviation Maintenance Technology degree program has helped to train quality aircraft mechanics for decades. This program provides students with the chance to check for the distinguished FAA’s Airframe and Powerplant Certification, the “golden ticket” to a career in aviation maintenance.

Acceptance Rate

-

Student to Faculty Ratio

13:1

Metro Technology Centers is located in Oklahoma City with multiple campus locations around the city.  MTC offers nearly three dozen full-time academic programs and over 500 short-term programs for qualified students.  The school has a strong focus on providing students with a holistic approach to education. MTC has constructed curriculum to help ensure qualified students receive the highest level of career and technical training to be job-ready after graduation.  The aircraft electronics degree at MTC utilizes lectures, open discussion, software, and hands-on learning to help students understand the myriad components of aircraft and methodologies to effectively maintain those aircraft.   

Acceptance Rate

-

Tuition

$6,679 / year

Student to Faculty Ratio

14:1

Southern Arkansas University Tech was founded in 1967 and is located in Camden, Arkansas. In 1975 the SAUT joined with Southern Arkansas University, providing associate level degrees to students in addition to certificates and diplomas. The overarching goal of the university is to provide a quality technical education for a growing workforce. Currently the school maintains a two-year curriculum and provides a spread of educational programs and degree options for career-oriented students.  Southern Arkansas University Tech offers a variety of academic programs that provide career training and workforce development opportunities. The aviation maintenance degree at SAU Tech will take full-time students approximately two years to finish and provide the requisite skills to earn an FAA certification. 

Acceptance Rate

-

Student to Faculty Ratio

13:1

In 1920, Pennsylvania College of Technology was established as a technical school for young students to study industrial courses. Today, PCT is affiliated with Penn State and offers students both in class and online learning opportunities.  Pennsylvania College of Technology offers prospective students access to over one hundred different academic programs across a number of varied academic disciplines.  The overall school enrollment is around five thousand students per year the school including a robust ROTC program.  We have selected the aviation maintenance bachelor’s degree as one of the leading programs in this academic area of study.   Students in the aerospace maintenance program will learn the technical and mechanical skills to repair aircraft, integrated mechanical, and electronic systems.  During matriculation at PCT, students will master the theoretical knowledge and demonstrate the applied skills to successfully complete the requirements for FAA examinations.

Acceptance Rate

-

Student to Faculty Ratio

14:1

Brevard College is a two-year public institution founded in 1960 offering students an experiential approach to learning couched in a liberal arts curriculum. BC offers students a mix of vocational, technical, and academic transfer programs. The school's sizable number of degree-granting academic programs provides qualified students the opportunity to pursue a program that most accurately fit their career goals and academic aspirations.  Career training and vocational programs provide students skill training and education associated with a specialized field, allowing them to enter the workforce as career-ready professionals upon graduation. Such programs take between one and two years to finish and end in a certificate of completion, diploma, or associate degree.  The aerospace technology degree offered via the Cocoa Campus prepares students for employment as aerospace technicians who assemble, service, test, operate, and repair systems associated with space launch vehicles, laboratories, payloads, and ground support equipment.  Graduates can also qualify for several applied-technology jobs like testing, fabrication, assembly, production, repair, and manufacturing.

Acceptance Rate

-

Student to Faculty Ratio

17:1

Wichita State University is a quality, public research school located in Wichita, Kansas.  The school offers students an affordable, convenient place to earn a major, minor, graduate degree, certificate, or badge online or on-campus.  The aerospace engineering degree at WSU offer students an exceptional program to deftly analyze aircraft and spacecraft.  Aerospace engineers will take a series of courses designed to help students learn targeted technical skills in addition to critical thinking and collaboration.  Students will learn to master the high-demand skills of engineering, mechanical assembly, composite fabrication, and avionics.  WSU will provide you with the knowledge and skills to prepare for a meaningful future in the aerospace industry. 

Acceptance Rate

-

Student to Faculty Ratio

14:1

Daytona State College is a public school founded in 1957 and is located in Daytona Beach, Florida.  Annual enrollment at DSC is around fifteen thousand students.  DSC offers qualified students more than 100 certificate, associate degrees, and bachelor's degree programs to pursue.  Administration and faculty understand the role of technology in education and both need to be adaptive and flexible to meet the ever-changing needs of a dynamic marketplace.  The School of Engineering Technology help future aerospace engineers understand the complexities of the technology used in aerospace and avionics.  Students enrolled in this department will be able to adeptly demonstrate knowledge and skills to produce engineering drawings, manipulate industry-focused software, utilize equipment, and various tools used to understand and communicate design solutions.

Acceptance Rate

-

Student to Faculty Ratio

18:1

American Public University System is a private, online college founded in 1991.  APUS design curriculum crafted to support working professionals seeking affordable, convenient distance learning opportunities.  The school is regionally and nationally accredited the Higher Learning Commission. The American Public University features a partner institution, the American Military University, which offers distance learning to military personnel.  APUS offers qualified students around one hundred undergraduate and graduate degree programs in a wide variety of fields from Homeland Security and military intelligence to emergency management and education.  The BS in Space Studies is a leading program to help students prepare for the various challenges and opportunities associated with human exploration in space. 

Acceptance Rate

-

Student to Faculty Ratio

21:1

Idaho State University is a public research school located in Pocatello, Idaho.  The school was founded as the Academy of Idaho in 1901 before later changing its name to ISU.  With over two hundred fifty degree programs, Idaho State University has a bevvy of academic programs for prospective students to consider.  ISU has earned a spot on our study this year for creating a top-rated aircraft maintenance degree program that resides within the College of Technology.  The curriculum provides students with the knowledge and skills necessary to maintain airplanes of all shapes and sizes in addition to gliders, helicopters, and balloons.  In addition to a robust lecture series, students at ISU will receive hands-on learning opportunities to marry classroom knowledge with pragmatic skills.

Acceptance Rate

-

Student to Faculty Ratio

13:1

Mohawk Valley Community College first opened their doors in 1946 as the first community college in the state of New York.  The impetus of the school administration was to establish a place to train and educate veterans returning from World War II.  Fast forward to today to see the school with over six thousand students enrolled per year with an expansive network of academic programs.  MVCC offers students access to nearly one hundred certificate, diploma, and degree programs across a wide variety of academic disciplines.  The airframe and powerplant technology certificate and aircraft maintenance degree at MVCC are leading academic programs for students seeking a future in aerospace.  Those enrolled in the program will learn prudent application of Newton’s Laws to static systems and essential elements of materials science. 

Acceptance Rate

-

Student to Faculty Ratio

18:1

Northwest Florida State College is a public college founded in 1963 located in Niceville, Florida.  Enrollment at NFSC is in excess of five thousand students per year with a variety of academic and athletic programs for their growing student body to pursue.  The aviation degree programs and certificate of completion at Northwest Florida State College offers students access to an exciting industry.  The knowledge and skill required to fly, manage, and maintain aircraft are exceptionally high with median salaries to match.  NFSC offers degree programs such as professional pilot technology and unmanned vehicle systems in addition to the aviation airframe mechanic certificate.  The academic programs can be a starting point for aviation professionals or add-on credentials for those already in the aerospace industry. 

Acceptance Rate

-

Student to Faculty Ratio

27:1

Pasco- Hernando State College is a multi-campus school founded in 1967 with a variety of degree programs for qualified students to pursue.  PHSC combines high-tech, state of the art educational facilities leading-edge academic programs.  The top ranked aviation maintenance degree at Pasco-Hernando State College provides students with quality coursework and ample hands-on learning opportunities.  Students seeking to earn a degree in aviation maintenance are required to hold an FAA approved power plant and airframe mechanics certificate prior to enrollment.  In addition to technical skills, the curriculum helps students understand evolution of flight and safety considerations as technology continues to evolve. 

Acceptance Rate

-

Student to Faculty Ratio

34:1

Tennessee State University was founded in 1912 and is the only state funded HBCU. TSU offers onsite, online, or hybrid classes in over forty different academic disciplines. The various TSU departmental programs help to draw upon the foundational academic principles that can be applied across time and diverse industries.  Within the School of Applied and Industrial Technologies, Tennessee State University offers a leading BS degree in aviation management.  was rated as the Top Aerospace and Aviation Schools by Aviation Week & Space Technology.  Students earning a degree in aviation management can pursue careers in corporate aviation, industrial engineering, airport operations, electronic systems, and much more. 

Acceptance Rate

-

Student to Faculty Ratio

12:1

Aerospace Engineering Schools

Students seeking to study aerospace engineering inside the field of aerospace have a wide variety of options to consider.  Learning a specific trade in aerospace has never been more accessible proving ample opportunities for students to become experts in a defined niche to attain requisite total contact hours and hours classification restrictions.

Examples of spacecraft aerospace engineering degrees and certificates in aerospace include traditional engineering courses as part of a formal aerospace program or engineering degree.  In addition, you may seek adjacent areas of study like ultrasonic technician, industrial radiographer, thermographer, oil analyst, vibration analyst, reliability technician, composite technology, electronics technology, metallurgist, paint technology, sheet metal assembly, airframe maintenance, powerplant technology, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, structural engineering, and aeronautical engineering.

Certificate Programs in Aerospace Technology

A certificate program in aerospace technology will teach students the fundamentals of the aerospace industry.  Certificate programs are typically shorter than degree programs with an emphasis on career development and skill building.

Students completing a certificate program can expect to be equipped for entry-level positions in the field or go on to earn a degree in the field.  Core classes in aerospace technology will vary by college but will generally cover similar essential principles.

Examples of core classes include: quality control concepts, precision instruments, blueprint reading, foundations of aerospace manufacturing, safety, introduction to sealing, hand tools, bonding and grounding, math, statistics, aircraft structures, aerostructure assemblies, power island, tolerances, and introduction to tolerances.

Associate Degrees in Aerospace Engineering

Associate’s degrees in aerospace engineering and aerospace technology are conferred as an Associate of Science (AS) or Associate of Applied Science (AAS).  On-site or online associate degrees are 2-year programs for full-time students.  Associate programs blend liberal arts education with core aerospace curriculum to provide students with a well-rounded education.  General education classes will typically include psychology, creative writing, philosophy, communications, and history.

Curriculum found in the core program will generally include science and technical information to prepare students for work in aerospace.  Core programs will include variations of the following: algebra, statistics, physics, aerospace manufacturing, lean operations, quality control, tooling, assemblies, plumbing, electricity, airframe basics, powerplant basics, fiber optics, tolerancing, HVAC, geometric dimensioning, technical writing, composite basics, and power island.

Bachelor Degrees in Aerospace Engineering

Bachelor’s degrees in aerospace engineering and technology are most frequently conferred as a Bachelor of Science or B.S.  A bachelor’s degree will take students approximately 4-years of full-time matriculation to complete.  Part-time students in the program will take longer as a function of program pace and course load.

Much like the associate’s degree, bachelor degrees meld liberal arts education with core curricula.  Students have the opportunity to develop critical thinking and communication skills requisite for success after graduation.  Developing an integrative set of thinking skills helps with employability and upward growth in the aerospace industry.

School access and tuition undergraduate enrollment will be factors for new enrollees in an accredited university.  In addition, undergraduate enrollment reputation may help shape your decision on the best fit for you.  The enrollment reputation score and reputation score unlock questions you may not have considered prior to submitting an application.

Students interested in pursuing a degree in aerospace will have the opportunity to select a number of different pathways.  The sheer complexity of an aircraft provides a variety of trades to co-exist within the field.   Degree options at the bachelor level can include a general aerospace engineering, spacecraft aerospace engineering, aeronautical technology, civil engineering, industrial technology, architectural engineering, electrical engineering, computer science, computer engineering, mechanical engineering, and manufacturing engineering.

Master Degrees in Aerospace Engineering

A master’s degree in aerospace engineering is a graduate level program conferred as a Master of Science (MS) or Master of Engineering (MEng).  Master degrees will take 2-3 years to complete based on full-time matriculation after all lower level classes are attained.  Graduate degrees will provide students the opportunity to customize curriculum in conjunction with an academic advisor.

Clustering classes with the greatest interest will help ensure engagement in the program and the opportunity to significantly contribute to industry after graduation.  Master degrees in the field can include tracks that emphasize aerospace with an emphasis on power systems, airframes, electricity, mechanical systems, computers, manufacturing, HVAC, design, fabrication, and aeronautics.

Aerospace Engineer Students Courses

In terms of educational requirements, Aerospace and Aeronautical Engineering degree holders will have typically studied the following courses while in college:

Employment & Aerospace Engineering Jobs

For students that earn a college degree in Aerospace and Aeronautical Engineering, there are several fields of specialization that one can pursue.  The options range from aerospace engineer, operations technician, engineering manager, electrical engineering, electrician, industrial engineer, materials engineer, mechanical engineer, and project manager.  Employers may be private entities, public corporations, or government organizations.

Largest Employers of Aerospace Engineers
Aerospace Manufacturers 26,370
Architectural and Engineering Firms 10,930
Federal Government 9,210
Measurement & Instrumentation Firms 6,680
Research & Development Centers 6,180
Top Paying States for Aerospace Engineers
Virginia $130,580
Colorado $129,550
District of Columbia $128,250
Maryland $124,200
California $119,400

Aerospace Engineering Careers

Employment looks bright for aerospace engineers. In fact, engineering studies reveal a job growth on par with the greater United States economy. The niche industry of aerospace engineering will see an additional 4,600 jobs in the near term. Similarly, electrical and mechanical engineers are expected to see an additional 7% and 9% growth. These two job types will contribute nearly 50,000 new jobs in the next ten-year timeframe.

Income for aerospace engineers is currently $113,030 on a median annual basis. This wage translates to $54.34 an hour or nearly three times the national average income. The combination between a stable industry requiring specialized knowledge and above average pay is a formidable combination. Qualifying students will be well positioned to take advantage of these converging employment trends.

Given the broad nature of the Aerospace and Aeronautical Engineering degree, compensation after graduation can vary greatly from career field to career field given prior experience and geographic location. Related fields include industrial mechanics, mechanical engineer, electrical engineer, industrial engineer, and project manager.

Design Aerospace Engineering Student Resources

The Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) and the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) may be a useful organizations to research. With 100 years of history, the AIA has become a powerhouse for aerospace and defense professionals across the country. Likewise, the AIAA offers courses, workshops, and conferences to bring the best and brightest in the industry together to share knowledge about the aerospace industry.

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