Best Universities for Aerospace Engineering in North America

Updated: March 15, 2026

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in North America ranked based on their research performance in Aerospace Engineering. A graph of 55M citations received by 1.51M academic papers made by 864 universities in North America was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

1. Stanford University

United States | California

For Aerospace Engineering

#1 in the United States

#1 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $25,078

2. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

United States | Massachusetts

For Aerospace Engineering

#2 in the United States

#2 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1550
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $20,996

3. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

United States | Michigan

For Aerospace Engineering

#3 in the United States

#3 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Average SAT: 1445
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 69%

4. Harvard University

United States | Massachusetts

For Aerospace Engineering

#4 in the United States

#4 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $17,525

5. University of California - Berkeley

United States | California

For Aerospace Engineering

#5 in the United States

#5 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Receiving Aid: 63%
Average Aid: $29,608
Enrollment: 45,882

6. California Institute of Technology

United States | California

For Aerospace Engineering

#6 in the United States

#6 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Net Price: $14,513
Receiving Aid: 70%
Average Aid: $72,373

7. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

United States | Illinois

For Aerospace Engineering

#7 in the United States

#10 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 64%

8. Georgia Institute of Technology

United States | Georgia

For Aerospace Engineering

#8 in the United States

#12 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Average SAT: 1455
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 73%

9. Pennsylvania State University

United States | Pennsylvania

For Aerospace Engineering

#9 in the United States

#13 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 67%

10. University of California - Los Angeles

United States | California

For Aerospace Engineering

#10 in the United States

#14 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Receiving Aid: 59%
Average Aid: $25,627
Enrollment: 47,335

11. University of Maryland - College Park

United States | Maryland

For Aerospace Engineering

#11 in the United States

#15 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1465
Average ACT: 34
Receiving Aid: 67%

12. University of Washington - Seattle

United States | Washington

For Aerospace Engineering

#12 in the United States

#16 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Receiving Aid: 56%
Average Aid: $16,156
Enrollment: 56,997

13. Princeton University

United States | New Jersey

For Aerospace Engineering

#13 in the United States

#17 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $15,313

14. Cornell University

United States | New York State

For Aerospace Engineering

#14 in the United States

#20 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,361

15. Purdue University

United States | Indiana

For Aerospace Engineering

#15 in the United States

#21 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 59%

16. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

United States | Minnesota

For Aerospace Engineering

#16 in the United States

#23 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 81%

17. University of Toronto

Canada | Ontario

For Aerospace Engineering

#1 in Canada

#25 in the World

Enrollment: 102,431
Founded: 1827

18. University of Texas at Austin

United States | Texas

For Aerospace Engineering

#17 in the United States

#26 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Average SAT: 1380
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 65%

19. Johns Hopkins University

United States | Maryland

For Aerospace Engineering

#18 in the United States

#27 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,017

20. University of Wisconsin - Madison

United States | Wisconsin

For Aerospace Engineering

#19 in the United States

#28 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1450
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 60%

21. Ohio State University

United States | Ohio

For Aerospace Engineering

#20 in the United States

#30 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 80%

22. University of British Columbia

Canada | British Columbia

For Aerospace Engineering

#2 in Canada

#32 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Enrollment: 71,201
Founded: 1908

23. University of California-San Diego

United States | California

For Aerospace Engineering

#21 in the United States

#33 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Receiving Aid: 66%
Average Aid: $25,757
Enrollment: 44,256

24. Texas A&M University - College Station

United States | Texas

For Aerospace Engineering

#22 in the United States

#36 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 74%

25. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

United States | Virginia

For Aerospace Engineering

#23 in the United States

#39 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1365
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 67%

26. University of Florida

United States | Florida

For Aerospace Engineering

#24 in the United States

#40 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 94%

27. Columbia University

United States | New York State

For Aerospace Engineering

#25 in the United States

#41 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $22,520

28. University of Colorado Boulder

United States | Colorado

For Aerospace Engineering

#26 in the United States

#42 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1335
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 67%

29. University of Arizona

United States | Arizona

For Aerospace Engineering

#27 in the United States

#47 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 96%

30. Carnegie Mellon University

United States | Pennsylvania

For Aerospace Engineering

#28 in the United States

#55 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $35,552

31. University of Southern California

United States | California

For Aerospace Engineering

#29 in the United States

#56 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $43,412

32. Duke University

United States | North Carolina

For Aerospace Engineering

#30 in the United States

#58 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $21,981

33. University of California - Davis

United States | California

For Aerospace Engineering

#31 in the United States

#60 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Receiving Aid: 65%
Average Aid: $24,591
Enrollment: 40,065

34. University of Pennsylvania

United States | Pennsylvania

For Aerospace Engineering

#32 in the United States

#62 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,570

35. McGill University

Canada | Quebec State

For Aerospace Engineering

#3 in Canada

#66 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Enrollment: 37,888
Founded: 1821

36. University of California - Santa Barbara

United States | California

For Aerospace Engineering

#33 in the United States

#68 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $24,695
Enrollment: 26,133

37. Yale University

United States | Connecticut

For Aerospace Engineering

#34 in the United States

#71 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,408

38. University of Calgary

Canada | Alberta

For Aerospace Engineering

#4 in Canada

#72 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Enrollment: 33,000
Founded: 1966

39. Northwestern University

United States | Illinois

For Aerospace Engineering

#35 in the United States

#74 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,830

40. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

United States | North Carolina

For Aerospace Engineering

#36 in the United States

#77 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1385
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 69%

41. McMaster University

Canada | Ontario

For Aerospace Engineering

#5 in Canada

#85 in the World

Enrollment: 27,965
Founded: 1887

42. Michigan State University

United States | Michigan

For Aerospace Engineering

#37 in the United States

#86 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 92%

43. University of Alberta

Canada | Alberta

For Aerospace Engineering

#6 in Canada

#88 in the World

Enrollment: 31,185
Founded: 1908

44. Boston University

United States | Massachusetts

For Aerospace Engineering

#38 in the United States

#89 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $24,420

45. Iowa State University

United States | Iowa State

For Aerospace Engineering

#39 in the United States

#91 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 89%

46. University of California - Irvine

United States | California

For Aerospace Engineering

#40 in the United States

#92 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $23,110
Enrollment: 37,297

47. University of Virginia

United States | Virginia

For Aerospace Engineering

#41 in the United States

#97 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 34
Receiving Aid: 57%

48. New York University

United States | New York State

For Aerospace Engineering

#42 in the United States

#98 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $30,325

49. University of Chicago

United States | Illinois

For Aerospace Engineering

#43 in the United States

#99 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $28,060

50. University of Waterloo

Canada | Ontario

For Aerospace Engineering

#7 in Canada

#103 in the World

Founded: 1957

51. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

United States | New Jersey

For Aerospace Engineering

#44 in the United States

#107 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 69%

52. University of Pittsburgh

United States | Pennsylvania

For Aerospace Engineering

#45 in the United States

#109 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 74%

53. Arizona State University - Tempe

United States | Arizona

For Aerospace Engineering

#46 in the United States

#110 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $12,172
Enrollment: 79,818

54. University of Iowa

United States | Iowa State

For Aerospace Engineering

#47 in the United States

#111 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 90%

55. Washington State University

United States | Washington

For Aerospace Engineering

#48 in the United States

#117 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Receiving Aid: 89%
Average Aid: $10,886
Enrollment: 25,685

56. Brown University

United States | Rhode Island

For Aerospace Engineering

#49 in the United States

#119 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,256

57. University of Utah

United States | Utah

For Aerospace Engineering

#50 in the United States

#120 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 79%

58. Western University

Canada | Ontario

For Aerospace Engineering

#8 in Canada

#125 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Enrollment: 21,836
Founded: 1878

59. University of California - San Francisco

United States | California

For Aerospace Engineering

#51 in the United States

#129 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 3,007
Male:Female: 36:64
Founded: 1864

60. Colorado State University - Fort Collins

United States | Colorado

For Aerospace Engineering

#52 in the United States

#130 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Receiving Aid: 79%
Average Aid: $10,160
Enrollment: 34,096

61. University of Cincinnati

United States | Ohio

For Aerospace Engineering

#53 in the United States

#131 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1265
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 88%

62. University of Miami

United States | Florida

For Aerospace Engineering

#54 in the United States

#137 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $45,397

63. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

United States | Tennessee

For Aerospace Engineering

#55 in the United States

#144 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 96%

64. Washington University in St Louis

United States | Missouri

For Aerospace Engineering

#56 in the United States

#146 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,408

65. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

United States | North Carolina

For Aerospace Engineering

#57 in the United States

#151 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Average SAT: 1460
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 59%

66. Rice University

United States | Texas

For Aerospace Engineering

#58 in the United States

#154 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,589

67. Tulane University of Louisiana

United States | Louisiana

For Aerospace Engineering

#59 in the United States

#156 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Average SAT: 1460
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $47,427

68. Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science

United States | Minnesota

For Aerospace Engineering

#60 in the United States

#158 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Net Price: $12,328
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $2,018

69. University of Oklahoma - Norman

United States | Oklahoma State

For Aerospace Engineering

#61 in the United States

#162 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 99%

70. University of Illinois at Chicago

United States | Illinois

For Aerospace Engineering

#62 in the United States

#166 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 80%

71. Florida State University

United States | Florida

For Aerospace Engineering

#63 in the United States

#180 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 94%

72. Case Western Reserve University

United States | Ohio

For Aerospace Engineering

#64 in the United States

#182 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Average SAT: 1485
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $44,000

73. University at Buffalo

United States | New York State

For Aerospace Engineering

#65 in the United States

#184 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1295
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 86%

74. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

United States | Massachusetts

For Aerospace Engineering

#66 in the United States

#189 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 89%

75. University of Notre Dame

United States | Indiana

For Aerospace Engineering

#67 in the United States

#195 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1508
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $29,300

76. University of Delaware

United States | Delaware

For Aerospace Engineering

#68 in the United States

#196 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 94%

77. Oregon State University

United States | Oregon

For Aerospace Engineering

#69 in the United States

#199 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 92%

78. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

United States | New York State

For Aerospace Engineering

#70 in the United States

#200 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Average SAT: 1443
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $38,887

79. University of Ottawa

Canada | Ontario

For Aerospace Engineering

#9 in Canada

#201 in the World

Enrollment: 42,027
Founded: 1848

80. University of Central Florida

United States | Florida

For Aerospace Engineering

#71 in the United States

#206 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 92%

81. University of Connecticut

United States | Connecticut

For Aerospace Engineering

#72 in the United States

#207 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 88%

82. Emory University

United States | Georgia

For Aerospace Engineering

#73 in the United States

#209 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1510
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $27,303

83. University of Rochester

United States | New York State

For Aerospace Engineering

#74 in the United States

#212 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $40,462

84. Stony Brook University

United States | New York State

For Aerospace Engineering

#75 in the United States

#217 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 99%

85. University of Houston

United States | Texas

For Aerospace Engineering

#76 in the United States

#219 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1250
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 83%

86. University of Kansas

United States | Kansas State

For Aerospace Engineering

#77 in the United States

#224 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 94%

87. Queen's University

Canada | Ontario

For Aerospace Engineering

#10 in Canada

#229 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Enrollment: 35,612
Founded: 1841

88. University of Kentucky

United States | Kentucky

For Aerospace Engineering

#78 in the United States

#238 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

89. University of Alabama at Birmingham

United States | Alabama

For Aerospace Engineering

#79 in the United States

#242 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 95%

90. University of Missouri - Columbia

United States | Missouri

For Aerospace Engineering

#80 in the United States

#244 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 97%

91. University of California - Riverside

United States | California

For Aerospace Engineering

#81 in the United States

#245 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Receiving Aid: 80%
Average Aid: $24,355
Enrollment: 26,384

92. University of Montreal

Canada | Quebec State

For Aerospace Engineering

#11 in Canada

#251 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Enrollment: 66,972
Founded: 1878

93. Brigham Young University - Provo

United States | Utah

For Aerospace Engineering

#82 in the United States

#254 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1365
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $16,694

94. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

United States | Louisiana

For Aerospace Engineering

#83 in the United States

#258 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 93%

95. Clemson University

United States | South Carolina

For Aerospace Engineering

#84 in the United States

#260 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 86%

96. Vanderbilt University

United States | Tennessee

For Aerospace Engineering

#85 in the United States

#263 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $25,186

97. University of California - Santa Cruz

United States | California

For Aerospace Engineering

#86 in the United States

#264 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Receiving Aid: 64%
Average Aid: $22,774
Enrollment: 19,938

98. Wayne State University

United States | Michigan

For Aerospace Engineering

#87 in the United States

#265 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1165
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 99%

99. University of Nebraska - Lincoln

United States | Nebraska

For Aerospace Engineering

#88 in the United States

#276 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1214
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 96%

100. Concordia University

Canada | Quebec State

For Aerospace Engineering

#12 in Canada

#278 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Founded: 1974

Engineering subfields in North America

Acoustical Engineering918

Agricultural Engineering99

Applied/Engineering Physics276

Architectural Engineering270

Architecture241

Automation and Control engineering267

Automotive Engineering334

Aviation255

Biochemical Engineering201

Biomedical Engineering317

Biotechnology510

Chemical Engineering678

Civil Engineering627

Computer Engineering328

Computer Networking887

Construction Management216

Electrical Engineering923

Electronic Engineering537

Engineering Management395

Environmental Engineering401

Firefighting and Fire Science199

Geotechnical Engineering556

Human-Computer Interaction525

Industrial Engineering185

Landscape Architecture161

Marine Engineering218

Materials Science1207

Mechanical Engineering1111

Metallurgical Engineering921

Mining Engineering176

Nanotechnology652

Nuclear Engineering200

Operations Research383

Optical Engineering1067

Petroleum Engineering258

Polymer science and Plastics engineering200

Product and Industrial Design223

Reliability and Quality Engineering325

Remote Sensing404

Renewable Energy Engineering281

Robotics270

Structural Engineering702

Systems Engineering613

Technical Drawing198

Telecommunications868

Transportation Engineering321