100 Best Aerospace Engineering schools in the United States

Updated: February 29, 2024

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in the United States ranked based on their research performance in Aerospace Engineering. A graph of 35.3M citations received by 1.16M academic papers made by 739 universities in the United States 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. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Aerospace Engineering

#1 in North America

#1 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1555
Average ACT: 36
Net Price: $20,232

2. Stanford University

California | Stanford

For Aerospace Engineering

#2 in North America

#2 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $18,279

3. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Michigan | Ann Arbor

For Aerospace Engineering

#3 in North America

#3 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 74%

4. University of California - Berkeley

California | Berkeley

For Aerospace Engineering

#4 in North America

#4 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Receiving Aid: 60%
Average Aid: $21,669
Enrollment: 45,307

5. Harvard University

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Aerospace Engineering

#5 in North America

#5 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $19,491

6. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Illinois | Champaign

For Aerospace Engineering

#6 in North America

#9 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 64%

7. Georgia Institute of Technology

Georgia | Atlanta

For Aerospace Engineering

#7 in North America

#11 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1460
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 73%

8. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania | University Park

For Aerospace Engineering

#8 in North America

#12 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1300
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 68%

9. Princeton University

New Jersey | Princeton

For Aerospace Engineering

#9 in North America

#13 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $18,698

10. University of Maryland - College Park

Maryland | College Park

For Aerospace Engineering

#10 in North America

#14 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 63%

11. University of California - Los Angeles

California | Los Angeles

For Aerospace Engineering

#11 in North America

#15 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Receiving Aid: 57%
Average Aid: $21,766
Enrollment: 46,430

12. Cornell University

New York State | Ithaca

For Aerospace Engineering

#12 in North America

#16 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,060

13. California Institute of Technology

California | Pasadena

For Aerospace Engineering

#13 in North America

#17 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Net Price: $20,755
Receiving Aid: 71%
Average Aid: $59,192

14. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Aerospace Engineering

#14 in North America

#20 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 82%

15. University of Washington - Seattle

Washington | Seattle

For Aerospace Engineering

#15 in North America

#21 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 48%
Receiving Aid: 58%
Average Aid: $14,731
Enrollment: 52,319

16. University of Texas at Austin

Texas | Austin

For Aerospace Engineering

#16 in North America

#22 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Average SAT: 1365
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 89%

17. Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Aerospace Engineering

#18 in North America

#26 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 83%

18. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Wisconsin | Madison

For Aerospace Engineering

#19 in North America

#27 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 58%

19. Johns Hopkins University

Maryland | Baltimore

For Aerospace Engineering

#20 in North America

#28 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $24,034

20. Purdue University

Indiana | West Lafayette

For Aerospace Engineering

#21 in North America

#29 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Average SAT: 1335
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 60%

21. University of California-San Diego

California | San Diego

For Aerospace Engineering

#23 in North America

#32 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $20,782
Enrollment: 42,006

22. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Virginia | Blacksburg

For Aerospace Engineering

#24 in North America

#33 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Average SAT: 1335
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 71%

23. Texas A&M University - College Station

Texas | College Station

For Aerospace Engineering

#25 in North America

#37 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 74%

24. University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Aerospace Engineering

#26 in North America

#39 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 23%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 94%

25. University of Colorado Boulder

Colorado | Boulder

For Aerospace Engineering

#27 in North America

#41 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 68%

26. Columbia University

New York State | New York City

For Aerospace Engineering

#28 in North America

#42 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $22,058

27. University of Arizona

Arizona | Tucson

For Aerospace Engineering

#29 in North America

#46 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1255
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 98%

28. Carnegie Mellon University

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Aerospace Engineering

#30 in North America

#49 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $33,499

29. University of Southern California

California | Los Angeles

For Aerospace Engineering

#31 in North America

#50 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $36,808

30. University of California - Davis

California | Davis

For Aerospace Engineering

#32 in North America

#56 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Receiving Aid: 63%
Average Aid: $20,548
Enrollment: 39,679

31. University of California - Santa Barbara

California | Santa Barbara

For Aerospace Engineering

#33 in North America

#57 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 26%
Receiving Aid: 59%
Average Aid: $20,389
Enrollment: 26,420

32. Duke University

North Carolina | Durham

For Aerospace Engineering

#34 in North America

#59 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,694

33. University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Aerospace Engineering

#35 in North America

#60 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,123

34. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

North Carolina | Raleigh

For Aerospace Engineering

#37 in North America

#69 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 80%

35. Northwestern University

Illinois | Evanston

For Aerospace Engineering

#38 in North America

#70 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,095

36. Yale University

Connecticut | New Haven

For Aerospace Engineering

#39 in North America

#72 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $18,647

37. Iowa State University

Iowa State | Ames

For Aerospace Engineering

#40 in North America

#74 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Average SAT: 1220
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 89%

38. Boston University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Aerospace Engineering

#43 in North America

#85 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $27,829

39. Michigan State University

Michigan | East Lansing

For Aerospace Engineering

#44 in North America

#87 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 94%

40. New York University

New York State | New York City

For Aerospace Engineering

#45 in North America

#88 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $29,499

41. University of Virginia

Virginia | Charlottesville

For Aerospace Engineering

#46 in North America

#90 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 54%

42. University of California - Irvine

California | Irvine

For Aerospace Engineering

#47 in North America

#91 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Receiving Aid: 80%
Average Aid: $17,411
Enrollment: 35,937

43. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Jersey | New Brunswick

For Aerospace Engineering

#50 in North America

#96 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 70%

44. Arizona State University - Tempe

Arizona | Tempe

For Aerospace Engineering

#51 in North America

#104 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $12,381
Enrollment: 80,065

45. Washington State University

Washington | Pullman

For Aerospace Engineering

#52 in North America

#108 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Receiving Aid: 88%
Average Aid: $10,689
Enrollment: 27,539

46. University of Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Aerospace Engineering

#53 in North America

#110 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 87%

47. University of Iowa

Iowa State | Iowa City

For Aerospace Engineering

#54 in North America

#112 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 91%

48. University of Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Aerospace Engineering

#55 in North America

#116 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $36,991

49. Brown University

Rhode Island | Providence

For Aerospace Engineering

#56 in North America

#118 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,723

50. University of Utah

Utah | Salt Lake

For Aerospace Engineering

#57 in North America

#119 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 99%

51. Providence College

Rhode Island | Providence

For Aerospace Engineering

#58 in North America

#121 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $43,970

52. University of Cincinnati

Ohio | Cincinnati

For Aerospace Engineering

#59 in North America

#124 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 84%

53. Colorado State University - Fort Collins

Colorado | Fort Collins

For Aerospace Engineering

#61 in North America

#131 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 84%

54. University of California - San Francisco

California | San Francisco

For Aerospace Engineering

#62 in North America

#132 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 3,140
Male:Female: 35:65
Founded: 1864

55. University of Miami

Florida | Coral Gables

For Aerospace Engineering

#63 in North America

#139 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $36,467

56. Rice University

Texas | Houston

For Aerospace Engineering

#64 in North America

#147 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $19,902

57. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

Tennessee | Knoxville

For Aerospace Engineering

#65 in North America

#150 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1250
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 91%

58. Tulane University of Louisiana

Louisiana | New Orleans

For Aerospace Engineering

#66 in North America

#151 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $50,263

59. Washington University in St Louis

Missouri | St. Louis

For Aerospace Engineering

#67 in North America

#153 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $23,432

60. University of Illinois at Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Aerospace Engineering

#68 in North America

#155 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 81%

61. University of Oklahoma - Norman

Oklahoma State | Norman

For Aerospace Engineering

#69 in North America

#156 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 99%

62. Florida State University

Florida | Tallahassee

For Aerospace Engineering

#70 in North America

#164 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 93%

63. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

New York State | Troy

For Aerospace Engineering

#71 in North America

#166 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $39,127

64. Case Western Reserve University

Ohio | Cleveland

For Aerospace Engineering

#72 in North America

#172 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $38,279

65. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

North Carolina | Chapel Hill

For Aerospace Engineering

#73 in North America

#173 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 59%

66. University of Notre Dame

Indiana | Notre Dame

For Aerospace Engineering

#74 in North America

#179 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $28,474

67. University of Delaware

Delaware | Newark

For Aerospace Engineering

#75 in North America

#181 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 93%

68. University at Buffalo

New York State | Buffalo

For Aerospace Engineering

#76 in North America

#182 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 86%

69. University of Connecticut

Connecticut | Storrs

For Aerospace Engineering

#77 in North America

#187 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 89%

70. Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science

Minnesota | Rochester

For Aerospace Engineering

#78 in North America

#189 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Net Price: $11,830
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $2,182

71. Stony Brook University

New York State | Stony Brook

For Aerospace Engineering

#79 in North America

#192 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1410
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 88%

72. University of Houston

Texas | Houston

For Aerospace Engineering

#80 in North America

#195 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Average SAT: 1245
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 83%

73. Oregon State University

Oregon | Corvallis

For Aerospace Engineering

#81 in North America

#204 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Receiving Aid: 91%
Average Aid: $9,260
Enrollment: 34,292

74. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Massachusetts | Amherst

For Aerospace Engineering

#83 in North America

#207 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 91%

75. University of Rochester

New York State | Rochester

For Aerospace Engineering

#84 in North America

#212 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Average SAT: 1465
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $39,775

76. University of Central Florida

Florida | Orlando

For Aerospace Engineering

#85 in North America

#220 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 96%

77. Emory University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Aerospace Engineering

#87 in North America

#225 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1490
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $26,680

78. University of Kansas

Kansas State | Lawrence

For Aerospace Engineering

#88 in North America

#228 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1215
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 91%

79. University of Kentucky

Kentucky | Lexington

For Aerospace Engineering

#89 in North America

#236 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 96%

80. University of California - Riverside

California | Riverside

For Aerospace Engineering

#90 in North America

#238 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Receiving Aid: 79%
Average Aid: $22,042
Enrollment: 26,809

81. University of Missouri - Columbia

Missouri | Columbia

For Aerospace Engineering

#91 in North America

#243 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 91%

82. University of Alabama at Birmingham

Alabama | Birmingham

For Aerospace Engineering

#92 in North America

#244 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1305
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 96%

83. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Louisiana | Baton Rouge

For Aerospace Engineering

#93 in North America

#251 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 98%

84. Naval Postgraduate School

California | Monterey

For Aerospace Engineering

#94 in North America

#252 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 23%
Enrollment: 2,670
Male:Female: 78:22
Founded: 1909

85. Brigham Young University - Provo

Utah | Provo

For Aerospace Engineering

#95 in North America

#253 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 67%
Average SAT: 1374
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $13,521

86. Clemson University

South Carolina | Clemson

For Aerospace Engineering

#96 in North America

#255 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Average SAT: 1315
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 85%

87. Missouri University of Science and Technology

Missouri | Rolla

For Aerospace Engineering

#97 in North America

#256 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1272
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 98%

88. Northeastern University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Aerospace Engineering

#99 in North America

#258 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1495
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $35,827

89. University of California - Santa Cruz

California | Santa Cruz

For Aerospace Engineering

#100 in North America

#260 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Receiving Aid: 74%
Average Aid: $21,202
Enrollment: 19,478

90. Wayne State University

Michigan | Detroit

For Aerospace Engineering

#101 in North America

#262 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1150
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 98%

91. Vanderbilt University

Tennessee | Nashville

For Aerospace Engineering

#102 in North America

#273 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $25,606

92. Texas Tech University

Texas | Lubbock

For Aerospace Engineering

#103 in North America

#275 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 67%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 88%

93. University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Nebraska | Lincoln

For Aerospace Engineering

#104 in North America

#276 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 95%

94. University of New Mexico

New Mexico | Albuquerque

For Aerospace Engineering

#106 in North America

#283 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 96%
Average ACT: 22
Receiving Aid: 97%
Average Aid: $9,280

95. Old Dominion University

Virginia | Norfolk

For Aerospace Engineering

#107 in North America

#289 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Average SAT: 1170
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 92%

96. Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis

Indiana | Indianapolis

For Aerospace Engineering

#108 in North America

#295 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Average SAT: 1150
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 91%

97. George Washington University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Aerospace Engineering

#110 in North America

#302 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1410
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $42,723

98. University of South Florida

Florida | Tampa

For Aerospace Engineering

#112 in North America

#308 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 90%

99. University of Alabama in Huntsville

Alabama | Huntsville

For Aerospace Engineering

#113 in North America

#310 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1328
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 96%

100. Auburn University

Alabama | Auburn

For Aerospace Engineering

#114 in North America

#311 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Average SAT: 1300
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 79%

The best cities to study Aerospace Engineering in the United States based on the number of universities and their ranks are Cambridge, Stanford, Ann Arbor, and Berkeley.