100 Best Aerospace Engineering schools in the United States

Updated: March 02, 2025

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 47.4M citations received by 1.31M academic papers made by 796 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. Stanford University

California | Stanford

For Aerospace Engineering

#1 in North America

#1 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $17,998

2. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Aerospace Engineering

#2 in North America

#2 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $21,519

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: 66%

4. University of California - Berkeley

California | Berkeley

For Aerospace Engineering

#4 in North America

#4 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $25,951
Enrollment: 45,699

5. Harvard University

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Aerospace Engineering

#5 in North America

#5 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $17,900

6. California Institute of Technology

California | Pasadena

For Aerospace Engineering

#6 in North America

#6 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Net Price: $23,397
Receiving Aid: 68%
Average Aid: $60,201

7. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Illinois | Champaign

For Aerospace Engineering

#7 in North America

#10 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Average SAT: 1390
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 61%

8. Georgia Institute of Technology

Georgia | Atlanta

For Aerospace Engineering

#8 in North America

#12 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Average SAT: 1430
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 73%

9. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania | University Park

For Aerospace Engineering

#9 in North America

#13 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Average SAT: 1310
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 66%

10. University of California - Los Angeles

California | Los Angeles

For Aerospace Engineering

#10 in North America

#14 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Receiving Aid: 60%
Average Aid: $22,441
Enrollment: 46,678

11. Princeton University

New Jersey | Princeton

For Aerospace Engineering

#11 in North America

#15 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $19,811

12. University of Maryland - College Park

Maryland | College Park

For Aerospace Engineering

#12 in North America

#16 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1445
Average ACT: 34
Receiving Aid: 65%

13. University of Washington - Seattle

Washington | Seattle

For Aerospace Engineering

#13 in North America

#17 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Receiving Aid: 55%
Average Aid: $14,390
Enrollment: 55,620

14. Cornell University

New York State | Ithaca

For Aerospace Engineering

#14 in North America

#19 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,455

15. Purdue University

Indiana | West Lafayette

For Aerospace Engineering

#15 in North America

#20 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 60%

16. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Aerospace Engineering

#16 in North America

#22 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 81%

17. University of Texas at Austin

Texas | Austin

For Aerospace Engineering

#18 in North America

#25 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Average SAT: 1360
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 69%

18. Johns Hopkins University

Maryland | Baltimore

For Aerospace Engineering

#19 in North America

#27 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1555
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $22,844

19. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Wisconsin | Madison

For Aerospace Engineering

#20 in North America

#28 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Average SAT: 1435
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 60%

20. Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Aerospace Engineering

#21 in North America

#29 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 75%

21. University of California-San Diego

California | San Diego

For Aerospace Engineering

#23 in North America

#32 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Receiving Aid: 70%
Average Aid: $24,176
Enrollment: 42,376

22. Texas A&M University - College Station

Texas | College Station

For Aerospace Engineering

#24 in North America

#36 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 77%

23. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Virginia | Blacksburg

For Aerospace Engineering

#25 in North America

#38 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 69%

24. Columbia University

New York State | New York City

For Aerospace Engineering

#26 in North America

#40 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $20,869

25. University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Aerospace Engineering

#27 in North America

#41 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Average SAT: 1390
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 92%

26. University of Colorado Boulder

Colorado | Boulder

For Aerospace Engineering

#28 in North America

#42 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 66%

27. University of Arizona

Arizona | Tucson

For Aerospace Engineering

#29 in North America

#45 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 98%

28. Carnegie Mellon University

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Aerospace Engineering

#30 in North America

#50 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $32,964

29. University of Southern California

California | Los Angeles

For Aerospace Engineering

#31 in North America

#51 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1495
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $41,496

30. Duke University

North Carolina | Durham

For Aerospace Engineering

#32 in North America

#57 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,422

31. University of California - Davis

California | Davis

For Aerospace Engineering

#33 in North America

#60 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Receiving Aid: 58%
Average Aid: $21,258
Enrollment: 39,707

32. University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Aerospace Engineering

#34 in North America

#61 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,017

33. University of California - Santa Barbara

California | Santa Barbara

For Aerospace Engineering

#36 in North America

#64 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 28%
Receiving Aid: 58%
Average Aid: $21,732
Enrollment: 26,068

34. Yale University

Connecticut | New Haven

For Aerospace Engineering

#37 in North America

#67 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,044

35. Northwestern University

Illinois | Evanston

For Aerospace Engineering

#38 in North America

#70 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1525
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $23,341

36. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

North Carolina | Raleigh

For Aerospace Engineering

#40 in North America

#73 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1380
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 68%

37. Michigan State University

Michigan | East Lansing

For Aerospace Engineering

#41 in North America

#83 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Average SAT: 1250
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 97%

38. Boston University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Aerospace Engineering

#44 in North America

#88 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1460
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $27,551

39. Iowa State University

Iowa State | Ames

For Aerospace Engineering

#45 in North America

#89 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 89%

40. University of California - Irvine

California | Irvine

For Aerospace Engineering

#46 in North America

#93 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 26%
Receiving Aid: 71%
Average Aid: $21,533
Enrollment: 36,582

41. University of Virginia

Virginia | Charlottesville

For Aerospace Engineering

#47 in North America

#94 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 44%

42. University of Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Aerospace Engineering

#48 in North America

#96 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $27,979

43. New York University

New York State | New York City

For Aerospace Engineering

#49 in North America

#97 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1525
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $30,730

44. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Jersey | New Brunswick

For Aerospace Engineering

#51 in North America

#105 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 71%

45. University of Iowa

Iowa State | Iowa City

For Aerospace Engineering

#52 in North America

#108 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 88%

46. University of Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Aerospace Engineering

#53 in North America

#109 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Average SAT: 1360
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 87%

47. Arizona State University - Tempe

Arizona | Tempe

For Aerospace Engineering

#54 in North America

#110 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $11,992
Enrollment: 79,593

48. Washington State University

Washington | Pullman

For Aerospace Engineering

#55 in North America

#117 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Receiving Aid: 91%
Average Aid: $10,370
Enrollment: 26,490

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: $26,608

50. University of Utah

Utah | Salt Lake

For Aerospace Engineering

#57 in North America

#120 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1289
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 79%

51. University of California - San Francisco

California | San Francisco

For Aerospace Engineering

#59 in North America

#126 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 3,126
Male:Female: 35:65
Founded: 1864

52. Colorado State University - Fort Collins

Colorado | Fort Collins

For Aerospace Engineering

#60 in North America

#129 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Receiving Aid: 74%
Average Aid: $10,554
Enrollment: 33,500

53. University of Cincinnati

Ohio | Cincinnati

For Aerospace Engineering

#61 in North America

#130 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1255
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 87%

54. University of Miami

Florida | Coral Gables

For Aerospace Engineering

#62 in North America

#135 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $41,028

55. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

Tennessee | Knoxville

For Aerospace Engineering

#63 in North America

#143 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Average SAT: 1265
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 90%

56. Washington University in St Louis

Missouri | St. Louis

For Aerospace Engineering

#64 in North America

#145 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,440

57. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

North Carolina | Chapel Hill

For Aerospace Engineering

#65 in North America

#148 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1450
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 58%

58. Rice University

Texas | Houston

For Aerospace Engineering

#66 in North America

#150 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $20,587

59. Tulane University of Louisiana

Louisiana | New Orleans

For Aerospace Engineering

#67 in North America

#155 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Average SAT: 1450
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $50,631

60. University of Oklahoma - Norman

Oklahoma State | Norman

For Aerospace Engineering

#68 in North America

#157 in the World

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

61. University of Illinois at Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Aerospace Engineering

#69 in North America

#158 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 80%

62. Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science

Minnesota | Rochester

For Aerospace Engineering

#70 in North America

#162 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Net Price: $11,577
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $1,900

63. Florida State University

Florida | Tallahassee

For Aerospace Engineering

#71 in North America

#173 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Average SAT: 1315
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 95%

64. Case Western Reserve University

Ohio | Cleveland

For Aerospace Engineering

#72 in North America

#178 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Average SAT: 1485
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $41,351

65. University at Buffalo

New York State | Buffalo

For Aerospace Engineering

#73 in North America

#181 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Average SAT: 1295
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 86%

66. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Massachusetts | Amherst

For Aerospace Engineering

#74 in North America

#183 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1390
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 87%

67. University of Notre Dame

Indiana | Notre Dame

For Aerospace Engineering

#75 in North America

#186 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1490
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $29,083

68. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

New York State | Troy

For Aerospace Engineering

#76 in North America

#187 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $35,940

69. University of Delaware

Delaware | Newark

For Aerospace Engineering

#77 in North America

#190 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 92%

70. Oregon State University

Oregon | Corvallis

For Aerospace Engineering

#78 in North America

#195 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Receiving Aid: 92%
Average Aid: $9,922
Enrollment: 35,622

71. University of Connecticut

Connecticut | Storrs

For Aerospace Engineering

#80 in North America

#204 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Average SAT: 1315
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 83%

72. University of Rochester

New York State | Rochester

For Aerospace Engineering

#81 in North America

#206 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 36%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $40,900

73. University of Central Florida

Florida | Orlando

For Aerospace Engineering

#82 in North America

#207 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 91%

74. Stony Brook University

New York State | Stony Brook

For Aerospace Engineering

#83 in North America

#209 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 89%

75. Emory University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Aerospace Engineering

#84 in North America

#212 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1505
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $27,986

76. University of Houston

Texas | Houston

For Aerospace Engineering

#85 in North America

#216 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 83%

77. University of Kansas

Kansas State | Lawrence

For Aerospace Engineering

#86 in North America

#221 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1170
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 93%

78. University of Kentucky

Kentucky | Lexington

For Aerospace Engineering

#88 in North America

#233 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 92%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

79. University of Alabama at Birmingham

Alabama | Birmingham

For Aerospace Engineering

#89 in North America

#236 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1265
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 97%

80. University of Missouri - Columbia

Missouri | Columbia

For Aerospace Engineering

#90 in North America

#237 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 90%

81. University of California - Riverside

California | Riverside

For Aerospace Engineering

#91 in North America

#239 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Receiving Aid: 75%
Average Aid: $21,566
Enrollment: 26,426

82. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Louisiana | Baton Rouge

For Aerospace Engineering

#93 in North America

#251 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 93%

83. Brigham Young University - Provo

Utah | Provo

For Aerospace Engineering

#94 in North America

#252 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $14,643

84. Clemson University

South Carolina | Clemson

For Aerospace Engineering

#95 in North America

#254 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Average SAT: 1310
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 84%

85. Wayne State University

Michigan | Detroit

For Aerospace Engineering

#96 in North America

#261 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Average SAT: 1150
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

86. University of California - Santa Cruz

California | Santa Cruz

For Aerospace Engineering

#97 in North America

#262 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Receiving Aid: 71%
Average Aid: $21,564
Enrollment: 19,764

87. Vanderbilt University

Tennessee | Nashville

For Aerospace Engineering

#98 in North America

#263 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,689

88. Naval Postgraduate School

California | Monterey

For Aerospace Engineering

#99 in North America

#272 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 23%
Enrollment: 2,600
Male:Female: 79:21
Founded: 1909

89. Missouri University of Science and Technology

Missouri | Rolla

For Aerospace Engineering

#100 in North America

#276 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1264
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 98%

90. University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Nebraska | Lincoln

For Aerospace Engineering

#101 in North America

#277 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1210
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

91. Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis

Indiana | Indianapolis

For Aerospace Engineering

#103 in North America

#285 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1135
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 91%

92. Texas Tech University

Texas | Lubbock

For Aerospace Engineering

#105 in North America

#292 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 86%

93. University of South Florida

Florida | Tampa

For Aerospace Engineering

#106 in North America

#293 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 88%

94. Northeastern University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Aerospace Engineering

#107 in North America

#299 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1505
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $34,770

95. University of New Mexico

New Mexico | Albuquerque

For Aerospace Engineering

#108 in North America

#303 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Average SAT: 1030
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 100%

96. West Virginia University

West Virginia | Morgantown

For Aerospace Engineering

#110 in North America

#305 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1125
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 97%

97. George Washington University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Aerospace Engineering

#111 in North America

#307 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $45,466

98. Old Dominion University

Virginia | Norfolk

For Aerospace Engineering

#112 in North America

#313 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Average SAT: 1200
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 94%

99. University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

Texas | Dallas

For Aerospace Engineering

#113 in North America

#314 in the World

Enrollment: 2,501
Male:Female: 44:56
Founded: 1943

100. Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

New York State | New York City

For Aerospace Engineering

#114 in North America

#315 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 1,234
Male:Female: 39:61
Founded: 1963

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