100 Best colleges for Aviation in the United States

Updated: March 15, 2026

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in the United States ranked based on their research performance in Aviation. A graph of 294K citations received by 15.9K academic papers made by 118 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 Aviation

#1 in North America

#1 in the World

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

2. Georgia Institute of Technology

Georgia | Atlanta

For Aviation

#2 in North America

#3 in the World

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

3. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Daytona Beach

Florida | Daytona Beach

For Aviation

#3 in North America

#7 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 27
Net Price: $42,976

4. Purdue University

Indiana | West Lafayette

For Aviation

#4 in North America

#8 in the World

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

5. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Illinois | Champaign

For Aviation

#5 in North America

#11 in the World

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

6. University of California - Berkeley

California | Berkeley

For Aviation

#6 in North America

#12 in the World

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

7. University of Texas at Austin

Texas | Austin

For Aviation

#7 in North America

#16 in the World

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

8. San Jose State University

California | San Jose

For Aviation

#8 in North America

#17 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Receiving Aid: 69%
Average Aid: $12,353
Enrollment: 37,661

9. Stanford University

California | Stanford

For Aviation

#9 in North America

#18 in the World

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

10. Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Aviation

#10 in North America

#19 in the World

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

11. University of Central Florida

Florida | Orlando

For Aviation

#11 in North America

#23 in the World

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

12. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Michigan | Ann Arbor

For Aviation

#12 in North America

#24 in the World

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

13. George Mason University

Virginia | Fairfax

For Aviation

#13 in North America

#25 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 79%

14. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Virginia | Blacksburg

For Aviation

#14 in North America

#28 in the World

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

15. University of Maryland - College Park

Maryland | College Park

For Aviation

#15 in North America

#29 in the World

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

16. University of Washington - Seattle

Washington | Seattle

For Aviation

#16 in North America

#34 in the World

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

17. Harvard University

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Aviation

#18 in North America

#37 in the World

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

18. Arizona State University - Tempe

Arizona | Tempe

For Aviation

#20 in North America

#39 in the World

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

19. Texas A&M University - College Station

Texas | College Station

For Aviation

#21 in North America

#46 in the World

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

20. University of California - Santa Cruz

California | Santa Cruz

For Aviation

#22 in North America

#52 in the World

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

21. University of Southern California

California | Los Angeles

For Aviation

#23 in North America

#53 in the World

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

22. Johns Hopkins University

Maryland | Baltimore

For Aviation

#24 in North America

#55 in the World

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

23. University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Aviation

#25 in North America

#56 in the World

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

24. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania | University Park

For Aviation

#26 in North America

#64 in the World

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

25. Yale University

Connecticut | New Haven

For Aviation

#27 in North America

#70 in the World

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

26. Carnegie Mellon University

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Aviation

#28 in North America

#73 in the World

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

27. Iowa State University

Iowa State | Ames

For Aviation

#29 in North America

#74 in the World

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

28. University of South Florida

Florida | Tampa

For Aviation

#30 in North America

#77 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 89%

29. University of California-San Diego

California | San Diego

For Aviation

#31 in North America

#86 in the World

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

30. University of Oklahoma - Norman

Oklahoma State | Norman

For Aviation

#32 in North America

#91 in the World

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

31. University of North Dakota

North Dakota | Grand Forks

For Aviation

#33 in North America

#94 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Receiving Aid: 95%
Average Aid: $6,663
Enrollment: 15,019

32. Air Force Institute of Technology - Graduate School of Engineering & Management

Ohio | Wright-Patterson AFB

For Aviation

#34 in North America

#96 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Enrollment: 1,070
Male:Female: 81:19
Founded: 1919

33. United States Air Force Academy - Colorado Springs

Colorado | Colorado Springs

For Aviation

#35 in North America

#97 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Average SAT: 1335
Average ACT: 30
Enrollment: 4,114

34. University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Aviation

#36 in North America

#100 in the World

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

35. Brigham Young University - Provo

Utah | Provo

For Aviation

#37 in North America

#101 in the World

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

36. University of California - Davis

California | Davis

For Aviation

#38 in North America

#103 in the World

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

37. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Jersey | New Brunswick

For Aviation

#39 in North America

#104 in the World

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

38. University of California - Irvine

California | Irvine

For Aviation

#41 in North America

#107 in the World

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

39. University of Virginia

Virginia | Charlottesville

For Aviation

#43 in North America

#115 in the World

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

40. University of Utah

Utah | Salt Lake

For Aviation

#44 in North America

#116 in the World

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

41. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Aviation

#45 in North America

#119 in the World

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

42. Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology

New York State | New York City

For Aviation

#46 in North America

#120 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Net Price: $40,301
Receiving Aid: 88%
Average Aid: $7,604

43. University of Kansas

Kansas State | Lawrence

For Aviation

#47 in North America

#121 in the World

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

44. George Washington University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Aviation

#48 in North America

#125 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $46,485

45. Vanderbilt University

Tennessee | Nashville

For Aviation

#49 in North America

#126 in the World

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

46. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

North Carolina | Chapel Hill

For Aviation

#50 in North America

#130 in the World

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

47. University of California - Los Angeles

California | Los Angeles

For Aviation

#51 in North America

#131 in the World

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

48. University of Colorado Boulder

Colorado | Boulder

For Aviation

#52 in North America

#132 in the World

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

49. California Institute of Technology

California | Pasadena

For Aviation

#53 in North America

#133 in the World

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

50. Cornell University

New York State | Ithaca

For Aviation

#54 in North America

#136 in the World

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

51. Northwestern University

Illinois | Evanston

For Aviation

#55 in North America

#137 in the World

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

52. Naval Postgraduate School

California | Monterey

For Aviation

#56 in North America

#138 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 23%
Enrollment: 2,441
Male:Female: 79:21
Founded: 1909

53. Texas Tech University

Texas | Lubbock

For Aviation

#57 in North America

#139 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 90%

54. California State University - Long Beach

California | Long Beach

For Aviation

#58 in North America

#141 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Receiving Aid: 82%
Average Aid: $11,795
Enrollment: 42,003

55. Auburn University

Alabama | Auburn

For Aviation

#59 in North America

#142 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 85%

56. Wichita State University

Kansas State | Wichita

For Aviation

#60 in North America

#145 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 94%
Average SAT: 1073
Average ACT: 21
Receiving Aid: 92%

57. University of Miami

Florida | Coral Gables

For Aviation

#61 in North America

#147 in the World

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

58. University of Denver

Colorado | Denver

For Aviation

#62 in North America

#150 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 31
Net Price: $45,451

59. Stony Brook University

New York State | Stony Brook

For Aviation

#63 in North America

#151 in the World

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

60. University at Buffalo

New York State | Buffalo

For Aviation

#64 in North America

#153 in the World

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

61. University of Dayton

Ohio | Dayton

For Aviation

#65 in North America

#157 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 28
Net Price: $32,794

62. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

North Carolina | Raleigh

For Aviation

#66 in North America

#167 in the World

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

63. Old Dominion University

Virginia | Norfolk

For Aviation

#67 in North America

#170 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Average SAT: 1190
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 94%

64. Florida Institute of Technology

Florida | Melbourne

For Aviation

#68 in North America

#172 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1220
Average ACT: 26
Net Price: $37,361

65. University of Nebraska at Omaha

Nebraska | Omaha

For Aviation

#70 in North America

#182 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 94%
Average Aid: $7,883

66. University of Connecticut

Connecticut | Storrs

For Aviation

#71 in North America

#184 in the World

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

67. University of South Carolina - Columbia

South Carolina | Columbia

For Aviation

#72 in North America

#186 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 94%

68. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Wisconsin | Madison

For Aviation

#73 in North America

#187 in the World

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

69. University of Hawaii at Manoa

Hawaii | Honolulu

For Aviation

#75 in North America

#189 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1187
Average ACT: 21
Receiving Aid: 76%

70. San Diego State University

California | San Diego

For Aviation

#76 in North America

#192 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 36%
Receiving Aid: 62%
Average Aid: $12,053
Enrollment: 41,137

71. Oregon State University

Oregon | Corvallis

For Aviation

#77 in North America

#194 in the World

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

72. University of Cincinnati

Ohio | Cincinnati

For Aviation

#78 in North America

#196 in the World

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

73. Washington State University

Washington | Pullman

For Aviation

#80 in North America

#203 in the World

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

74. Mississippi State University

Mississippi | Starkville

For Aviation

#82 in North America

#207 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

75. Duke University

North Carolina | Durham

For Aviation

#84 in North America

#211 in the World

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

76. University of Texas at Arlington

Texas | Arlington

For Aviation

#85 in North America

#212 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1125
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 92%

77. New York University

New York State | New York City

For Aviation

#88 in North America

#218 in the World

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

78. Clemson University

South Carolina | Clemson

For Aviation

#89 in North America

#219 in the World

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

79. Drexel University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Aviation

#90 in North America

#225 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $42,801

80. Colorado State University - Fort Collins

Colorado | Fort Collins

For Aviation

#91 in North America

#226 in the World

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

81. Southern Illinois University - Carbondale

Illinois | Carbondale

For Aviation

#92 in North America

#231 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1030
Average ACT: 22
Receiving Aid: 98%

82. Seattle University

Washington | Seattle

For Aviation

#93 in North America

#232 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1315
Average ACT: 27
Net Price: $36,948

83. University of Illinois at Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Aviation

#94 in North America

#242 in the World

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

84. Missouri University of Science and Technology

Missouri | Rolla

For Aviation

#95 in North America

#243 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1305
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 99%

85. Princeton University

New Jersey | Princeton

For Aviation

#96 in North America

#251 in the World

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

86. Northern Illinois University

Illinois | DeKalb

For Aviation

#97 in North America

#252 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Receiving Aid: 99%
Average Aid: $14,387
Enrollment: 15,414

87. Georgetown University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Aviation

#98 in North America

#254 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $39,083

88. Northeastern University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Aviation

#99 in North America

#256 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1490
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $34,207

89. University of Missouri - Columbia

Missouri | Columbia

For Aviation

#101 in North America

#264 in the World

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

90. Washington University in St Louis

Missouri | St. Louis

For Aviation

#102 in North America

#267 in the World

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

91. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

Tennessee | Knoxville

For Aviation

#103 in North America

#268 in the World

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

92. University of Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Aviation

#104 in North America

#269 in the World

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

93. Western Michigan University

Michigan | Kalamazoo

For Aviation

#105 in North America

#280 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Receiving Aid: 96%
Average Aid: $11,048
Enrollment: 16,744

94. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Massachusetts | Amherst

For Aviation

#107 in North America

#289 in the World

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

95. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

New York State | Troy

For Aviation

#108 in North America

#308 in the World

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

96. University of Hartford

Connecticut | West Hartford

For Aviation

#109 in North America

#309 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 96%
Average SAT: 1215
Average ACT: 27
Net Price: $31,261

97. Emory University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Aviation

#111 in North America

#312 in the World

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

98. New Mexico State University

New Mexico | Las Cruces

For Aviation

#113 in North America

#318 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 990
Average ACT: 21
Receiving Aid: 96%

99. Middle Tennessee State University

Tennessee | Murfreesboro

For Aviation

#115 in North America

#322 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Average SAT: 1120
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 96%

100. University of Iowa

Iowa State | Iowa City

For Aviation

#116 in North America

#332 in the World

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

The best cities to study Aviation in the United States based on the number of universities and their ranks are Cambridge, Atlanta, Daytona Beach, and West Lafayette.