100 Best colleges for Aviation 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 Aviation. A graph of 276K citations received by 15.6K academic papers made by 111 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: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $21,519

2. Georgia Institute of Technology

Georgia | Atlanta

For Aviation

#2 in North America

#3 in the World

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

3. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Daytona Beach

Florida | Daytona Beach

For Aviation

#3 in North America

#6 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Average SAT: 1245
Average ACT: 27
Net Price: $41,550

4. Purdue University

Indiana | West Lafayette

For Aviation

#4 in North America

#8 in the World

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

5. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Illinois | Champaign

For Aviation

#5 in North America

#11 in the World

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

6. University of California - Berkeley

California | Berkeley

For Aviation

#6 in North America

#12 in the World

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

7. University of Texas at Austin

Texas | Austin

For Aviation

#7 in North America

#14 in the World

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

8. San Jose State University

California | San Jose

For Aviation

#8 in North America

#17 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Receiving Aid: 67%
Average Aid: $11,311
Enrollment: 36,062

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: $17,998

10. Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Aviation

#10 in North America

#19 in the World

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

11. University of Central Florida

Florida | Orlando

For Aviation

#11 in North America

#21 in the World

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

12. George Mason University

Virginia | Fairfax

For Aviation

#12 in North America

#22 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 80%

13. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Michigan | Ann Arbor

For Aviation

#13 in North America

#24 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 66%

14. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Virginia | Blacksburg

For Aviation

#14 in North America

#26 in the World

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

15. University of Maryland - College Park

Maryland | College Park

For Aviation

#15 in North America

#27 in the World

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

16. University of Washington - Seattle

Washington | Seattle

For Aviation

#16 in North America

#32 in the World

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

17. Harvard University

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Aviation

#18 in North America

#37 in the World

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

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: $11,992
Enrollment: 79,593

19. Texas A&M University - College Station

Texas | College Station

For Aviation

#21 in North America

#46 in the World

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

20. University of California - Santa Cruz

California | Santa Cruz

For Aviation

#22 in North America

#49 in the World

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

21. University of Southern California

California | Los Angeles

For Aviation

#23 in North America

#51 in the World

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

22. Johns Hopkins University

Maryland | Baltimore

For Aviation

#24 in North America

#52 in the World

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

23. University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Aviation

#25 in North America

#54 in the World

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

24. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania | University Park

For Aviation

#26 in North America

#65 in the World

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

25. Yale University

Connecticut | New Haven

For Aviation

#27 in North America

#69 in the World

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

26. University of South Florida

Florida | Tampa

For Aviation

#28 in North America

#74 in the World

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

27. Iowa State University

Iowa State | Ames

For Aviation

#29 in North America

#75 in the World

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

28. Carnegie Mellon University

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Aviation

#30 in North America

#78 in the World

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

29. University of California-San Diego

California | San Diego

For Aviation

#31 in North America

#83 in the World

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

30. University of Oklahoma - Norman

Oklahoma State | Norman

For Aviation

#32 in North America

#89 in the World

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

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

Ohio | Wright-Patterson AFB

For Aviation

#33 in North America

#90 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Enrollment: 1,005
Male:Female: 82:18
Founded: 1919

32. Brigham Young University - Provo

Utah | Provo

For Aviation

#34 in North America

#91 in the World

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

33. University of North Dakota

North Dakota | Grand Forks

For Aviation

#35 in North America

#94 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $5,840
Enrollment: 14,172

34. University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Aviation

#36 in North America

#95 in the World

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

35. United States Air Force Academy - Colorado Springs

Colorado | Colorado Springs

For Aviation

#37 in North America

#98 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Average SAT: 1350
Average ACT: 30
Enrollment: 4,124

36. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Jersey | New Brunswick

For Aviation

#38 in North America

#100 in the World

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

37. University of California - Davis

California | Davis

For Aviation

#39 in North America

#102 in the World

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

38. University of California - Irvine

California | Irvine

For Aviation

#42 in North America

#108 in the World

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

39. University of Virginia

Virginia | Charlottesville

For Aviation

#43 in North America

#109 in the World

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

40. University of Utah

Utah | Salt Lake

For Aviation

#44 in North America

#110 in the World

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

41. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Aviation

#45 in North America

#111 in the World

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

42. University of Kansas

Kansas State | Lawrence

For Aviation

#46 in North America

#115 in the World

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

43. Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology

New York State | New York City

For Aviation

#47 in North America

#116 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Net Price: $37,171
Receiving Aid: 94%
Average Aid: $7,718

44. University of California - Los Angeles

California | Los Angeles

For Aviation

#48 in North America

#118 in the World

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

45. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

North Carolina | Chapel Hill

For Aviation

#49 in North America

#124 in the World

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

46. Vanderbilt University

Tennessee | Nashville

For Aviation

#50 in North America

#127 in the World

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

47. California Institute of Technology

California | Pasadena

For Aviation

#51 in North America

#128 in the World

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

48. University of Colorado Boulder

Colorado | Boulder

For Aviation

#52 in North America

#129 in the World

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

49. George Washington University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Aviation

#53 in North America

#130 in the World

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

50. Cornell University

New York State | Ithaca

For Aviation

#54 in North America

#131 in the World

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

51. Northwestern University

Illinois | Evanston

For Aviation

#55 in North America

#132 in the World

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

52. Naval Postgraduate School

California | Monterey

For Aviation

#56 in North America

#133 in the World

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

53. University of Miami

Florida | Coral Gables

For Aviation

#57 in North America

#136 in the World

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

54. Texas Tech University

Texas | Lubbock

For Aviation

#58 in North America

#137 in the World

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

55. Wichita State University

Kansas State | Wichita

For Aviation

#59 in North America

#138 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Average SAT: 1110
Average ACT: 22
Receiving Aid: 89%

56. University of Denver

Colorado | Denver

For Aviation

#60 in North America

#139 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 31
Net Price: $43,324

57. California State University - Long Beach

California | Long Beach

For Aviation

#61 in North America

#143 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Receiving Aid: 82%
Average Aid: $10,512
Enrollment: 40,278

58. Auburn University

Alabama | Auburn

For Aviation

#62 in North America

#144 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Average SAT: 1310
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 81%

59. University at Buffalo

New York State | Buffalo

For Aviation

#63 in North America

#145 in the World

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

60. Stony Brook University

New York State | Stony Brook

For Aviation

#64 in North America

#146 in the World

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

61. Old Dominion University

Virginia | Norfolk

For Aviation

#65 in North America

#162 in the World

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

62. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

North Carolina | Raleigh

For Aviation

#66 in North America

#165 in the World

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

63. Florida Institute of Technology

Florida | Melbourne

For Aviation

#67 in North America

#166 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 26
Net Price: $36,364

64. University of Dayton

Ohio | Dayton

For Aviation

#68 in North America

#169 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 62%
Average SAT: 1283
Average ACT: 29
Net Price: $31,551

65. University of Connecticut

Connecticut | Storrs

For Aviation

#70 in North America

#178 in the World

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

66. University of Cincinnati

Ohio | Cincinnati

For Aviation

#72 in North America

#183 in the World

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

67. University of Hawaii at Manoa

Hawaii | Honolulu

For Aviation

#73 in North America

#185 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Average SAT: 1130
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 79%

68. University of South Carolina - Columbia

South Carolina | Columbia

For Aviation

#74 in North America

#187 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 95%

69. University of Nebraska at Omaha

Nebraska | Omaha

For Aviation

#75 in North America

#188 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average ACT: 22
Receiving Aid: 94%
Average Aid: $7,339

70. Oregon State University

Oregon | Corvallis

For Aviation

#76 in North America

#189 in the World

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

71. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Wisconsin | Madison

For Aviation

#77 in North America

#191 in the World

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

72. San Diego State University

California | San Diego

For Aviation

#78 in North America

#192 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Receiving Aid: 95%
Average Aid: $5,459
Enrollment: 39,241

73. Mississippi State University

Mississippi | Starkville

For Aviation

#81 in North America

#199 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

74. Duke University

North Carolina | Durham

For Aviation

#82 in North America

#202 in the World

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

75. New York University

New York State | New York City

For Aviation

#83 in North America

#203 in the World

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

76. University of Texas at Arlington

Texas | Arlington

For Aviation

#84 in North America

#204 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1110
Average ACT: 22
Receiving Aid: 91%

77. Clemson University

South Carolina | Clemson

For Aviation

#86 in North America

#210 in the World

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

78. Southern Illinois University - Carbondale

Illinois | Carbondale

For Aviation

#88 in North America

#214 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Average SAT: 1025
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 97%

79. Washington State University

Washington | Pullman

For Aviation

#90 in North America

#223 in the World

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

80. Seattle University

Washington | Seattle

For Aviation

#91 in North America

#224 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 27
Net Price: $37,103

81. Princeton University

New Jersey | Princeton

For Aviation

#92 in North America

#230 in the World

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

82. University of Illinois at Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Aviation

#93 in North America

#231 in the World

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

83. Drexel University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Aviation

#94 in North America

#235 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $42,342

84. Northern Illinois University

Illinois | DeKalb

For Aviation

#95 in North America

#238 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Receiving Aid: 99%
Average Aid: $13,565
Enrollment: 15,504

85. Missouri University of Science and Technology

Missouri | Rolla

For Aviation

#96 in North America

#241 in the World

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

86. Northeastern University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Aviation

#97 in North America

#242 in the World

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

87. Colorado State University - Fort Collins

Colorado | Fort Collins

For Aviation

#99 in North America

#246 in the World

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

88. University of Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Aviation

#100 in North America

#255 in the World

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

89. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Massachusetts | Amherst

For Aviation

#101 in North America

#257 in the World

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

90. Washington University in St Louis

Missouri | St. Louis

For Aviation

#102 in North America

#259 in the World

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

91. Georgetown University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Aviation

#103 in North America

#262 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $37,967

92. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

Tennessee | Knoxville

For Aviation

#104 in North America

#266 in the World

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

93. University of Missouri - Columbia

Missouri | Columbia

For Aviation

#105 in North America

#268 in the World

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

94. Western Michigan University

Michigan | Kalamazoo

For Aviation

#106 in North America

#271 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1105
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 95%

95. New Mexico State University

New Mexico | Las Cruces

For Aviation

#108 in North America

#288 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Average SAT: 998
Average ACT: 21
Receiving Aid: 98%

96. University of Iowa

Iowa State | Iowa City

For Aviation

#109 in North America

#293 in the World

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

97. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

New York State | Troy

For Aviation

#110 in North America

#294 in the World

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

98. Emory University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Aviation

#111 in North America

#298 in the World

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

99. University of Hartford

Connecticut | West Hartford

For Aviation

#112 in North America

#304 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Average SAT: 1190
Average ACT: 29
Net Price: $30,553

100. Middle Tennessee State University

Tennessee | Murfreesboro

For Aviation

#114 in North America

#307 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1115
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 96%

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.