95 Best colleges for Aviation 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 Aviation. A graph of 207K citations received by 13.5K academic papers made by 95 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: 4%
Average SAT: 1555
Average ACT: 36
Net Price: $20,232

2. Georgia Institute of Technology

Georgia | Atlanta

For Aviation

#2 in North America

#2 in the World

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

3. University of California - Berkeley

California | Berkeley

For Aviation

#3 in North America

#7 in the World

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

4. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Illinois | Champaign

For Aviation

#4 in North America

#9 in the World

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

5. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Daytona Beach

Florida | Daytona Beach

For Aviation

#5 in North America

#10 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 26
Net Price: $38,983

6. University of Texas at Austin

Texas | Austin

For Aviation

#6 in North America

#11 in the World

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

7. San Jose State University

California | San Jose

For Aviation

#7 in North America

#13 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Receiving Aid: 65%
Average Aid: $9,210
Enrollment: 35,751

8. Stanford University

California | Stanford

For Aviation

#8 in North America

#16 in the World

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

9. Purdue University

Indiana | West Lafayette

For Aviation

#9 in North America

#17 in the World

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

10. Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Aviation

#10 in North America

#19 in the World

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

11. George Mason University

Virginia | Fairfax

For Aviation

#11 in North America

#20 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Average SAT: 1245
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 80%

12. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Virginia | Blacksburg

For Aviation

#12 in North America

#23 in the World

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

13. University of Central Florida

Florida | Orlando

For Aviation

#13 in North America

#24 in the World

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

14. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Michigan | Ann Arbor

For Aviation

#14 in North America

#27 in the World

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

15. University of Maryland - College Park

Maryland | College Park

For Aviation

#15 in North America

#28 in the World

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

16. University of Washington - Seattle

Washington | Seattle

For Aviation

#16 in North America

#30 in the World

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

17. Harvard University

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Aviation

#18 in North America

#36 in the World

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

18. Arizona State University - Tempe

Arizona | Tempe

For Aviation

#20 in North America

#40 in the World

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

19. University of Southern California

California | Los Angeles

For Aviation

#21 in North America

#45 in the World

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

20. University of California - Santa Cruz

California | Santa Cruz

For Aviation

#22 in North America

#50 in the World

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

21. Johns Hopkins University

Maryland | Baltimore

For Aviation

#23 in North America

#53 in the World

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

22. University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Aviation

#24 in North America

#54 in the World

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

23. Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology

New York State | New York City

For Aviation

#25 in North America

#71 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Net Price: $34,758
Receiving Aid: 96%
Average Aid: $6,444

24. University of California - Davis

California | Davis

For Aviation

#26 in North America

#72 in the World

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

25. Carnegie Mellon University

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Aviation

#27 in North America

#73 in the World

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

26. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania | University Park

For Aviation

#28 in North America

#75 in the World

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

27. University of California-San Diego

California | San Diego

For Aviation

#29 in North America

#76 in the World

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

28. Iowa State University

Iowa State | Ames

For Aviation

#30 in North America

#77 in the World

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

29. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Aviation

#31 in North America

#80 in the World

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

30. University of South Florida

Florida | Tampa

For Aviation

#32 in North America

#83 in the World

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

31. Brigham Young University - Provo

Utah | Provo

For Aviation

#33 in North America

#84 in the World

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

32. Texas A&M University - College Station

Texas | College Station

For Aviation

#34 in North America

#85 in the World

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

33. University of Oklahoma - Norman

Oklahoma State | Norman

For Aviation

#35 in North America

#90 in the World

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

34. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Jersey | New Brunswick

For Aviation

#36 in North America

#94 in the World

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

35. University of Virginia

Virginia | Charlottesville

For Aviation

#38 in North America

#98 in the World

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

36. United States Air Force Academy - Colorado Springs

Colorado | Colorado Springs

For Aviation

#39 in North America

#99 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 31
Enrollment: 4,085

37. University of Utah

Utah | Salt Lake

For Aviation

#40 in North America

#101 in the World

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

38. University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Aviation

#41 in North America

#103 in the World

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

39. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

North Carolina | Chapel Hill

For Aviation

#42 in North America

#106 in the World

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

40. California Institute of Technology

California | Pasadena

For Aviation

#43 in North America

#108 in the World

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

41. University of Colorado Boulder

Colorado | Boulder

For Aviation

#45 in North America

#110 in the World

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

42. Seattle University

Washington | Seattle

For Aviation

#46 in North America

#111 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1265
Average ACT: 27
Net Price: $35,412

43. University of Kansas

Kansas State | Lawrence

For Aviation

#47 in North America

#112 in the World

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

44. Naval Postgraduate School

California | Monterey

For Aviation

#48 in North America

#113 in the World

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

45. University of California - Irvine

California | Irvine

For Aviation

#49 in North America

#115 in the World

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

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

Ohio | Wright-Patterson AFB

For Aviation

#50 in North America

#116 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Enrollment: 1,048
Male:Female: 81:19
Founded: 1919

47. University of Miami

Florida | Coral Gables

For Aviation

#51 in North America

#121 in the World

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

48. University of Cincinnati

Ohio | Cincinnati

For Aviation

#52 in North America

#126 in the World

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

49. Vanderbilt University

Tennessee | Nashville

For Aviation

#53 in North America

#130 in the World

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

50. University of North Dakota

North Dakota | Grand Forks

For Aviation

#54 in North America

#131 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Receiving Aid: 92%
Average Aid: $6,387
Enrollment: 13,876

51. Cornell University

New York State | Ithaca

For Aviation

#55 in North America

#132 in the World

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

52. University of Denver

Colorado | Denver

For Aviation

#56 in North America

#133 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1310
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $42,423

53. University at Buffalo

New York State | Buffalo

For Aviation

#57 in North America

#137 in the World

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

54. Old Dominion University

Virginia | Norfolk

For Aviation

#58 in North America

#140 in the World

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

55. Texas Tech University

Texas | Lubbock

For Aviation

#59 in North America

#144 in the World

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

56. Drexel University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Aviation

#60 in North America

#146 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $39,267

57. Auburn University

Alabama | Auburn

For Aviation

#61 in North America

#147 in the World

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

58. University of Connecticut

Connecticut | Storrs

For Aviation

#63 in North America

#149 in the World

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

59. Stony Brook University

New York State | Stony Brook

For Aviation

#64 in North America

#150 in the World

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

60. George Washington University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Aviation

#65 in North America

#157 in the World

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

61. Wichita State University

Kansas State | Wichita

For Aviation

#66 in North America

#161 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Average SAT: 1107
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 90%

62. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

North Carolina | Raleigh

For Aviation

#67 in North America

#163 in the World

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

63. Yale University

Connecticut | New Haven

For Aviation

#68 in North America

#164 in the World

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

64. New York University

New York State | New York City

For Aviation

#69 in North America

#168 in the World

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

65. University of California - Los Angeles

California | Los Angeles

For Aviation

#70 in North America

#169 in the World

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

66. University of Dayton

Ohio | Dayton

For Aviation

#71 in North America

#170 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1261
Average ACT: 27
Net Price: $30,590

67. San Diego State University

California | San Diego

For Aviation

#72 in North America

#175 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Receiving Aid: 98%
Average Aid: $9,934
Enrollment: 37,402

68. University of Illinois at Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Aviation

#73 in North America

#176 in the World

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

69. Oregon State University

Oregon | Corvallis

For Aviation

#74 in North America

#177 in the World

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

70. Northern Illinois University

Illinois | DeKalb

For Aviation

#76 in North America

#180 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Receiving Aid: 99%
Average Aid: $12,552
Enrollment: 15,649

71. University of Texas at Arlington

Texas | Arlington

For Aviation

#77 in North America

#184 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1120
Average ACT: 22
Receiving Aid: 93%

72. Florida Institute of Technology

Florida | Melbourne

For Aviation

#79 in North America

#187 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Average SAT: 1220
Average ACT: 25
Net Price: $30,752

73. University of South Carolina - Columbia

South Carolina | Columbia

For Aviation

#80 in North America

#188 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 98%

74. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Massachusetts | Amherst

For Aviation

#81 in North America

#190 in the World

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

75. California State University - Long Beach

California | Long Beach

For Aviation

#82 in North America

#191 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Receiving Aid: 80%
Average Aid: $9,478
Enrollment: 38,973

76. University of Hawaii at Manoa

Hawaii | Honolulu

For Aviation

#83 in North America

#195 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 21
Receiving Aid: 80%

77. Northwestern University

Illinois | Evanston

For Aviation

#84 in North America

#196 in the World

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

78. Clemson University

South Carolina | Clemson

For Aviation

#85 in North America

#197 in the World

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

79. Duke University

North Carolina | Durham

For Aviation

#86 in North America

#202 in the World

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

80. Princeton University

New Jersey | Princeton

For Aviation

#87 in North America

#207 in the World

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

81. University of Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Aviation

#88 in North America

#208 in the World

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

82. Mississippi State University

Mississippi | Starkville

For Aviation

#89 in North America

#209 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1175
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 98%

83. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Wisconsin | Madison

For Aviation

#90 in North America

#210 in the World

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

84. Missouri University of Science and Technology

Missouri | Rolla

For Aviation

#93 in North America

#215 in the World

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

85. Northeastern University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Aviation

#94 in North America

#219 in the World

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

86. University of Nebraska at Omaha

Nebraska | Omaha

For Aviation

#95 in North America

#221 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average ACT: 22
Receiving Aid: 92%
Average Aid: $8,180

87. Washington State University

Washington | Pullman

For Aviation

#98 in North America

#229 in the World

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

88. Catholic University of America

District of Columbia | Washington

For Aviation

#99 in North America

#235 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Net Price: $36,031
Receiving Aid: 99%
Average Aid: $34,449

89. Georgetown University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Aviation

#100 in North America

#237 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1485
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $35,566

90. University of Iowa

Iowa State | Iowa City

For Aviation

#101 in North America

#239 in the World

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

91. Boston University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Aviation

#102 in North America

#241 in the World

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

92. California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo

California | San Luis Obispo

For Aviation

#103 in North America

#247 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Receiving Aid: 57%
Average Aid: $10,065
Enrollment: 22,000

93. University of Hartford

Connecticut | West Hartford

For Aviation

#104 in North America

#266 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 26
Net Price: $31,687

94. Washington University in St Louis

Missouri | St. Louis

For Aviation

#105 in North America

#272 in the World

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

95. Southern Illinois University - Carbondale

Illinois | Carbondale

For Aviation

#107 in North America

#280 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Average SAT: 1020
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 99%

The best cities to study Aviation in the United States based on the number of universities and their ranks are Cambridge, Atlanta, Berkeley, and Champaign.