by our College Data Analytics TeamDo you want to be a rocket scientist? A major in Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering will give you the knowledge needed to design, develop, and test aircrafts, missiles, space vehicles, and their systems. You will learn about all types of flight: airplanes, spacecrafts, helicopters, you name it. You also get to supervise the manufacturing of the product to make sure it's both accurate and effective. Along with learning the science and math of aerospace and aeronautical engineering, you will learn how to properly assess projects to see if they are both financially and technically doable. This is a great major for anyone who is interested in aviation or space exploration.
The required courses will vary depending on the college you decide to attend. However some courses that you may be required to take could include physics, calculus, trigonometry, aerodynamics, aerospace structures, mechanics, and general engineering principles.
Studying Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering involves the study of Aerospace, Aeronautical, And Astronautical/space Engineering. Read on to learn the essential details every aerospace & aeronautical engineering major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering aerospace & aeronautical engineering programs.
Across the country, aerospace & aeronautical engineering is a widely-pursued major, with 9,596 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering Schools ranking analyzes these 92 schools to determine the best overall colleges for aerospace & aeronautical engineering students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of aerospace & aeronautical engineering programs later in this article.
Programs in Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations aerospace & aeronautical engineering graduates commonly enter.
This is a rigorous, difficult, and time consuming program that is not for the faint of heart. As an Aerospace or Aeronautical Engineer you need to be focused and determined. Math and science should be something you enjoy working with daily. Your four years at school will be intense, but if you can survive them, you will graduate with an understanding of atmospheric and space flight and will have the ability to research, analyze, and design aircrafts and space vehicles.
You need to be disciplined and ready to work hard to meet your goals. Be prepared to try and try again to produce a product that works. Students who feel comfortable asking questions and obtaining help will do the best. You will also need to be good at collaborating when working with a team in order to design and build an aircraft, spacecraft, or their components. College is a good time to practice communication as you work with others to achieve a common goal; this is a skill you will employ throughout your career.
You will need strong analytical skills to help identify different design elements and figure out how to improve their performance. Knowledge of the law is helpful in order to meet federal government standards.
Many programs will require an internship in order to get hands on experience in the actual field.
The skill set emphasized by a aerospace & aeronautical engineering program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a aerospace & aeronautical engineering major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several aerospace & aeronautical engineering degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 48 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 6,433 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 2,658 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 457 |
People currently working in careers related to aerospace & aeronautical engineering tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 34.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 18.1% |
| Master’s degree | 12.3% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 11.1% |
| Post-doctoral training | 10.4% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 5.4% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 3.6% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 2.0% |
| First professional degree | 1.0% |
| Some college courses | 0.8% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.8% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in aerospace & aeronautical engineering careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
The aerospace industry is a large industry in the United States and jobs tend to be very lucrative depending on the company. Many aerospace engineers work with manufacturing industries that are projected to grow slowly. Much of the new technology focuses on reducing noise or pollution. A lot of the jobs need to stay in the United States because of the security clearances and regulations that go hand in hand with their work.
Studying aerospace & aeronautical engineering prepares you for a variety of career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to aerospace & aeronautical engineering.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to aerospace & aeronautical engineering.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,297,204 | -2.0% |
| Avionics Technicians | 487,959 | 5.2% |
| Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers | 440,884 | 8.0% |
| Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians | 214,833 | 10.6% |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | 207,139 | 9.0% |
| Aerospace Engineers | 138,496 | 5.1% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of aerospace & aeronautical engineering graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $77,688 |
| 4 years | $89,440 |
| 5 years | $101,440 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for aerospace & aeronautical engineering graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers aerospace & aeronautical engineering grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $101,277 |
| Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers | $89,263 |
| Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary | $79,889 |
| Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians | $77,835 |
| Aerospace Engineers | $63,328 |
| Avionics Technicians | $31,577 |
With 92 different aerospace & aeronautical engineering programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased aerospace & aeronautical engineering school rankings to help you.
Those considering aerospace & aeronautical engineering, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering, General | 9,539 |
| Astronautical Engineering | 57 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Mechanical Engineering | 42,939 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | 26,760 |
| Civil Engineering | 20,005 |
| Computer Engineering | 19,986 |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | 13,914 |
| Engineering, General | 13,411 |
| Chemical Engineering | 10,939 |
| Industrial Engineering | 8,533 |
| Systems Engineering | 3,956 |
| Engineering, Other | 3,529 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
