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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region

12 Colleges in the United States
1,489 Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering Degrees Awarded
$72,009 Avg Early-Career Salary

Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.

College Factual analyzed 14 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best aerospace & aeronautical engineering schools.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering in the Great Lakes Region

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall aerospace & aeronautical engineering education in the Great Lakes Region.

Top Schools in Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering

1

Leading the list is University Of Michigan Ann Arbor, our #1 school for aerospace & aeronautical engineering. This very large public university is located in the city of Ann Arbor. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 282 aerospace & aeronautical engineering degrees were awarded at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor in the most recent year. Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering graduates of University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of $94,124 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $21,603. Read more about the aerospace & aeronautical engineering program at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor

2

University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in aerospace & aeronautical engineering, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign awarded about 215 aerospace & aeronautical engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their aerospace & aeronautical engineering degree from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn around $87,496 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,951. Get the full aerospace & aeronautical engineering details for University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign

3
Purdue University Main Campus crest
Purdue University Main Campus
West Lafayette, IN

Students looking for a strong aerospace & aeronautical engineering program will find one at Purdue University Main Campus, which ranked #3. Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of West Lafayette. Purdue University Main Campus graduates 83% of students within six years. Purdue University Main Campus awarded about 543 aerospace & aeronautical engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering graduates of Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of $88,159 early in their careers. Purdue University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans. See the full aerospace & aeronautical engineering program report for Purdue University Main Campus

4

A rank of #4 makes University Of Notre Dame one of the top schools for aerospace & aeronautical engineering. Located in the suburb of Notre Dame, University Of Notre Dame is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Notre Dame awarded about 41 aerospace & aeronautical engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the aerospace & aeronautical engineering program make about $81,057 in their early career. University Of Notre Dame graduates carry a median of $24,000 in student loans. Read more about the aerospace & aeronautical engineering program at University Of Notre Dame

5

Students looking for a strong aerospace & aeronautical engineering program will find one at University Of Dayton, which ranked #5. University Of Dayton is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Dayton. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. About 19 aerospace & aeronautical engineering degrees were awarded at University Of Dayton in the most recent year. Students who receive their aerospace & aeronautical engineering degree from University Of Dayton earn around $56,077 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Dayton graduates carry a median of $25,033 in student loans. Read more about the aerospace & aeronautical engineering program at University Of Dayton

6

Ohio State University Main Campus earned the #6 position for aerospace & aeronautical engineering this year. Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Columbus. The six-year graduation rate is 88%. About 117 aerospace & aeronautical engineering degrees were awarded at Ohio State University Main Campus in the most recent year. Graduates of the aerospace & aeronautical engineering program make about $72,062 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,853 to complete this degree. See the full aerospace & aeronautical engineering program report for Ohio State University Main Campus

7

University Of Cincinnati Main Campus landed the #7 spot for aerospace & aeronautical engineering this year. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Cincinnati. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus graduates 74% of students within six years. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus awarded about 108 aerospace & aeronautical engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the aerospace & aeronautical engineering program make about $74,992 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,750. Get the full aerospace & aeronautical engineering details for University Of Cincinnati Main Campus

8

Case Western Reserve University earned the #8 position for aerospace & aeronautical engineering this year. Located in the city of Cleveland, Case Western Reserve University is a large private not-for-profit university. About 87% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 34 aerospace & aeronautical engineering students who graduated with this degree at Case Western Reserve University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, aerospace & aeronautical engineering degree recipients from Case Western Reserve University generally make around $83,639. Case Western Reserve University graduates carry a median of $26,410 in student loans. More information about a degree in aerospace & aeronautical engineering from Case Western Reserve University

9

University Of Akron Main Campus landed the #9 spot for aerospace & aeronautical engineering this year. Located in the city of Akron, University Of Akron Main Campus is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 52%. There were roughly 23 aerospace & aeronautical engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of Akron Main Campus in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, aerospace & aeronautical engineering degree recipients from University Of Akron Main Campus generally make around $49,045. Typical student debt for the program is $25,347. Get the full aerospace & aeronautical engineering details for University Of Akron Main Campus

10

Western Michigan University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best aerospace & aeronautical engineering schools. Located in the city of Kalamazoo, Western Michigan University is a large public university. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 61 aerospace & aeronautical engineering students who graduated with this degree at Western Michigan University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the aerospace & aeronautical engineering program make about $69,514 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $28,021 to complete this degree. Read more about the aerospace & aeronautical engineering program at Western Michigan University

11

Illinois Institute Of Technology ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best aerospace & aeronautical engineering schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. Illinois Institute Of Technology graduates 75% of students within six years. Illinois Institute Of Technology awarded about 21 aerospace & aeronautical engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, aerospace & aeronautical engineering degree recipients from Illinois Institute Of Technology generally make around $63,169. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000. See the full aerospace & aeronautical engineering program report for Illinois Institute Of Technology

12

Kent State University At Kent earned the #12 position for aerospace & aeronautical engineering this year. Kent State University At Kent is a very large public school located in the suburb of Kent. About 64% of students finish within six years. Kent State University At Kent awarded about 25 aerospace & aeronautical engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the aerospace & aeronautical engineering program make about $44,776 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,174. Get the full aerospace & aeronautical engineering details for Kent State University At Kent

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Notes and References

This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 14 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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