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Aerospace Engineering is one of the most technologically advanced engineering fields. Aerospace engineers design aircraft and products related to the aerospace industry. Aerospace engineers also create prototypes and simulators for testing purposes. The aerospace engineering industry is a large industry that includes commercial aviation, spacecraft, defense systems. Aerospace engineering involves many aspects of engineering, such as aerodynamics, propulsion systems, flight mechanics, electrical systems, firmware engineering, acoustics, etc. Aerospace engineers work, not just in the aircraft manufacturing industry but also in suppliers for the Aerospace manufacturers. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median pay for Aerospace Engineers is $116,500 in 2019. Given the lucrative pay structure for Aerospace engineers, how can students establish in this industry? The easiest way is by getting an Aerospace engineering degree. But to stay above the competition, we recommend getting an Online Aerospace Engineering Masters that will help you establish well in the Aerospace industry. In this guide, we will walk you through the online aerospace engineering master’s programs.
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Southern New Hampshire University
PROGRAM: Online Masters Degrees
Southern New Hampshire University is a private, nonprofit, accredited institution with more than 3,000 on-campus students and over 60,000 online students, making us one of the fastest-growing universities in the country. Founded in 1932, we’ve been relentlessly reinventing higher education ever since and have gained national recognition for our dedication to helping students transform their lives and the lives of those around them.
We’re proud to provide affordable, accessible education that students can pursue on our 300-acre campus in Manchester, NH, over our innovative online platform or at our regional centers in Manchester, Nashua, Portsmouth and Salem, NH, and Brunswick, ME.
SNHU has earned the GetEducated.com Best Buy and Best of Business – Best Online Degree awards and is consistently ranked as a top Military Friendly® School by G.I Jobs®.
Best Aerospace Engineering Graduate Schools
Getting online aerospace engineering presents with a lot of questions. This guide will help you answer all of those questions. The first question that comes up, what are the top aerospace grad schools? We went through a lot of aerospace degree programs and created the below rankings of the best aerospace engineering graduate schools. Our ranking methodology includes several parameters such as program quality, graduation rates, teacher/student ratio, the reputation of the school and program, etc.
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| College Name & Address | Tuition | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| #1 University Of Virginia 1827 University Avenue, Charlottesville, Virginia 22903 | $16,578 | 95% |
| #2 University Of California- Los Angeles 405 Hilgard Ave, Los Angeles, California 90095 | $11,442 | 92% |
| #3 North Carolina State University 103 South Bldg Cb 9100, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599 | $10,552 | 91% |
| #4 University Of Florida Tigert Hall, Gainesville, Florida 32611 | $10,770 | 88% |
| #5 Virginia Tech 210 Burruss Hall, 800 Drillfield Dr., Blacksburg, Virginia 24061 | $13,701 | 86% |
| #6 University Of Illinois- Urbana- Champaign University Park, Los Angeles, California 90089 | $46,272 | 92% |
| #7 University Of Southern California University Park, Los Angeles, California 90089 | $46,272 | 92% |
| #8 Johns Hopkins University 3400 N Charles St, Baltimore, Maryland 21218 | $55,350 | 93% |
| #9 Purdue University Hovde Hall of Administration, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907 | $9,208 | 82% |
| #10 Auburn University Auburn, Alabama 36849 | $11,442 | 91% |
| #11 University Of Washington 1400 NE Campus Parkway, Seattle, Washington 98195 | $18,198 | 84% |
| #12 University Of Central Florida 4000 Central Florida Blvd, Orlando, Florida 32816 | $6,916 | 72% |
| #13 University Of Alabama 739 University Blvd, Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35487 | $10,780 | 71% |
| #14 Georgia Technical University 33 gilmer st, Atlanta, Georgia 30303 | $7,164 | 55% |
| #15 Missouri University Of Science And Technology 300 W.13th Street, Rolla, Missouri 65409 | $10,452 | 66% |
| #16 University Of Colorado-Boulder Regent Drive at Broadway, Boulder, Colorado 80309 | $11,826 | 69% |
| #17 University Of Maine 168 College Avenue, Orono, Maine 04469 | $8,100 | 57% |
| #18 University Of Texas- Arlington 701 S. Nedderman Dr., Arlington, Texas 76013 | $8,474 | 51% |
| #19 Old Dominion University 5115 Hampton Blvd, Norfolk, Virginia 23529 | $10,207 | 53% |
| #20 Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University 1 Aerospace Blvd., Daytona Beach, Florida 32114 | $8,268 | 28% |
Source – Integrated Post Secondary Education Data System & University Data
*Tuition rates are for in-state and per year. Program specific rates may apply.
**NA – data not available
Affordable Aerospace Engineering Graduate Schools
Arguably one of the most important factors when choosing an online master’s program is its affordability. A lot of students wonder about the most affordable aerospace engineering university. We researched many universities to create aerospace grad school rankings based on their affordability. Here is the list of most affordable aerospace engineering master’s programs:
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| College Name & Address | Tuition | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| #1 Texas A & M University JKW Administration Building, Suite 200, College Station, Texas 77843 | $6,677 | 82% |
| #2 University of Central Florida 4000 Central Florida Blvd, Orlando, Florida 32816 | $6,916 | 72% |
| #3 Embry Riddle Aeronautical University 1 Aerospace Blvd., Daytona Beach, Florida 32114- | $8,268 | 28% |
| #4 University of Texas at Arlington 701 S. Nedderman Dr., Arlington, Texas 76013 | $8,474 | 51% |
| #5 Mississippi State University Lee Boulevard, Mississippi State, Mississippi 39762 | $8,800 | 61% |
| #6 North Carolina State University, Raleigh 2101 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695 | $9,095 | 82% |
| #7 Purdue university Hovde Hall of Administration, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907 | $9,208 | 82% |
| #8 Iowa State University 1750 Beardshear Hall, Ames, Iowa 50011 | $9,758 | 74% |
| #9 Auburn University Auburn, Alabama 36849 | $9,828 | 79% |
| #10 Old Dominion University 5115 Hampton Blvd, Norfolk, Virginia 23529 | $10,207 | 53% |
| #11 University of Florida Tigert Hall, Gainesville, Florida 32611 | $10,770 | 88% |
| #12 University of Alabama 739 University Blvd, Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35487 | $10,780 | 71% |
| #13 University of Colorado,Colorado Springs 1420 Austin Bluffs Parkway, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80918 | $13,912 | 45% |
| #14 University of Virginia 1827 University Avenue, Charlottesville, Virginia 22903 | $16,578 | 95% |
| #15 University of washington 1400 NE Campus Parkway, Seattle, Washington 98195 | $18,198 | 84% |
Source – Integrated Post Secondary Education Data System & University Data
*Tuition rates are for in-state and per year. Program specific rates may apply.
**NA – data not available
Understanding an Online Aerospace Engineering Master’s Program
A master’s in aerospace engineering is a program that is designed to teach students about various aspects of aerospace, aeronautics, astronautics fields, and various complex engineering systems that enable aircraft, spacecraft, etc. In this section, we will break down the program with a detailed explanation about what you can expect in these programs.
Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering
Master of Science in Space Systems Engineering
Master of Science in Aviation Engineering
Master of Science in Aeronautics Engineering
Master of Science in Aeronautics and Astronautics
Most universities offer this field as an MS Aerospace – Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering.
Specializations and Related Programs
Aerospace engineering is a very diverse field with a lot of branches. Aerospace engineers create some of the most complex engineering products that have to work in adverse conditions. So, aerospace engineers a lot of technical systems from other branches of engineering. Given this diversity, aerospace engineering has branched to many specializations and concentrations. Below are some of such aerospace specializations. Some universities offer programs that are focused on these areas, while others offer these areas as part of their normal master’s in aerospace engineering programs.
| Concentration | Description |
|---|---|
| Space Systems | Space systems are an exciting field that teaches students about formal systems engineering methods that get applied in space missions. Students also learn about flight based and on-ground systems and sub-systems. Space Systems is a concentration that only a limited number of universities offer because of the complexity involved. Most programs also include hands-on small-spacecraft integration. Students that graduate from this program will demonstrate an ability to develop bench-top spacecraft along with setting up precision-navigation systems. |
| Aviation | Students that want to pursue a degree in aviation concentration should have a background in aerospace engineering or related field. Students will learn about aeroacoustics modeling, hypersonic systems, etc. This is a very complex field, and students will get exposed to a lot of simulated engineering systems that providing real aviation exposure. |
| Aeronautics | A specialization in aeronautical engineering degree deals with the science of vessels that are in the atmosphere. This is slightly different than aviation. Aeronautical engineering deals with all engineering products that can travel in the air. Students will learn about the dynamics of objects that are already in the atmosphere and all aspects of in-flight and slight activities. |
| Astronautics | This concentration can be called ‘rocket-science’ as students will learn about vessels that are known as rockets, missiles, satellites, launchers, etc. This is a physics and heavy engineering focus, which is boundless opportunities. Not a lot of universities offer this specialization. |
Curriculum and Skills Gained in Aerospace Engineering Programs
An online master’s degree in aerospace engineering is very similar to on-campus aerospace engineering. Most universities offer the same coursework and curriculum, along with the same faculty teaching both formats. Students can expect a gain in-depth knowledge about complex engineering methodologies. While different university different aerospace engineering online courses, there are a lot of common courses as well. Here are some masters in aerospace engineering courses that you can expect in your program.
| Course | Description |
|---|---|
| Aircraft Flight Mechanics | When an aircraft is flying, there are a lot of mechanics that keep the flight in the air. The fixed wings, rotary wings (for choppers) and other mechanical devices, all play a role. In this course, you will learn about the fundamental principles of these mechanics and how to apply them to spacecraft and aircraft. |
| Compressible and Incompressible flow | This is a branch of fluid mechanics, and students learn about changes in fluid density, which is one of the crucial factors. Students learn about the flow of fluids in normal speed conditions and association with the ratio of the speed of the flow and speed of sound. |
| Applied Aerospace Structures | In this course, students are exposed to various concepts like equilibrium, energy methods, materials, etc. |
| Aerospace Dynamic Systems | Dynamics is a crucial aspect of aerospace engineering. Students learn about the dynamics of various bodies like normal bodies, rigid bodies along with kinematics of various types. |
| Optical Remote Sensing | Optical Remote Sensing is a subject that teaches students about using infrared and sensors to provide visibility. In this course, students learn about various ways in which systems are built that provide imaging systems to aircraft. |
| Wing Theory | Wings play a crucial in providing lift and stability to the aircraft. In this course, students learn about the aerodynamic characteristics of various types of wings and how they play a role in the flow of the aircraft. |
| Spacecraft Propulsion Systems | Propulsion systems are how aircraft accelerate. Propulsion systems are complex systems as they provide the necessary thrust and momentum to vessels. In this course, students learn about various types of propulsion systems like space propulsion systems (to be in a vacuum), chemical thrusters, etc. |
Aerospace Engineering Courses Online Free
Some students want to get an understanding of the aerospace engineering field before signing up for an online master’s in aerospace engineering. It is a good idea to get a feel before applying and getting admitted. Here are some free online courses in aerospace engineering that will get you started:
Massachusetts Institute of Technology via edX: Introduction to Aerospace Engineering
Delft University of Technology via edX: Introduction to Aerospace Structures and Materials
Coursesity: UAV Design
Georgia Institute of Technology via Coursera: Machine Design Part 1
How long does it to take?
Most online master’s programs take about 2-3 years. There are many factors involved, like part-time vs. full time, the number of credits taken each semester, student background, etc. But typically, students take about 2-3 years to graduate from an online aerospace engineering master’s program. Some universities do let students finish the programs within two years as long as they have the right background so that they do not have to go through prerequisite coursework.
Accreditation for Aerospace Engineering Graduate Programs
Accreditation is a process in which universities or the programs go through a vetting process by outside independent organizations. These organizations check and certify the standards that are maintained in the university. Read more about what accreditation is and why it is extremely important when choosing an online master’s program on the best accreditation guide.
Students that want to pursue an online master’s in aerospace engineering should check for accreditation of the universities that are offering the program. Below are a few organizations that issue accreditation for aerospace engineering programs or the universities that offer them. If you find that one of these organizations accredit a university or program, you can be confident about the quality of the program:
Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET)
Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA)
Online Aerospace Engineering Master’s Admission Requirements
Aerospace engineering universities’ entry requirements vary from university to university. However, most universities have a set of generic admission requirements along with program-specific requirements. The generic requirements include:
An undergraduate degree with a certain GPA requirement (usually a 3.0 GPA)
GRE test scores: A lot of universities want a minimum GRE score. However, some universities will waive this requirement if the student demonstrates professional experience and/or undergraduate degree with a closely related field.
Letters of Recommendation from people of significance in the student’s life: like past teachers, mentors, workplace managers, etc.
A Statement of purpose for aerospace engineering explaining the purpose behind choosing the program, career, and/or educational goals, etc.
Aerospace engineering graduate school requirements could include:
Undergraduate degree in a closely related field
Professional level work experience in the same field
Transcripts showing some prerequisite courses
How to Pay for Aerospace Engineering Programs?
With the cost of higher education, rising leaps and bounds, how to pay for higher education is one of the most important factors in considering a graduate degree. The cost of a master’s in aerospace engineering is on par with other engineering courses. There are several ways students can fund their online master’s programs – Some employers have programs for reimbursing part of tuition fees. Applying for student loans. There are several other ways. Read more about how to pay for online master’s programs on the best financial guide.
Scholarships for Aerospace Engineering Students
The aerospace industry is very wide, and there are a lot of professional organizations that support and encourage students to pursue an education in this field. They do that by providing scholarships and other forms of financial assistance. Online master’s students pursuing aerospace engineering can apply for these awards. Here are some scholarships.
American Astronautical Society (AAS):
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Founded in 1954, AAS is a premier network of current and future space professionals. AAS wants to strengthen and grow the space community by increasing awareness of space activities. To support this plan, AAS administers several scholarships. Students that are pursuing online master’s in aerospace engineering may qualify for some of the scholarships. You can get full details on the AAS scholarships page.
Award amount – Varies && Deadline – Varies
American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA)
AIAA was founded in 1963 to ignite and celebrate aerospace ingenuity and collaboration. AIAA has nearly 30,000 members from 91 countries. AIAA’s mission is to help aerospace professionals and organizations succeed. To support this mission, AIAA administers several scholarships for which aerospace engineering students may qualify. Get more details on the AIAA page.
Award amount – Varies && Deadline – Varies
Calvin L. Carrithers Aviation Scholarship
GlobalAir.com is one of the leaders in the aviation industry. Global Air’s mission is to be the go-to leader in the aviation industry. Global Air is passionate about supporting the future of aviation. To support this, Global Air administers the Calvin L. Carrithers Aviation Scholarship award to four American students who are dedicated to blogging every week about flight training, flying, school, and interest in aviation. Students pursuing aerospace engineering degrees may qualify for this award.
Award amount – $1,000 && Deadline – Aug
Certifications and Licensing for Aerospace Engineering Graduates
Getting an online master’s in aerospace engineering will certainly enhance careers. Along with that degree, if students add certifications and get licenses, where required, it will help the candidature stand out in the competition. A lot of students get certifications and professional licenses. Below are some of the aerospace engineering certificate programs and licenses that you can consider:
Careers and Salary Outlook for Aerospace Engineering Graduates
Aerospace engineering professionals are employed by industries that design, build and manufacture aircraft, spacecraft, defense systems, etc. It is a lucrative field with many avenues of growth and opportunity. The remuneration structure is also highly attractive. If you graduate from an online master’s in aerospace engineering, here are some of the titles you might qualify for:
| Career Title | Average Salary (year) | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Aerospace Engineers | $116,500 | Aerospace Engineers design aircraft, spacecraft, and other objects that fly within the earth’s atmosphere or outside. Professionals in this area work to design, manufacture, and test all the technical systems related to the production of aircraft. |
| Astronautical Engineers | $109,650 | Astronautical engineers work in the technology that is related to aircraft and spacecraft that are inside the atmosphere. Professionals in this area work on various systems that handle satellites and other objects that are inside the earth’s atmosphere. |
| Aircraft Designers | $69,129 | As the name suggests, the primary responsibility of aircraft designers is to design and manufacture aircraft. But this field is complex as there are so many complex systems that are used in designing aircraft. Professionals in this area know about all the technical aspects along with deep knowledge about compliance. |
| Mission and Payload Specialists | $228,800 | Mission and Payload specialists handle various aspects of the aerospace industry. A Mission specialist team up with other crew members to operate the aircraft or spacecraft to carry out the mission. Payload specialists specialize in handling all aspects payload that the spacecraft is carrying, including delivering the payload at the target destination in the space. |
| Aerodynamic Engineers | $82,022 | Aerodynamics is the study of air and how it moves and how it affects the objects trying to fly. Aerodynamics engineers are responsible for the design of objects like aircraft, spacecraft to ensure that they can fly given the factor of air and its movements. They apply the physical laws of aerodynamics in creating the design to minimize the impact of motion of air and its effects on the flying object. |
| Flight Systems Engineers | $89,028 | Commercial aircraft have many engineering systems such as avionics, control systems in both hardware and software Flight systems engineers are responsible for developing, designing, testing, and deploying these systems. |
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Comparably.com, Raise.me, Payscale.com
FAQs about Aerospace Engineering
A lot of students still have questions about various aerospace engineering program. We have compiled a list of most frequently asked questions and answers about aerospace engineering:
Frequently Asked Questions
How to get a master’s degree in aerospace engineering?
One of the best ways to get a master’s degree in aerospace engineering is by getting admitted into an online program. Online master’s in aerospace engineering provides the flexibility of choosing a school anywhere in the country without restricting your search for a limited number of schools in your state. Read more about the best universities for aerospace engineering.
What can I do with a master’s in aerospace engineering?
Can I do a master’s in aerospace engineering after mechanical engineering?
How much is the fee for aeronautical engineering?
How to apply for aerospace engineering?
What colleges have aerospace engineering programs?
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Comparably.com, Raise.me, Payscale.com
Additional Resources for Aerospace Engineering Professionals
While getting an online master’s in aerospace engineering will certainly benefit your career, it is also important to stay up to date with the latest trends in aerospace engineering. Students can do that by association with professional organizations and associations within this space. Below are some organizations that are meant for aerospace space professionals. Students will immensely benefit by following or subscribing with these organizations for networking, knowledge-sharing, and other professional benefits.
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