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Data Points:
- The demand for aerospace engineers is projected* to grow by 6% within 2023 and 2033, which translates to around 4,200 openings per year, on average.
- About 88.8% of aerospace engineers** are men and 11.2% are women.
- Aerospace product and parts manufacturing accounts for 34% of aerospace engineer employment***.
- Engineering services (16%) and the federal government (16%) are the next top employers.
Aerospace engineers, known as “rocket scientists,” are known for their exceptional intelligence. As such, aerospace engineers are held in high esteem and are required to earn a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree.
The Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering is a research-focused degree requiring high motivation, exceptional mental ability, and academic rigor, characterized by intensive research and high expectations.
Quick audio summary:
METHODOLOGY
The 20 Doctor of Aerospace Engineering universities featured here have been selected based on the following criteria:
- The university has accreditation from one of the six regional accreditation agencies and ABET’s Engineering Accreditation Commission for its post-graduate program.
- The admission process uses highly selective criteria, resulting in only the cream of the crop being accepted.
- The university and the Ph.D. program are known for academic excellence, abundant research opportunities, and rigorous standards.
- The students thrive with the wide range of student support services, from library resources and research facilities to financial aid, available.
For more information, see our Methodology page.
20 Best Doctor Of Aerospace Engineering Graduate Schools
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge, Massachusetts
PhD in Aeronautics and Astronautics
| Tuition: | Varies |
| Credit Hours: | 285 |
| Length: | 3-4 years |
| Acceptance Rate: | 11.2% |
MIT is a world-leading institution for technology programs and has produced numerous innovations. MIT’s PhD in Aeronautics and Astronautics, a very selective program, adopts the same original, innovative, and impactful research philosophy for societal change.
Students have opportunities to specialize in one of the program’s thirteen areas, including Aerospace Computational Engineering, Aircraft Systems Engineering, Humans in Aerospace, and Space Propulsion. They can also choose from other courses in other departments.
California Institute of Technology
Pasadena, California
PhD in Aeronautics or Space Engineering
| Tuition: | $65,706 per academic year |
| Credit Hours: | 135 |
| Length: | 4 years |
| Acceptance Rate: | 9% |
Caltech is known worldwide for its outstanding science and engineering programs and its research in pure and applied sciences. Caltech manages JPL, a reputable institution known for its aerospace engineering education and 25 spacecraft missions, offering students the opportunity to broaden their horizons.
The first-year Ph.D. and master’s degrees have identical coursework, and students can choose to receive their master’s degree upon completing their Ph.D. coursework. The program’s qualifying exams cover Space Engineering, fluid mechanics, solid/structural mechanics, autonomy, and control.
Stanford University
Stanford, California
PhD in Aeronautics and Astronautics
| Tuition: | $1,255 per unit |
| Credit Hours: | 135 |
| Length: | 6 years |
| Acceptance Rate: | 5% |
Stanford is a global leader in cutting-edge research, producing the most Turing Award winners and various Nobel Prize laureates, Fulbright scholars, and Rhodes scholars. Stanford’s PhD in Aeronautics and Astronautics receives an individualized program design that represents their interests and goals.
Funding is available to students in good standing, and it can include research and teaching assistantships, fellowships, and training grants. Students will focus on the study of propulsion, guidance and control, aerodynamics, and structural issues.
Georgia Institute of Technology
Atlanta, Georgia
| Tuition: | $586 per credit |
| Credit Hours: | Varies |
| Length: | 5 years |
| Acceptance Rate: | 22.6% |
The National Institute of Aerospace cited Georgia Tech’s Daniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering as the country’s #1 producer of aerospace graduates. The PhD in Aerospace Engineering at Georgia Tech is a highly regarded program known for its exceptional academics and rigorous research.
If you’re looking for a cheaper and respected PhD program, this can be for you. It also offers various specializations:
- aerodynamics and fluid mechanics
- structural mechanics and materials behavior
- aeroelasticity and structural dynamic
- propulsion and combustion
- system design and optimization
- flight mechanics and control
University of Michigan—Ann Arbor
Arbor, Michigan
| Tuition: | Varies |
| Credit Hours: | Varies |
| Length: | 5 years |
| Acceptance Rate: | 15% |
UMich is an AAU member, R:1 pioneering research university with a robust research-centric PhD in Aerospace Engineering. The most sought-after feature of this program is that it is fully funded, providing eligible doctoral students full tuition and mandatory fees coverage and a year-long monthly stipend.
Students must pass the Rackham cognate requirement, which can be fulfilled through four credit hours of B-graded cognate courses or equivalent graduate coursework. Students can choose additional courses beyond the doctoral program as long as they align with their doctoral research specialization in consultation with their doctoral advisor.
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Urbana, Illinois
| Tuition: | Varies |
| Credit Hours: | 64 credit hours beyond the master’s degree |
| Length: | 4 years |
| Acceptance Rate: | 26% |
Illinois has several things going for it, from its multimillion-dollar research expenditures to its enormous library collections. There’s no shortage of research opportunities for students in its Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering program.
It’s one of the most competitive PhD programs where students are required to have a 25% or higher teaching assistantship for at least one semester to meet candidacy requirements. Students are monitored by the doctoral committee at least once a year, and this can include a written progress report containing deficiencies and suggestions.
University of Texas Austin
Austin, Texas
| Tuition: | Varies |
| Credit Hours: | Varies |
| Length: | 5 years |
| Acceptance Rate: | 25% |
UT Austin is among the most productive institutions with high research expenditures, from its engineering to social sciences fields. The university’s PhD in Aerospace Engineering requires its students to have continuous registration.
Students also assume teaching assistant roles and enroll in the Supervised Teaching in Aerospace Engineering course. Moreover, students will receive funding opportunities like graduate research assistantships, fellowships, and teaching assistantships.
Texas A&M University College Station
College Station, Texas
| Tuition: | Varies |
| Credit Hours: | Varies |
| Length: | 5 years |
| Acceptance Rate: | 10-15% |
TAMU’s research expenditures have seen an 18.8% increase in 2020, amounting to $1.131 billion! Engineering research accounted for 32% of the total amount, with students in the Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering likely benefiting from a strong focus on engineering research.
Bachelor’s degree students must complete one academic year and one semester of in-resident study, while master’s degree students must complete one academic year and nine credit hours per semester. Students must pass the Aerospace Engineering Fundamentals Exam (AFQE) during their second semester, followed by a preliminary exam to determine their suitability for the Ph.D. program.
Princeton University
New Jersey
PhD in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
| Tuition: | $57,410 per year (regular enrollment) |
| Credit Hours: | Varies |
| Length: | 5 years |
| Acceptance Rate: | 12% |
Princeton’s PhD in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering provides its students with various exchange programs with other institutions and international partnerships. Every student is offered full financial support provided good standing is maintained. All students are also on the eligible list for the Wu and Upton Fellowships.
Princeton’s aerospace engineering research program, focusing on fluid mechanics, materials science, and robotics, offers interdisciplinary opportunities and encourages collaborative work among 100 in-residence students.
University of Colorado—Boulder
Boulder, Colorado
PhD in Aerospace Engineering Sciences
| Tuition: | $2,823 per credit (in-state) $6,270 per credit (out-of-state) |
| Credit Hours: | Varies |
| Length: | 4 – 6 years |
| Acceptance Rate: | 79% |
The Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering Sciences at CU Boulder offers several collaborative research centers fostering student-researcher relationships. These include the Anschutz Medical Campus, the National Science Foundation Industry & University Cooperative Research Program, and the Colorado Renewable Energy Collaboratory.
Students may participate in community outreach projects. The BOLD Center is a prime example, and it manages several programs for K-12 student engagement in science and engineering.
Cornell University
Ithaca, New York
| Tuition: | $24,800 yearly |
| Credit Hours: | Varies |
| Length: | 5 years |
| Acceptance Rate: | 5% |
Cornell’s Ph.D. programs, including its Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering, benefit from the Ivy League university’s robust support for research. Faculty members focus on aerospace vehicle dynamics, celestial mechanics, and basic aerosciences, including unsteady and vortical flows, transonic flows, and combustion processes, and welcome student assistantships. Students must assume teaching assistantships for two semesters.
Students enter the program with a bachelor’s degree but must demonstrate exceptional intelligence and other personal traits vital to degree completion. The university expects its Ph.D. students to make original and substantial contributions to the body of knowledge related to aerospace engineering.
University of Maryland – College Park
College Park, Maryland
| Tuition: | $1,377 candidacy per semester (in-state) $2,678 candidacy per semester (out-of-state) |
| Credit Hours: | Varies |
| Length: | 4 years |
| Acceptance Rate: | N/A |
Thanks to its proximity to Washington, D.C., and Public Ivy status, UMD’s Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering students have numerous opportunities for research partnerships with federal agencies. Every student creates a Doctoral Coursework Plan that outlines the courses taken to earn the Ph.D. degree.
Ph.D. students have access to the Alfred Gessow Rotorcraft Center, among the country’s leading research centers in aerospace engineering. There are also numerous CCE research centers, labs, and institutes with interdisciplinary research programs going on at any time.
University of California—Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
PhD in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
| Tuition: | $21,115 per year (residents) $36,297 per year (non-residents) |
| Credit Hours: | Varies |
| Length: | 5 years |
| Acceptance Rate: | 23% |
UCLA’s outstanding Ph.D. in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering program encourages a collaborative culture that results in productive research in engineering and science. The Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE) Department is a separate entity and, thus, has more autonomy in its decisions than other departments.
Bachelor’s and master’s graduates of mechanical and aerospace engineering-related degrees offer academic advantages, while other engineering fields are accepted. Professional background and upper-division undergraduate coursework are considered for non-MAE applicants.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Blacksburg, Virginia
| Tuition: | $846.25 per credit (in-state) $1,705 per credit (out-of-state) |
| Credit Hours: | Varies |
| Length: | 5 years |
| Acceptance Rate: | N/A |
Virginia Tech, with a $522 million research portfolio, is among the best schools for research and support for programs like the Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering. In fact, its AE Ph.D. is one of the most supported programs in the university. You can earn an M.S. in Ocean Engineering and a Ph.D. as an option under Aerospace Engineering.
The Ph.D. allows its students to specialize in one or more fields. Specializations include Aero-Hydrodynamics, Dynamics And Control, Structures And Structural Dynamics, Ocean Engineering, Applied Physics, Space Engineering, and Applied Mathematics, among others.
Pennsylvania State University – University Park
University Park, Pennsylvania
| Tuition: | Varies |
| Credit Hours: | Varies |
| Length: | 5 years |
| Acceptance Rate: | 4-10% |
Penn State is a renowned public research institution that has reached its 60-year mark for its international leadership in aerospace engagement, education, and research. The Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering at Penn State exposes its students to experimental and computational research approaches while engaging in traditional subjects.
Recent research topics include propulsion, aerodynamics, vehicle dynamics, rotorcraft engineering, and flight science. Cutting-edge research in commercial space, UAVs, and nanomanufacturing are also popular. Several first-rate graduate research facilities are available for students, including an indoor UAV flight space, high-performance computer clusters, and vibration and acoustics labs.
University of Minnesota – Twin Cities
Minneapolis, Minnesota
PhD in Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics
| Tuition: | $1,593 per credit (in-state) $2,465 per credit (out-of-state) |
| Credit Hours: | Varies |
| Length: | 4-5 years |
| Acceptance Rate: | 59% |
UMN’s College of Science of Engineering (CSE) has produced over 144 patents, 715 invention disclosures, and 16 startup companies – and counting. The Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics program has contributed its fair share to these remarkable achievements.
Although the average time of graduation is four years, students have up to six years to complete other degree requirements, such as research and dissertation. However, they must complete their academic coursework in the first two years.
University of California – San Diego
La Jolla, California
PhD in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
| Tuition: | Varies |
| Credit Hours: | Varies |
| Length: | 5 years |
| Acceptance Rate: | N/A |
UCSD researchers utilized $1.54 billion in 2021 funding to understand coronavirus, predict wildfire behavior, and assess climate change risks. Researchers in the Ph.D. in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering program likely benefited from it, too.
The Ph.D. in MAE at UCSD doesn’t follow a one-size-fits-all specific program of study, not even specific course requirements. Students must consult with the Advising Committee for their specific coursework in preparation for the qualifying exam. Students are considered enrolled at both UCSD and SDSU for the entirety of their stay in the program.
University of Washington
Seattle, Washington
PhD in Aeronautics & Astronautics
| Tuition: | $26,529per year |
| Credit Hours: | 90 |
| Length: | 5-6 years |
| Acceptance Rate: | 22% |
With 280 research centers, Ph.D. in Aeronautics & Astronautics students have among the widest array of opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration and cutting-edge research. Students must pick a concentration in one of these areas: Controls, Fluids, Structures, or Plasmas.
Students choose between the direct-to-Ph.D. pathway or earn an MS in Aeronautics & Astronautics as part of the Ph.D. program. Applicants with a master’s degree may also be admitted through the post-master’s admission process.
Ohio State University
Columbus, Ohio
| Tuition: | $782.19 per credit |
| Credit Hours: | Varies |
| Length: | 5 years |
| Acceptance Rate: | N/A |
Ohio State, one of the Public Ivies, offers a Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering program known for faculty and students constantly innovating on flight principles and practices. Students are expected to keep technology, innovation, and research as part of their day-to-day experience, a philosophy that stimulates productivity.
Although funding is available, it’s very competitive. Benefits include paid tuition, health insurance, monthly stipend, and child care, even coverage for short-term absences and prolonged leaves of absence for specific reasons.
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, California
| Tuition: | Varies |
| Credit Hours: | 94 |
| Length: | 5-6 years |
| Acceptance Rate: | 14% |
The USC Viterbi School of Engineering is best known for its exemplary Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering program. The Ph.D. program has three strategic themes – art, science, and technology involving creation, design, and manufacturing in aerospace; exploration technologies; and the use of aerospace engineering and its technologies to improve the quality of urban life.
In addition to its rigorous curriculum and various research areas, USC has a full funding policy for its Ph.D. students with coverage for tuition, a stipend for living expenses, and a health insurance package. Assistantships and fellowships are available, too.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the benefits of a PhD in Aerospace Engineering degree?
Aerospace engineers are among the highest-paid professionals in the country, with a median annual wage of $130,720 (May 2023). But note that it’s only with a bachelor’s degree! Individuals with a Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering can land jobs with higher pay and better benefits, including but not limited to:
- Aerospace engineer in manufacturers of aerospace products and parts; engineering services; federal government agencies; and R&D in companies engaged in life, physical, and engineering sciences
- Engineering teachers in colleges and universities
- Engineering or architectural manager in construction sites and the like
Many Ph.D. holders even branch out into other branches of engineering, such as electronics, industrial and mechanical engineering. Their advanced education and training become the best foundation for being multi-talented engineers.
What are the typical duties of an Aerospace Engineer?
The specific duties of aerospace engineers include but aren’t limited to:
- Evaluate the technical and financial feasibility of proposals for projects
- Determine the safety of operations of the proposed projects based on defined goals
- Assess the quality of products based on customer requirements, engineering principles, and governmental regulations
- Conduct quality inspections to ensure that quality standards for the product and project are met
- Solve issues related to damaged and malfunctioning products
- Develop new technologies in the aerospace industry, from aviation to defense systems
Aerospace engineers may also specialize in specific areas, such as materials, thermodynamics, and aerodynamics. Many report that their choice of graduate specialization started early during their Ph.D. studies, with their dissertation tackling said choice.
What are the main branches of Aerospace Engineering?
There are two major branches.
- Aeronautical engineers develop and test technologies in civilian and military aviation, focusing on aircraft, jet engines, and drone systems development, often involving flight experimentation.
- Astronautical engineers design, develop, and test space exploration technologies, including satellites, vehicles, missiles, rockets, and planetary probes, often working in NASA and other space agencies.
What are the licensing and certification requirements for Aerospace Engineers?
Licensure is neither common for aerospace engineers, unlike in other engineering occupations, nor is it required for entry-level jobs. But getting a Professional Engineering (PE) license is an option, especially for aerospace engineers looking for leadership positions.
The licensure requirements vary by state, but the common requirements include:
- A bachelor’s degree, at least, from an ABET-accredited engineering program (Holders of a Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering degree may or may not pursue the PE license depending on their career goals or preferred workplace)
- Passing the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam, usually after earning a bachelor’s degree in engineering
- Passing the PE exam
- At least four years of relevant work experience
What’s the typical coursework of a Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering program?
Since a Ph.D. degree is the highest academic attainment, the typical curriculum in a Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering program includes advanced topics in:
- Orbital mechanics
- Space systems
- Theory of elasticity
- Fluid mechanics and dynamics
- Life support systems
- Human performance in abnormal and extreme environments
- Extraterrestrial resources
Aside from the intensive STEM-centric and rigorous coursework, Ph.D. students also gain knowledge and skills in business, law, and ethics. Ph.D. programs are designed for aerospace engineers who have already made a career but want to pursue management positions, contribute to the development of the profession, and be updated about new knowledge.
The culminating project of Ph.D. programs is dissertation research, and it’s among the most challenging academic requirements. In fact, Ph.D. students can spend between three and five years on their dissertation before these are considered acceptable!
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