Aerospace / Aeronautical / Astronautical Rankings
These programs train students in the science of flight, both for aircraft and spacecraft vehicles. These are the top undergraduate schools where the highest engineering degree offered is a doctorate.
- Tuition and fees:
- $42,050 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 4,384
- Setting:
- urban
Cambridge, MA
Though the Massachusetts Institute of Technology may be best known for its math, science, and engineering education, this private research university also offers architecture, humanities, management, and social science programs. The school is located in Cambridge, Mass., just across the Charles River from downtown Boston.
- In-state tuition and fees:
- $10,098 (2012-13)
- Out-of-state tuition and fees:
- $29,402 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 13,948
- Setting:
- urban
Atlanta, GA
Georgia Institute of Technology is a public institution that was founded in 1885. The school has 41.0 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students, and the student-faculty ratio at Georgia Institute of Technology is 17:1.
- In-state tuition and fees:
- $13,437 (2012-13)
- Out-of-state tuition and fees:
- $39,109 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 27,407
- Setting:
- city
Ann Arbor, MI
University of Michigan--Ann Arbor was established in 1817 as a public institution. University of Michigan--Ann Arbor follows a trimester-based academic calendar and its admissions are considered most selective.
- In-state tuition and fees:
- $9,900 (2012-13)
- Out-of-state tuition and fees:
- $28,702 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 30,776
- Setting:
- city
West Lafayette, IN
A public institution, Purdue University--West Lafayette was founded in 1869. Purdue University--West Lafayette offers a Greek system, where 7.0 percent of the student body is involved in a sorority and 10.0 percent is involved in a fraternity.
- Tuition and fees:
- $39,588 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 978
- Setting:
- suburban
Pasadena, CA
The California Institute of Technology focuses on science and engineering education and has a low student-to-faculty ratio of 3:1. This private institution in Pasadena, Calif. is actively involved in research projects with grants from NASA, the National Science Foundation, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
- Tuition and fees:
- $41,787 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 6,988
- Setting:
- suburban
Stanford, CA
The sunny campus of Stanford University is located in California’s Bay Area, about 30 miles from San Francisco. The private institution stresses a multidisciplinary combination of teaching, learning, and research, and students have many opportunities to get involved in research projects.
- In-state tuition and fees:
- $9,792 (2012-13)
- Out-of-state tuition and fees:
- $33,060 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 38,437
- Setting:
- city
Austin, TX
University of Texas--Austin is a public institution that was founded in 1883. The school has 33.4 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students, and the student-faculty ratio at University of Texas--Austin is 18:1.
- In-state tuition and fees:
- $14,428 (2012-13)
- Out-of-state tuition and fees:
- $28,570 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 32,256
- Setting:
- city
Champaign, IL
University of Illinois--Urbana-Champaign was established in 1867 as a public institution. University of Illinois--Urbana-Champaign follows a semester-based academic calendar and its admissions are considered more selective.
- In-state tuition and fees:
- $8,908 (2012-13)
- Out-of-state tuition and fees:
- $27,287 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 26,775
- Setting:
- suburban
College Park, MD
A public institution, University of Maryland--College Park was founded in 1856. University of Maryland--College Park offers a Greek system, where 15.0 percent of the student body is involved in a sorority and 10.0 percent is involved in a fraternity.
- In-state tuition and fees:
- $16,444 (2012-13)
- Out-of-state tuition and fees:
- $28,746 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 38,954
- Setting:
- city
University Park, PA
Pennsylvania State University--University Park has a total undergraduate enrollment of 38,954, with a gender distribution of 54.2 percent male students and 45.8 percent female students. At this school, 37.0 percent of the students live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing and 63.0 percent of students live off campus.
- Tuition and fees:
- $38,650 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 5,249
- Setting:
- suburban
Princeton, NJ
The ivy-covered campus of Princeton University, a private institution, is located in the quiet town of Princeton, N.J. Princeton was the first university to offer a “no loan” policy to financially needy students, giving grants instead of loans to accepted students who need help paying tuition.
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