Top 30 American Universities for Aeronautics
See below for detailed description of each university
| Ranking | University | Region | Annual Tuition | GPA | SAT/ACT |
| 1 | California Institute of Technology | W | $45,846 | 4.23 | SAT: 1560 |
| 2 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | NE | $45,016 | 4.13 | SAT: 1520 |
| 3 | Stanford University | SW | $45,729 | 4.18 | SAT: 1520 |
| 4 | University of Michigan – Ann Arbor | MW | $59,784 | 3.82 | SAT: 1430 |
| 5 | Georgia Institute of Technology | SE | $30,904 | 3.95 | SAT: 1430 |
| 6 | Purdue University | MW | $28,804 | 3.7 | SAT: 1270 |
| 7 | Princeton University | NE | $41,820 | 3.9 | SAT: 1540 |
| 8 | University of Illinois – Urbana | MW | $46,668 | 3.83 | SAT: 1390 |
| 9 | Cornell University | NE | $50,953 | 4.01 | SAT: 1480 |
| 10 | Texas A&M University | SW | $47,386 | 3.55 | SAT: 1240 |
| 11 | University of Maryland – College Park | SE | $32,045 | 4.11 | SAT: 1370 |
| 12 | University of Texas – Austin | SW | $52,422 | 3.71 | SAT: 1330 |
| 13 | Virginia Tech | SE | $29,975 | 3.66 | SAT: 1290 |
| 14 | Pennsylvania State University | NE | $31,346 | 3.57 | SAT: 1260 |
| 15 | University of California – Los Angeles | W | $40,182 | 4.29 | Sat: 1370 |
| 16 | University of Colorado – Boulder | W | $35,079 | 3.56 | SAT: 1240 |
| 17 | University of Minnesota – Twin Cities | MW | $23,806 | 3.77 | SAT: 1360 |
| 18 | University of Southern California | W | $49,464 | 3.73 | SAT: 1450 |
| 19 | University of Washington | NW | $49,986 | 3.76 | SAT: 1290 |
| 20 | Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute | NE | $47,908 | 3.81 | SAT: 1420 |
| 21 | Ohio State University | NE | $29,229 | 3.7 | SAT: 1320 |
| 22 | Iowa State University | MW | $20,617 | 3.55 | SAT: 1210 |
| 23 | University of California – San Diego | W | $40,255 | 4.0 | SAT: 1350 |
| 24 | University of Florida | SE | $28,591 | 3.73 | SAT: 1340 |
| 25 | University of Notre Dame | MW | $47,929 | 4.02 | SAT: 1480 |
| 26 | Case Western Reserve University | NW | $45,592 | 3.91 | SAT: 1430 |
| 27 | North Carolina State University | SE | $42,770 | 4.42 | SAT: 1300 |
| 28 | Arizona State University | W | $23,136 | 3.46 | SAT: 1210 |
| 29 | Rutgers University | NE | $26,551 | 3.63 | SAT: 1290 |
| 30 | University of California – Irvine | W | $11,220 | 3.92 | SAT: 1240 |
1.) California Institute of Technology
Despite enrolling only 2,300 students, CalTech has developed an international reputation as one of the best colleges for studying science and engineering. Located in sunny Pasadena, California, the university has produced 34 Noble winners, 6 Turing Award winners, and a long list of other national awards. Caltech is also ranked number one in the US for the percentage of its graduates that go on to earn a PhD.
The student-faculty ratio at CalTech is 3:1, which is one of the lowest in the country. Over 60% of the classes at CalTech have fewer than twenty students, and the most popular majors include engineering, mathematics, and computer science.
| Tuition | Housing | Total | |
| In-state | $45,846 | $11,172 | $57,018 |
| Out-of-state | $45,846 | $11,172 | $57,018 |
2.) Massachusetts Institute of Technology
MIT is a private research university located in historic Cambridge, Massachusetts, across the Charles River from Boston, MA. Since its founding in 1861 the school has become one of the most selective universities in the country, accepting just 8% of all applicants.
Today the school is most well-known for its top-ranked engineering and computer science programs. 33% of the university’s students are international, and they come from over 150 different countries. Some famous alumni of the university include Buzz Aldrin, Kofi Annan, Ben Bernanke and Richard Feynman.
| Tuition | Housing | Total | |
| In-state | $45,016 | $13,730 | $58,746 |
| Out-of-state | $45,016 | $13,730 | $58,746 |
3.) Stanford University
Located just south of San Francisco in Silicon Valley; Stanford has a reputation of one of the top tech schools in the US. Alumni of Stanford have gone on to start tech companies such as Google, Snapchat, and Netflix.
The university has over 15,000 students, 20% of whom are international and is one of the most selective universities in the United States, with an admission rate of just 5%. The university has a student-faculty ratio of 3:1 and over 70% of its classes have fewer than twenty students. Some of the most popular majors at Stanford include engineering, computer science, and mathematics.
| Tuition | Housing | Total | |
| In-state | $45,729 | $13,730 | $59,459 |
| Out-of-state | $45,729 | $13,730 | $59,459 |
4.) University of Michigan – Ann Arbor
The University of Michigan is a public university that was founded in 1817. It is has developed a strong reputation for its strong business and engineering schools, as well as for its athletic programs that provide on campus entertainment options for students.
Located 35 miles west of Detroit, Ann Arbor allows students to enjoy all of the benefits of the large city while still being able to live in a quieter town. The university has a student-faculty ratio of 15:1, and 57% of its classes have fewer than 20 students. The university spends more than $1 billion a year on a research, allowing students from all programs to collaborate on these initiatives.
| Tuition | Housing | Total | |
| In-state | $13,856 | $10,554 | $24,410 |
| Out-of-state | $43,476 | $10,554 | $44,132 |
5.) Georgia Institute of Technology
Georgia Institute is a public university located in Atlanta, Georgia. The school’s location in downtown Atlanta allows students to enjoy a wide range of cultural and academic activities in the city. The school stresses the importance of a global education, and maintains campuses in France, Ireland, Costa Rica, Singapore, and China.
The university offers a wide variety of top-ranked programs, including nationally ranked programs for business and engineering. The student-faculty ratio is 19:1, and 40% of the classes have fewer than 20 students.
| Tuition | Housing | Total | |
| In-state | $12,212 | $13,640 | $25,852 |
| Out-of-state | $32,404 | $13,640 | $46,040 |
6.) Purdue University
Purdue University is a public university in West Lafayette, Indiana. The school was founded in 1869 after donations from a local businessman, and today the university offers over 200 majors and enrolls 29,000 undergraduate students. The university is ranked as the 20th best public university in the US and is the 4th most popular destination for foreign students studying in the US.
Purdue offers students a wide range of campus activities ranging from music performance groups to the school’s popular sports program. The school is ranked top-10 in the nation for its mechanical, civil, and aerospace engineering programs, and is also ranked 9th on the list for most innovative. The school’s student-faculty ratio is 12:1, which is one of the lowest ratios for all public universities in the country.
| Tuition | Housing | Total | |
| In-state | $10,002 | $10,030 | $20,032 |
| Out-of-state | $28,804 | $10,030 | $38,834 |
7.) Princeton University
Princeton University is a private Ivy League university in Princeton, New Jersey. The school was founded in 1746 and is the fourth oldest university in the United States. Today the university has 5,300 undergraduate students and is consistently ranked in the top 3 for overall US rankings.
Princeton University has a student-faculty ratio of 5:1, and the university is ranked #1 nationally for best undergraduate teaching, thanks to its highly qualified staff and small class is sizes. The university has a long list of well-known alumni, including former president Woodrow Wilson, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, and mathematician Alan Turing.
| Tuition | Housing | Total | |
| In-state | $41,820 | $14,770 | $56,590 |
| Out-of-state | $41,820 | $14,770 | $56,590 |
8.) University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a public university and flagship school of the Illinois system. The school has an urban campus spread across the cities of Urbana and Champaign. Today it has more than 30,000 undergraduate students and is ranked as one of the top 50 universities in the world.
The university offers more than 150 undergraduate programs but its most successful program is engineering, where it is ranked in the top 5 globally. The school has a student-faculty ratio of 18:1 and 40% of its classes have fewer than twenty students.
| Tuition | Housing | Total | |
| In-state | $15,698 | $11,308 | $21,338 |
| Out-of-state | $46,668 | $ 11,308 | $57,976 |
9.) Cornell University
Cornell University is a private Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York. The school offers over 100 different majors and has 14,000 undergraduate students. Today the diverse student body includes students from over 120 countries and all 50 American states.
Cornell has top ranked programs in several fields of study, and both their engineering and business programs are in the top 10 nationally. The school has a student-faculty ratio of 9:1, and 55% of its classes have fewer than twenty students.
| Tuition | Housing | Total | |
| In-state | $50,953 | $13,950 | $64,903 |
| Out-of-state | $50,953 | $13,950 | $64,903 |
10.) Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University is a public research university located in College Station, Texas. The school consistently ranks among the top public universities in the country, and with 50,000 undergraduate students it is the 4th largest school in the country.
The school has nationally ranked programs in engineering and business, and has one of the largest research endowments in the country. The student-faculty ratio is 20:1 and 20% of all classes have fewer than twenty students.
| Tuition | Housing | Total | |
| In-state | $10,176 | $10,338 | $20,514 |
| Out-of-state | $28,768 | $10,338 | $39,106 |
11.) University of Maryland – College Park
The University of Maryland, College Park is a public university located in the suburban area of College Park, MD. The school’s campus is 7 miles from downtown Washington DC, which allows students to take advantage of entertainment and academic opportunities in the city. The university is the flagship school of Maryland, and has an enrollment of 27,000 undergraduate students.
The university offers over 120 undergraduate majors and there are over 800 student clubs on campus. The university offers a lot of free entertainment options, including movies, sports, and presentations. The school’s student faculty-ratio is 16:1 and 45% of its classes have fewer than twenty students. The top-ranked programs at Maryland include business, engineering, and accounting.
| Tuition | Housing | Total | |
| In-state | $10,181 | $11,758 | $21,939 |
| Out-of-state | $32,045 | $11,758 | $43,803 |
12.) University of Texas – Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is a public school in Austin, Texas. The university is the largest school in Texas and the 7th largest in the country, with over 50,000 students enrolled. The university has over 900 student clubs and two of the largest student publications in the country. In addition to on campus activities students are also able to enjoy cultural and academic opportunities in the surrounding city of Austin.
Austin is divided into 18 different schools, including its highly ranked business, education, and engineering schools. The student-faculty ratio at Austin is 18:1, and 25% of its classes have fewer than twenty students. Alumni of Austin include 15 former US congressman, two former first ladies, and the founder of Dell computers.
| Tuition | Housing | Total | |
| In-state | $9,806 | $ 11,456 | $20,770 |
| Out-of-state | $34,676 | $11,456 | $46,132 |
13.) Virginia Tech
Virginia Tech is a public research university located in Blacksburg, Virginia. The university offers over 115 degree programs and has 25,000 undergraduate students. The school has several top ranked undergraduate programs, including engineering, business, and agricultural studies. The school also is also ranked in the top 10 for happiest students and for quality of life for students.
The school has a student-faculty ratio of 14:1, and 27% of its classes have fewer than twenty students. The school has over 600 clubs and organizations, and its sport teams compete in Division 1 ACC.
| Tuition | Housing | Total | |
| In-state | $29,975 | $8,424 | $38,399 |
| Out-of-state | $29,975 | $8,424 | $38,399 |
14.) Pennsylvania State University
Pennsylvania State University, or Penn State, is a public research university located in University Park, Pennsylvania. The school was founded in 1855 and has an undergraduate enrollment of 46,000. The university has a very active campus, with over 950 clubs and organizations ad opportunities for skiing and hiking in the nearby mountains.
The university has top ranked programs in education and engineering, and is ranked 14th in the country for top public universities. The student-faculty ratio is 16:1, and 40% of classes have fewer than twenty students.
| Tuition | Housing | Total | |
| In-state | $17,900 | $11,860 | $29,760 |
| Out-of-state | $31,346 | $11,860 | $43,206 |
15.) University of California – Los Angeles
UCLA is a public university located in Los Angeles, California, just five miles from the Pacific Ocean. The school has an undergraduate enrollment of 30,000 and is considered to be a one of the Public Ivy schools. The university is consistently ranked as one of the top public schools in the country, and has produced 14 Noble prize winners and over 250 Olympic medalists.
The university has a student-faculty ratio of 17:1 and 50% of its classes have fewer than twenty students. The most popular majors at UCLA are psychology, biomedical sciences, and social sciences.
| Tuition | Housing | Total | |
| In-state | $12,836 | $15,069 | $27,905 |
| Out-of-state | $40,182 | $15,069 | $55,251 |
16.) University of Colorado – Boulder
The University of Colorado, Boulder, or CU, is a public university in Boulder, Colorado. The school was founded in 1876 and is the Flagship University of the Colorado campus. The school offers over 150 academic programs and enrolls almost 33,000 students. Today CU has top programs in physics, environmental law, and in aerospace engineering.
Students at CU have a wide-range of activities to participate. The school has an urban campus, but the city is surrounded by mountain ranges. Students at CU can enjoy outdoor activities like snowboarding, skiing, and hiking in the surrounding hills. The university has a low student-faculty ratio of 18:1 and 50% of its classes have fewer than twenty students.
| Tuition | Housing | Total | |
| In-state | $11,531 | $13,590 | $25,121 |
| Out-of-state | $35,079 | $13,590 | $48,669 |
17.) University of Minnesota – Twin Cities
The University of Minnesota at Twin Cities is a public university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota. The school is the flagship school of the Minnesota system, and is the largest school in the state, with over 28,000 undergraduate students.
The university is considered to be one of the top public schools in the country, with top-ranked programs in engineering, economics, and psychology. In addition to academics they have a strong athletics program and regularly win national championships in football and hockey. The school has a student faculty ratio of 17:1 and 35% of its classes have fewer than twenty students.
| Tuition | Housing | Total | |
| In-state | $13,790 | $9,314 | $23,104 |
| Out-of-state | $23,806 | $9,314 | $33,120 |
18.) University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private university located in Los Angeles, California. The university has 18,000 undergraduate students and a strong tradition of innovation among its alumni. Former students have gone on to start a variety of tech companies, and the school has produced the fourth largest number of billionaire alumni in the world.
Students at USC can participate in over 700 on-campus organizations and the school’s athletes have won over 300 Olympic medals, the most of any American university. The university has a student-faculty ratio of 9:1 and its average class has just 23 students.
| Tuition | Housing | Total | |
| In-state | $49,464 | $14,348 | $63,812 |
| Out-of-state | $49,464 | $14,348 | $63,812 |
19.) University of Washington
The University of Washington, or UW, is the flagship public university in Washington State, and is based in Seattle. The university was founded in 1861 and is one of the oldest universities on the West Coast. The university has an undergraduate population of 31,000 students and is spread across three urban campuses.
The university offers a wide-range of student activities, including clubs, intramural sports, and school newspapers. The university has highly ranked programs in medicine, engineering, and business, and is ranked in the top twenty nationally for public universities. The student-faculty ratio is 21:1 and 35% of its classes have fewer than twenty students.
| Tuition | Housing | Total | |
| In-state | $10,753 | $11,691 | $22,444 |
| Out-of-state | $49,986 | $11,691 | $61,677 |
20.) Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, or RPI, is a private university in Troy, New York. The school was founded in 1824 as a science institute, and is the oldest technological university in the US. The school has a beautiful urban campus overlooking the Hudson River, and is known for its traditional architecture. Today the school offers degrees in 140 programs and enrolls 5,800 students.
Rensselaer offers more than 175 different organizations for students to join, and the school’s location is near hiking, camping, and waterfront spots. The university is nationally known for its engineering program, and for its unique accelerated programs combining bachelor degrees with masters or law degrees. The university has a student-faculty ratio of 15:1, and 50% of its classes have fewer than twenty students.
| Tuition | Housing | Total | |
| In-state | $47,908 | $14,630 | $62,538 |
| Out-of-state | $47,908 | $14,630 | $62,538 |
21.) Ohio State University
Ohio State is a public university located in Columbus, Ohio. The university has 45,000 undergraduate students and an extensive student life program, with over 1,000 student organizations and a popular athletic program. In addition to on campus activities, students at Ohio State benefit from living in the city of Columbus, which is the 15th largest city in the US and is home to a variety of entertainment and professional opportunities.
Ohio State has a student-faculty ratio of 19:1 and 30% of its classes have fewer than twenty students. The school is ranked in the top twenty national for top public universities, business, and for biological engineering.
| Tuition | Housing | Total | |
| In-state | $10,037 | $11,666 | $21,703 |
| Out-of-state | $29,229 | $11,666 | $40,895 |
22.) Iowa State University
Iowa State University is a public university located in Ames, Iowa. The school has an undergraduate enrollment of 30,000 students and offers over 100 different options for bachelor degrees. The school is nationally ranked for its journalism, hotel management, and choir programs.
There are over 800 student organizations on campus, in addition to popular athletic programs. The school has a student-faculty ratio of 19:1, and 30% of its classes have fewer than 20 students.
| Tuition | Housing | Total | |
| In-state | $7,969 | $8,356 | $16,325 |
| Out-of-state | $20,617 | $8,356 | $28,973 |
23.) University of California – San Diego
The University of California, Sand Diego is a public university in San Diego, California. The main campus is located near the Pacific Ocean and enrolls 23,000 undergraduate students. The university has been recognized as a Public Ivy and is consistently ranked as one of the top schools in the country for research and as a best-value school.
UC San Diego has a thriving campus life, with lots of entertainment options, including hundreds of student organizations and an aquarium. The university has a student-faculty ratio of 19:1 and 35% of its classes have fewer than twenty students.
| Tuition | Housing | Total | |
| In-state | $14,705 | $12,477 | $28,182 |
| Out-of-state | $40,255 | $12,477 | $52,732 |
24.) University of Florida
The University of Florida is a public university in the city of Gainesville, Florida. The school is ranked 14th in the nation for best public schools and has undergraduate enrollment of 39,000 student. The school is located close to downtown Gainesville, and students are able to travel around the city for dining and entertainment.
The university has well-regarded business, law, and engineering programs and a student-faculty ratio of 21:1. 50% of classes at Florida have fewer than twenty students, and the most popular majors include business, marketing, and the social sciences
| Tuition | Housing | Total | |
| In-state | $6,389 | $9,910 | $16,299 |
| Out-of-state | $28,591 | $9,910 | $38,501 |
25.) University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame is a private university located in South Bend, Indiana, 100 miles from Chicago. The school is highly regarded for its undergraduate education, and enrolls 8,500 students in its programs. The school’s business and law schools are nationally ranked, and its athletic program has fans across the country.
The University of Notre Dame is ranked 7th in the United States for undergraduate teaching. The school has a student-faculty ratio of 10:1, and 60% of its classes have fewer than twenty students. The school has a popular study abroad program, and over half of the students at Notre Dame spend a semester in a foreign country.
| Tuition | Housing | Total | |
| In-state | $47,929 | $14,358 | $62,287 |
| Out-of-state | $47,929 | $14,358 | $62,287 |
26.) Case Western Reserve University
Case Western Reserve University is a private university located in Cleveland, Ohio. The university was founded in 1967 and has quickly become one of the top universities in the country. The university has nationally ranked engineering, medicine, law, and business programs.
The university has 5,000 undergraduate students who come from all 50 states and over 100 different countries. The school has over 150 student organizations and the campus is just twenty minutes away from downtown Cleveland, where students have free access to several museums. The school has a student-faculty ratio of 11:1 and 60% of its classes have fewer than twenty students.
| Tuition | Housing | Total | |
| In-state | $45,592 | $14,298 | $59,890 |
| Out-of-state | $45,592 | $14,298 | $59,890 |
27.) North Carolina State University
North Carolina State University is a public university located in Raleigh, North Carolina. The school is near Duke University and the University of North Carolina, and the three schools work closely with each other on research projects.
NC State has an undergraduate enrollment of 25,000 students, and offers over 100 majors and 400 student clubs. The school has highly ranked programs for engineering and education, and has a student-faculty ratio of 14:1.
| Tuition | Housing | Total | |
| In-state | $8,880 | $10,635 | $20,369 |
| Out-of-state | $26,399 | $10,635 | $37,034 |
28.) Arizona State University
Arizona State University is a public university based in Phoenix, Arizona, with four other campuses across the state. The university has an undergraduate enrollment of 67,000 and is the largest university in the country. The university has received praise for its research and is ranked number one on the list of most innovative universities.
Arizona State offers over 300 undergraduate programs as well as 500 student clubs and more than 250 study abroad options. The school has a student-faculty ratio of 23:1 and 40% of its classes have fewer than twenty students. The most popular programs included business, social sciences, and its top-ranked engineering program.
| Tuition | Housing | Total | |
| In-state | $10,158 | $11,061 | $22,517 |
| Out-of-state | $25,458 | $11,061 | $36,519 |
29.) Rutgers University
Rutgers University is a public university in New Jersey. The school was founded in 1766 and is the largest university in the state, with 48,000 undergraduate students. The school has three urban campuses, with main campuses in the cities of Newark and Camden. Today the school offers over 100 different degree programs and leading research university.
Rutgers offers over 400 student clubs and organizations for its students to choose from, along with more than 80 different fraternities and sororities. The school has top-ranked programs for business, engineering, and education, and is ranked in the top-30 for public universities. The school has a low student-faculty ratio of 12:1, and 40% of its classes have fewer than twenty students.
| Tuition | Housing | Total | |
| In-state | $26,551 | $12,260 | $38,811 |
| Out-of-state | $30,023 | $12,260 | $42,283 |
30.) University of California – Irvine
The University of California, Irvine, is a public university located in Irvine, California, a city just south of Los Angeles. The school was establish in 1965 and has quickly become one of the top public universities in the country. The school has an undergraduate enrollment of 25,000 students and offers over 80 different degree options.
Students at the university can choose to participate in over 500 different student organizations, and the sunny campus is just five miles from the ocean. The school is known for its business and engineering programs, and has a student-faculty ratio of 19:1 and 60% of its classes have fewer than twenty students.
| Tuition | Housing | Total | |
| In-state | $11,200 | $12,947 | $24,147 |
| Out-of-state | $39,458 | $12,947 | $52,405 |