Best Aerospace Engineering Colleges in USA: Fees, Eligibility & Application Guide

Studying Aerospace engineering is highly beneficial in the modern world. Being a science aspirant from India, if you think of going abroad to study Aerospace Engineering, then the United States of America (USA) can be a perfect option for you.
Various Aerospace Engineering Colleges in USA can help you to fulfil your aspiration by allotting a seat for you to their aerospace engineering classes. Pursuing this can help you learn the science behind the operations of aircraft and spacecraft. In this contemporary era, Aerospace Engineering has become an attractive option to study among students.
The innovative and interesting subject matter and the potential to earn a huge amount of money in the future have increased the popularity of Aerospace Engineering among students. In the USA, various engineering colleges exist that offer Aerospace Engineering. You need to go through this blog to have a better understanding of this subject and the colleges in the USA that offer Aerospace Engineering. Ranging from the details of the USA as a location to the availability of Aerospace Engineering Colleges in USA, all are discussed in this blog for your convenience.
On average, in all the US colleges that offer Aerospace Engineering, the course fee ranges between ₹16,00,000 (around $18,500) and ₹56,00,000 (around $65,000) yearly. Scoring a suitable score in TOEFL or IELTS can help you to land on the doorstep of your preferred colleges in the US to study Aerospace Engineering.
Aerospace Engineering in USA: Highlights
In the table below, you can check the basic highlights about Aerospace Engineering in the USA. These are:
Particulars | Details |
Name of the Course | Aerospace Engineering |
Destination Country | The United States of America |
Type | Full-time |
Eligibility Criteria | At least 90% marks in the class 10+2 or equivalent exams in Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics. Scoring well on the TOEFL or IELTS |
Tuition Fee | $18,500-$65,000 (₹16,00,000-₹56,00,000) |
Aerospace Engineering in the USA colleges
If you want to study Aerospace Engineering in the United States, then you will not have to worry about the availability of this subject in US colleges. Lots of colleges are there in the US offer this course to students, both domestic and international. These are:
College | Course | Level of Degree |
Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Aerospace Engineering | Both UG and PG levels |
California Institute of Technology | Aerospace Engineering | UG, PG and Phd |
Georgia Institute of Technology | Aerospace Engineering | UG, PG and Phd |
Stanford University | Aerospace Engineering | UG, PG and PhD |
Aerospace Engineering in the USA: Important Dates and Events
All Indian students, including you, need to go through some specific events before applying to conduct Aerospace Engineering in any college in the United States. These include the following:
- Applications
- Applying for a visa and
Being an aspirant from India who looks for suitable Aerospace Engineering colleges in USA, you need to be careful about the important dates associated with the above-mentioned events.
Aerospace Engineering Colleges in USA: Important Application Dates
For your ease, the table below portrays the application start and end dates for top universities in the US, offering Aerospace Engineering to international students.
Name of the University | Application Start and End Dates |
Massachusetts Institute of Technology | The application opens in the middle of August each year and closes on the 1st of November every year. |
California Institute of Technology | The Early Action for the application is still open, and it will close on 1st November 2025. |
Georgia Institute of Technology | The application process in the early action 1 stage is still open, and the last date for the Spring Intake 2025 is September 1, 2025. |
Stanford University |
|
Aerospace Engineering Colleges in USA: Visa Application Timeline
Being an aspirant of studying aerospace engineering in the US, you need to be careful about the Visa application timeline for both the fall and spring intakes. The table below portrays the timeline for visa application (Mainly F-1 Visa) for both intakes. These are:
Intakes | Visa Application Time |
Fall Intake | It starts from September, the students need to start applying for their Visas (Mainly F-1 Visa) from around January that year. |
Spring Intake | It begins in January, and the international students need to start their visa application from around April-May of the previous year. |
Temporarily, the visa interview process is halted for international students looking to go to the USA to study.
Aerospace Engineering Colleges in USA: Scholarship Deadline for 2025
Being an Indian student, you can have the opportunity of getting scholarships in your preferred Aerospace Engineering Colleges in USA. The table below demonstrates the details regarding scholarships along with the scholarship deadlines for 2025. These are:
Colleges | Scholarship Deadline |
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) | 15 February 2026 for regular action applicants 30 November 2025 for Early action applicants |
California Institute of Technology | May 2026 |
Georgia Institute of Technology | April 2026 |
Stanford University | October 2025 |
Why Choose Aerospace Engineering in the USA?
The following points are the reasons for choosing the United States as a preferred destination to study Aerospace Engineering.
- Prestigious Universities: In the United States, numerous prestigious universities are located that offer Aerospace Engineering to both domestic and international students. These include the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, California Institute of Technology, Stanford University and many others. Earning a degree in engineering from these colleges helps students gain global exposure to increase their skills.
- Research Facilities: Aerospace Engineering is a type of subject that requires students to engage in research activities frequently. Langley Research Center, Ames Research Center, Jet Propulsion Laboratory of NASA and many more are located in the US that enable the students to discover various cutting-edge technologies regarding aircraft and spacecraft.
- Opportunity to gain practical knowledge along with theoretical knowledge: In the United States, students of aerospace engineering get the chance to collaborate with industry experts working at Boeing, Airbus, Lockheed Martin and other aircraft companies. This can increase your skills.
- Vast career opportunities: Since the colleges and universities in the USA are globally acclaimed, earning degrees from these will help you increase your value in the job market.
Aerospace Engineering in the USA: Course Fees and Eligibility Criteria
On average, being an Indian student, you need to spend from ₹16,00,000 (around $18,500) to ₹56,00,000 (around $65,000) amounts yearly for studying in various Aerospace Engineering Colleges in USA.
Course Fees
The table below portrays the course fees of aerospace engineering at various popular colleges in the United States. These are:
Colleges Names | Course Fees (Annually) |
Massachusetts Institute of Technology | $61,990 (Around ₹54,00,000) |
California Institute of Technology | $65,000 (Around ₹56,00,000) |
Georgia Institute of Technology | $14,416 (Around ₹12,45,000) |
Stanford University | $65,082 (Around ₹56,15,000) |
Aerospace Engineering Colleges in USA: Eligibility Criteria
The following points denote the eligibility criteria for being selected for aerospace engineering in USA. These are:
- Scoring a minimum of 90 on the TOEFL
- A minimum of 6.5 on IELTS
- GRE is completely Optional (it varies according to the college)
- A minimum of 60% marks in the 10+2 or equivalent exam
- Passing 10+2 or any equivalent exam with a minimum of 50% marks along with the stream of PCM
For, master's degree, along with these criteria, the candidates need to have a 4-year bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering from any registered college is also required.
Aerospace Engineering in the USA: Application Process
The points in the following contain the detailed application process that the Indian students need to go through the following procedures. These are:
- Applying online through the websites of the respective colleges
- Uploading Resume and statement of purpose (SOP)
- The SOP will need to be approximately 1-2 pages long, 12-point font size and single-spaced
- Uploading scanned versions of the transcripts and the certificates of previous academic achievements
- The applicants need to upload their TOEFL or IELTS score (GRE is optional)
- The funding documents and the declaration of finances form will also need to be uploaded
Aerospace Engineering Colleges in USA: TOEFL/IELTS Requirements
On average, being an Indian student aspiring to study aerospace engineering in the USA, you need to score around 80 to 100 on the TOEFL and a minimum of 6.5 on the IELTS exam. But this varies in different colleges. The table below portrays the TOEFL/IELTS requirements in different Aerospace Engineering colleges in USA. These are:
Colleges | TOEFL Requirements | IELTS Requirements |
Massachusetts Institute of Technology | A minimum of 100 | A minimum of 7.0 in total |
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | A minimum of 103 | A minimum of 7.5 |
Georgia Institute of Technology | Around 90 | Around 7 |
California Institute of Technology | A minimum of 100 | A minimum of 7.0 in total |
Stanford University | A minimum of 100 | A minimum of 7.0 in total |
Aerospace Engineering Colleges in USA: SOP, LOR, and Resume
At the time of the application process, you need to submit your SOP, LOR and Resume to the respective university authority. It is mandatory in all Aerospace Engineering Colleges in USA. The table below demonstrates the things you need to include in your SOP, LOR and Resume. These are:
Documents | Notes | Requirements |
SOP | You need to convey your interest in studying aerospace engineering | It should be 1-2 pages and demonstrate the future Goals |
LOR | Your professors at the UG levels and internship guides will issue this | Recommendation of minimum of 2-3 academicians is required |
Resume | All your achievements, experiences, and qualifications will need to be added | Your detailed academic and professional journey needs to be portrayed in your resume |
Best Universities/Colleges for Aerospace Engineering in the USA
Public Universities
The following are the top public Aerospace Engineering Colleges in USA. These are:
- Georgia Institute of Technology (Rank 4 among National public universities)
- University of Michigan-Ann Arbor (Rank 21 among National public universities )
- Purdue University-West Lafayette (Rank 46 among National Public Universities and Rank 9 as the most innovative school)
- University of Colorado Boulder (rank 98 among top National Public Universities and Rank 46 among top 46 public schools)
Private Universities
Apart from these, some top-class private Aerospace Engineering Colleges in USA also exist. These are:
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Rank 2 among National Private Universities)
- California Institute of Technology (Rank 6 in National Private Universities and Rank 3 among the universities with the lowest acceptance rates)
- Stanford University (Rank 4 in National Private Universities and Rank 4 among the private universities with the lowest acceptance rates)
Global Rankings for Indian Applicants
The table below portrays the global ranking of the top Aerospace Engineering Colleges in USA. These are:
College Names | Global Ranking |
Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Rank 1 |
California Institute of Technology | Rank 10 |
Stanford University | Rank 3 |
University of Colorado Boulder | Rank 299 |
Purdue University-West Lafayette | Rank 88 |
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor | Rank 45 |
Georgia Institute of Technology | Rank 80 |
Aerospace Engineering in the USA vs India
The table below projects an overall comparison between Aerospace Engineering in the United States and India.
Criteria | The United States of America | India |
Course |
|
|
Top Colleges |
|
|
Necessary Language Test |
| Not Necessary |
Average Tuition Cost | Ranging from ₹16,00,000 (around $18,500) to ₹56,00,000 (around $65,000) yearly | Ranging from ₹50,000 to ₹10,00,000 yearly |
Course Duration | B.S-4 Years M.S-2 Years | B.Tech-4 Years M.Tech-2 Years |
Career Scope After Aerospace Engineering in the USA
In the US market, the overall scope for employment for aerospace engineers is increasing. Each year, almost 4,200 new aerospace engineers are employed all across the United States.
They get hired by popular aerospace companies such as Boeing, Lockheed Martin, SpaceX and many others. They mostly work to design and develop the aircraft and spacecraft, along with testing those. They are also hired to take care of satellites and missiles.
Aerospace Engineering in the USA: Salary Package
On average, aerospace engineers in the USA earn $1,41,022 yearly. This is equivalent to around ₹11,70,0000.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Is Aerospace Engineering a demanding subject in the United States?
A: Yes, studying engineering in Aerospace Engineering is highly demanding all across the USA
Q2: What kinds of colleges offer Aerospace Engineering to students?
A: Both the private and public colleges offer Aerospace Engineering to the students
Q3: Are Indian students allowed to study Aerospace Engineering in the USA?
A: Yes, the Indian students are allowed to study Aerospace Engineering in the USA.
Q4: What language test is necessary for Indian students to visit the US to study Aerospace Engineering?
A: The Indian students need to sit for the TOEFL and IELTS
Q5: Is the GRE mandatory for Indian Students?
A: No, GRE is not mandatory but optional for Indian students. It depends on the rules of the specific universities.
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