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What colleges are good for a major in aerospace engineering?
I am currently in high school and I am interested in majoring in aerospace engineering. I do not really know where to begin to look for colleges to attend.
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Klaus’s Answer
You can start here https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-engineering-schools/aerospace-rankings.
To refine your list, please spend time and go visit every school aero space engineering department website and look for undergraduate resources. Find out what they offer outside classes. For example, some schools list all AE research opportunities for undergraduate. Theses are great opportunities to get your hand into AE industry early. Others like MIT have partnership with leading aero companies like Lockheed Martin in research and engineering which you may even be able to find exchange opportunities.
To refine your list, please spend time and go visit every school aero space engineering department website and look for undergraduate resources. Find out what they offer outside classes. For example, some schools list all AE research opportunities for undergraduate. Theses are great opportunities to get your hand into AE industry early. Others like MIT have partnership with leading aero companies like Lockheed Martin in research and engineering which you may even be able to find exchange opportunities.
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John’s Answer
To generate ideas, one idea would be to find companies you're interested in, such as Boeing, on Linkedin, then go to the "people" tab to see the people who are employed there and see what schools they went to. In particular it could be interesting to see where the current interns and coop students are going to school, because a lot of companies will tend to gravitate toward certain schools for recruiting interns and coop students. If you're able to get in touch with any employees or interns there on LinkedIn there's a decent chance they'd be willing to share their insights on schools based on people they've worked with if you ask politely.
It may be worth expanding your search to a mechanical engineering program; it's pretty common for mechanical engineering majors to get aero experience either in a college aerospace club or with an internship at an aerospace company and then go on and start their career in aerospace. In my opinion mechanical and aerospace degrees at the undergrad level can be fairly interchangeable given the right amount of internship / club experience.
I believe Embry-Riddle is a good school, but personally I'm not sure it can justify the high cost compared to other similarly good programs. MIT and UC Berkeley are two very good schools in the engineering space, but I certainly wouldn't discount state schools as well. In particular I believe UMass Amherst has a very good engineering program with good internship/coop placement relationships. The job market for mechanical engineers is particularly strong in Massachussetts and Los Angeles, though there are other good areas as well.
It may be worth expanding your search to a mechanical engineering program; it's pretty common for mechanical engineering majors to get aero experience either in a college aerospace club or with an internship at an aerospace company and then go on and start their career in aerospace. In my opinion mechanical and aerospace degrees at the undergrad level can be fairly interchangeable given the right amount of internship / club experience.
I believe Embry-Riddle is a good school, but personally I'm not sure it can justify the high cost compared to other similarly good programs. MIT and UC Berkeley are two very good schools in the engineering space, but I certainly wouldn't discount state schools as well. In particular I believe UMass Amherst has a very good engineering program with good internship/coop placement relationships. The job market for mechanical engineers is particularly strong in Massachussetts and Los Angeles, though there are other good areas as well.
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Amber’s Answer
I would recommend to search your degree online to see what colleges offer it. I have heard about Embry Riddle being a desirable school for pilots and engineers. A school counselor can assist as well. A google search may be helpful in regards to options. I would also recommend using Linkedin to see what major companies in the aerospace offer and you can see who is employed there and what colleges they went to. You can find mentors or sponsors through LinkedIn at the companies that you are interested in working for one day.
School counselor
Seach aerospace companies
Search aerospace degrees to find what colleges offer it
Amber recommends the following next steps:
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Peter’s Answer
Might I suggest my Alma Mater, University of Washington? Washington is a top-notch University with a great Aerospace Dept. And it feeds many graduates to Boeing, which has a huge presence in the Puget Sound area, employing many thousands of aerospace and aeronautical engineers. In addition, Blue Origin, the major Amazon space venture, has its headquarters nearby4, not to mention Aerojet. To sum it up, excellent college and huge employment opportunities.
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Drew’s Answer
The best, I have seen, is Embry-Riddle. I have not done enough research to prove this, but I work with aerospace engineers and they have all mentioend it. I am sure others are as good, though.