The 20 Best Master's in Aeronautics/Aviation Engineering Online
Updated October 12, 2022
Masters aeronautical engineering degrees are coveted credentials that enable students to rise to the top of a soaring industry. Professionals who hold these credentials are very well-paid. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, aerospace and aviation engineers earn a median annual salary of $109,650 while the highest earners make over $160,000 a year. In this ranking, we explore the top online master's in aeronautics/aviation engineering programs.
Featured Online Schools
Top 10 Ranking Masters Degrees in Aeronautics/Aviation Engineering
| Rank | School | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Colorado-Boulder | Boulder, CO |
| 2 | Purdue University | West Lafayette, IN |
| 3 | Missouri University of Science and Technology | Rolla, MO |
| 4 | University of Florida | Gainesville, FL |
| 5 | University of Washington | Seattle, WA |
| 6 | Virginia Tech | Blacksburg, VA |
| 7 | University of Southern California | Los Angeles, CA |
| 8 | University of Texas-Arlington | Arlington, TX |
| 9 | North Carolina State University | Raleigh, NC |
| 10 | Auburn University | Auburn, AL |
Ranking the Top Online Masters Degrees in Aeronautics/Aviation Engineering
To develop the following ranking of best online masters in aeronautics/aviation engineering programs, our editors considered the 29 online graduate aeronautical engineering offerings ranked by U.S. News & World Report. Tuition information from College Navigator was considered when applying the rating and ranking methodology above, as was information from each school's website. In cases of a tie, the more affordable programs received the higher ranking.
#20 – Georgia Technical University
Online MS in Aerospace Engineering
Website
Georgia Tech’s online master's in aeronautics engineering program is offered through the Daniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering. Classes are live-streamed for students who desire a synchronous experience, but they are also recorded and archived for those who wish to complete their coursework asynchronously. Sample courses comprising the curriculum for this program Propulsion Systems Design, Rotary Wing Aerodynamics, Turbulent Combustion, and Optoelectric Systems. Georgia Tech has been named one of the top awarders of master's degrees in aerospace engineering online.
In-State Tuition: $13,452
#19 – University of Central Florida
Aerospace Engineering MS Online
Website
The top online masters in aeronautics/aviation engineering program from the University of Central Florida’s College of Engineering and Computer Science is a Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering with a specialty track in Thermofluid Aerodynamics Systems Design & Engineering. Courses will cover topics such as aerodynamics, controls and dynamics, propulsion, and thermal analysis and design. Students who earn their master's in aeronautics/aviation engineering online degree will find top positions as mechanical engineers, compliance officers, materials engineers, spacecraft designers, and more.
In-State Tuition: $6,916
#18 –Johns Hopkins University
Online Master of Science in Space Systems Engineering
Website
Johns Hopkins University’s Whiting School of Engineering offers an online MS in aerospace engineering program featuring two optional focus areas: Leadership/Management and Technical Systems/Subsystems. Enrolled students will take core aerospace engineering courses such as Fundamentals of Engineering Space Systems, Small Satellite Development & Experimentation, and Systems Engineering for Space as well as specialization courses like Management of Systems Projects, Electro Optical Systems, and Assuring Success of Aerospace Systems. Students can take the courses required for their aerospace engineering master's programs online either fully online or via a blended format.
In-State Tuition: $50,410
#17 –University of Illinois- Urbana- Champaign
Master's in Aerospace Engineering Online
Website
The University of Illinois- Urbana- Champaign offers a fully online, non-thesis online master's in aeronautics/aviation engineering program from its Department of Aerospace Engineering. The curriculum for this 32-credit hour offering is identical to the school’s on-campus offering and covers all three major branches of aerospace engineering: fluid mechanics, solid mechanics and materials, and dynamics and controls. Students pursuing their master's degrees in aerospace engineering online will take courses such as Electric Propulsion, Aircraft Flight Mechanics, Optimal Space Trajectories, Nonlinear Aeroelasticity, and Advanced Orbital Mechanics.
In-State Tuition: $15,267
#16 –University of Alabama
Online Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics
Website
The University of Alabama offers a master's in aeronautical engineering online program with both a thesis and non-thesis option, though most distance education students opt for the non-thesis option. Students are required to take just two core courses: one in aerospace engineering and one in mechanical engineering. The remainder of the program is comprised of elective classes, meaning the curriculum can be self-customized to a large extent. Sample core courses include Advanced Dynamics of Flight, Theory of Elasticity, Continuum Mechanics, and Airfoil and Wing Theory. Students must pass a comprehensive exam or complete a culminating experience before earning their aeronautics/aviation online masters degrees.
In-State Tuition: $10,470
#15 –University of Maine
Online Professional Master of Science in Engineering and Business: Aerospace Engineering
Website
The University of Maine’s master's in aerospace engineering online program is technically a Professional Science Master (PSM) in Engineering and Business with a specialization in Aerospace Engineering. Enrolled students will take a required course in Advanced Project Management as well as aerospace engineering concentration courses like Aeronautics, Flight Dynamics and Control of Aircraft, Astronautics, and Spacecraft Orbit and Altitude Dynamics and Control. Students must also complete an internship prior to earning their MS degrees in aerospace engineering online.
In-State Tuition: $7,524
#14 – Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Online MS in Aviation Engineering
Website
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University offers a 30-credit hour master's in aeronautical engineering online program with both thesis and non-thesis options. The curriculum is prescribed and includes course titles such as Aircraft Structural Dynamics, Introduction to the Finite Element Method, Smart Materials in Engineering, and Engineering Materials Selection. In Fall of 2018, this master's in aeronautics engineering online program will expand to include the areas of aerodynamics and propulsion and dynamics and control.
In-State Tuition: $7,440
#13 – University of Virginia
Aerospace Engineering MS Online
Website
The University of Virginia offers a 30-semester hour, non-thesis online master's in aeronautics engineering program through its School of Engineering and Applied Science and the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. Sample courses comprising the curriculum for this offering include Statistics for Engineers and Scientists, Multibody Mechanical Systems, Finite Element Analysis, and Multiphase Flow. UV’s aerospace engineering MS online program combines both asynchronous and synchronous courses to provide students with a flexible, yet interactive learning experience.
In-State Tuition: $15,026
#12 –University of California- Los Angeles
Online Master of Engineering: Aerospace Engineering
Website
The University of California- Los Angeles offers one of the more comprehensive MS programs in aeronautics engineering online. The curriculum for this offering covers three major technical areas : aerodynamics and computational fluid dynamics (CFD), systems and control, and structures and dynamics. Specific topics covered include linear dynamic systems, computational aerodynamics, digital control of physical symptoms, and design for aerospace structures. Students must also pass a cumulative exam prior to earning their aerospace engineering online master's degrees. The program can be completed in just over two years.
In-State Tuition: $11,220
#11 –Old Dominion University
Online Master’s in Aerospace Engineering
Website
The top masters in aviation engineering online programs from Old Dominion University’s Frank Batten College of Engineering and Technology include both a Master of Science and Master of Engineering degree program. Although the curricula for these programs are similar, MS students will complete a thesis, while ME students will take a comprehensive exam upon graduation. Classes are synchronous, meaning classes are live-streamed at a specific, scheduled time. Those who complete their aerospace engineering online MS degrees will be prepared for high-level positions in research organizations, consulting firms, private companies, and government agencies.
In-State Tuition: $8,736
#10 –Auburn University
Online Master's in Aerospace Engineering
Website
Auburn University offers a flexible master's in aeronautical engineering online program from its Department of Aerospace Engineering. This offering is specifically designed for those individuals with an undergraduate degree in aerospace or mechanical engineering, though exceptions may be made on a case by case basis. Sample course titles include Space Propulsion, Dynamic Simulation, Spacecraft Altitude Dynamics and Control, Rocket Propulsion, and Applied Orbital Mechanics. It is important to note that Auburn requires students to pass an on-campus oral examination prior to earning their online MS degrees in aerospace engineering.
In-State Tuition: $9,072
#9 – North Carolina State University
Online MS in Aviation Engineering
Website
The master's in aerospace engineering online program from North Carolina State University is a 30-credit hour, fully online option. Available through the school’s Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, the program is primarily asynchronous, though enrolled students will have to meet specified deadlines. Sample course topics include Mechanical Design for Automated Assembly, Design for Strength and Endurance, Principles of Structural Vibration, and Design for Electromechanical Systems. No thesis or final exam is required in order for students to earn their online master's degrees in aeronautics/aviation engineering.
In-State Tuition: $8,088
#8 – University of Texas- Arlington
Online MS in Aeronautics Engineering
Website
The University of Texas-Arlington offers a master's in aeronauts engineering online program that emphasizes experimentation and modern mathematical analysis. Enrolled students will choose one of four available specializations: Fluid Dynamics, Aerodynamics, and Propulsion; Structural Mechanics and Structures; Flight Mechanics and Controls; and Vehicle Design. The curriculum for the program covers a wide variety of topics in aerospace engineering, including aerodynamics, flight dynamics, propulsion, fluid mechanics, and structural analysis. Those who earn their online master's degrees in aerospace engineering online are prepared for research and development careers in aerospace engineering or for doctoral study in the field.
In-State Tuition: $7,141
#7 –University of Southern California
Online Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering
Website
The University of Southern California offers a highly versatile masters of aerospace engineering online program from its Viterbi School of Engineering. The program features six different specializations areas: Aerodynamics/Fluid Dynamics, Aerospace Control, Aerospace Design, Aerospace Structures, Computational Fluid Dynamics, and Propulsion. In addition to specialization classes, students will take core courses such as Engineering Analytical Methods, Compressible Gas Dynamics, Flight Vehicle Stability and Control, and Elements of Vehicle and Energy Systems Design. Students must maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA to earn their online master's degrees in aeronautics engineering.
In-State Tuition: $41,592
#6 –Virginia Tech
Online MS in Aeronautics Engineering
Website
Virginia Tech offers both thesis and non-thesis master's degrees in aeronautics engineering online. Both programs consist of 30 credit hours and are comprised of both synchronous and asynchronous courses. Students will take four required core courses: Vehicle Structures, Vehicle Dynamics & Control, Applied Numerical Methods, and Advanced Aero/Hydrodynamics. Elective classes include Transonic Aerodynamics, Structural Optimization, Computational Fluid Dynamics, and Verification and Validation of Scientific Computing, for instance. A final oral examination is required prior to students earning their master's degrees in aerospace engineering online.
In-State Tuition: $12,467
#5 – University of Washington
Online Master's in Aeronautics Engineering
Website
The online master's in aeronautics engineering program from the University of Washington’s William E. Boeing Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics is a 45-credit hour, multidisciplinary offering. Enrolled students will choose one of four available concentrations: Controls, Fluids, Structures, or Composites. Sample course titles include Rocket Propulsion, Computational Methods in Aerodynamics, Classical Control Theory, and Manufacturing of Aerospace Composites. Students can earn their online master's degrees in aeronautics engineering in three years on a part-time basis.
In-State Tuition: $15,207
#4 –University of Florida
Online Master’s in Aerospace Engineering
Website
The University of Florida offers a robust master's in aeronautical engineering online option through the Electronic Delivery of Gator Engineering (EDGE) program. The program features three areas of specialization: Dynamics, Systems, & Controls; Solid Mechanics & Design; and Thermal Fluids Transport. The 30 credit hour curriculum consists of course titles such as Nonlinear Control, Computational Fluid Dynamics, Design of Thermal Systems, and Robust Control for Aerospace Engineering, for example. These top masters in aerospace engineering programs online can be completed in just 24 months.
In-State Tuition: $10,770
#3 –Missouri University of Science and Technology
Online Master’s in Aerospace Engineering
Website
The Missouri University of Science & Technology offers 30-credit hour thesis and non-thesis online MS programs in aerospace engineering. Enrolled students will take various courses in aerospace engineering, including Fracture Mechanics, Applied Computational Methods, Aeroelasticity, Introduction to Composite Materials and Structure, and Advanced Finite Element Analysis. In addition to the master's degrees in aerospace engineering online options, Missouri S&T also offers several graduate certificates in aerospace engineering, including certificates in Energy Conversion & Transport, Engineering Mechanics, and Manufacturing Automation, for example.
In-State Tuition: $9,566
#2 – Purdue University
Online Master of Science in Aeronautics and Astronautics Engineering
Website
Purdue University offers two distinct master's degrees in aeronautics engineering online from its School of Aeronautics & Astronautics: a Master of Science in Aeronautics and Astronautics Engineering and an Interdisciplinary Master of Science in Engineering with a concentration in Aeronautics and Astronautics. Both programs are non-thesis options designed for practicing engineers. Sample course titles comprising the curriculum for this online master's in aeronautics engineering program include Optimization in Aerospace Engineering, Hypersonic Propulsion, Intermediate Aerodynamics, and Introduction to Fluid Mechanics.
In-State Tuition: $9,208
#1 –University of Colorado- Boulder
Online Professional Master’s in Aerospace Engineering
Website2
Master's in aeronautical engineering online students can pursue a Master of Science or Professional Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Colorado-Boulder’s Ann and HJ Smead School of Aerospace Engineering Sciences. These programs allow for specialization in one of four distinct areas: Aerospace Engineering Systems; Astrodynamics and Satellite Navigation Systems; Bioastronautics; and Remote Sensing, Earth and Space Science. Graduate certificates in astrodynamics and satellite navigation systems and remote sensing are also available. The curriculum for this online master's in aerospace engineering offering is delivered synchronously, and courses can be taken entirely online or via a blended learning format.
In-State Tuition: $10,836
This concludes our ranking of the top online master's in aeronautics/aviation engineering.
Rating and Ranking Methodology
Tuition Points:
- Under $25,000—1 point
- Under $20,000—2 points
- Under $15,000—3 points
- Under $10,000—4 points
US News and World Report Recognition as a Top Online School for Master’s Engineering Programs
- Top 10— 4 points
- Top 25 —3 points
- Top 50 —2 points
- Top 75 —1 point
Customization Options
- Format Customizations (e.g. Hybrid/Online, Full-time/Part-Time, Accelerated, Degree Completion, etc.)—1 Point Per Customization Option
- Content Customizations (e.g. Minors, Concentrations, Specializations, etc.)—1 Point Per Customization Option (5-point cap)
Wow Factor
- 1 point awarded for each unique feature or program that “wowed” us
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