2023 Most Affordable Online Master's Degrees in Aerospace Engineering

The University of Alabama (UA) is a public institution offering an online Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics (MSAEM) to help students develop skills in designing and building aircraft, missiles, or systems for national defense. This 30-credit program takes approximately two years to complete if attending full time. Students can choose between a thesis or non-thesis option.

UA delivers its online curriculum via the Blackboard learning management system (LMS). Graduate students in the online MSAEM program enroll in a wide variety of courses — such as Intermediate Dynamics, Theory of Elasticity, Airfoil and Wing Theory, Orbital Mechanics, and Intermediate Fluid Mechanics. Students who are not pursuing a thesis must also complete a proctored comprehensive exam for PhD qualification or a culminating experience.

Mississippi State University is a public institution offering an online Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering, which is made available by the Department of Aerospace Engineering and the Bagley College of Engineering. Areas of study include fluid dynamics, structural mechanics, controls, and autonomous systems. Graduating requires completing 30 credit hours of coursework and choosing a thesis or non-thesis option.

Mississippi State delivers 100% online coursework and instruction via the LMS Canvas. Distance learners enrolled in the online master's in aerospace engineering degrees enroll in courses such as Automatic Control, Advanced Compressible Aerodynamics I, Theory of Continuous Media, and Advanced Orbital Mechanics. Students in the non-thesis program option must pass a written examination.

Old Dominion University (ODU) is a public institution offering an online Master of Engineering in Aerospace Engineering through its global campus. Students must complete 30 credit hours to graduate, which may take two years of full-time attendance. Graduating from this online program also requires passing a comprehensive exam. Similarly, ODU offers an online Master of Science in Engineering - Aerospace Engineering, which requires completing a thesis to graduate.

ODU uses Canvas as its online LMS so distance learners can access coursework and instruction. Those enrolled in ODU's online Master of Engineering take courses such as Modern Control Theory, Design of Experiments, Advanced Mechanics of Solids, and Continuum Mechanics. The online curriculum can help prepare students for jobs in government agencies, consulting firms, research organizations, and high-tech firms.

Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) is a defense-focused graduate university that's part of the U.S. Navy. It offers an online Master of Science in Engineering Science - Aerospace Engineering for students interested in operating and maintaining modern military aerospace systems.

This online graduate program starts each summer and takes students approximately two years to complete if they take two courses per quarter. Active-duty Navy and Marine Corps officers are given enrollment priority. However, vacant seats are available for open enrollment to other uniformed service members, federal government civilians, and approved Department of Defense contractors.

NPS delivers online course content and instruction via the Sakai LMS. Distance learners in the online aerospace engineering program enroll in courses such as Advanced Missile Propulsion, Astrodynamic Optimization, and Mechanics of Solids. Students must also complete a thesis project in order to graduate.

The University of Florida (UF) is a public institution offering an online Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering with three concentration options: (1) Dynamics, Systems, and Controls; (2) Solid Mechanics, Design, and Manufacturing; and (3) Thermal Sciences and Fluid Dynamics. Students who opt for the thesis degree option must complete 24 credit hours of coursework and six in thesis research. Those opting for the non-thesis option must complete 30 credit hours of coursework, with at least 18 in the major field, and a comprehensive final exam. This program generally takes full-time students at least two years to complete.

UF delivers its online curriculum via Canvas. Distance learners enrolled in the online master's degree in aerospace engineering take courses such as Orthopaedic Biomechanics, Experimental Stress Analysis, Solar Energy Utilization, and Classical Thermodynamics — depending on the concentration chosen.