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Aerospace engineering students learn the physical and mechanical foundations of flight and space travel. These include the principles of aerodynamics, electromechanical systems, computation, thermodynamics, and space mechanics.

It's rare to find a fully online aerospace engineering program because they require special laboratory equipment that's usually found on college campuses. Make sure to check an online program's accreditation status if you find one. 

Most aerospace engineering bachelor's degrees require 120-128 credit hours, which can take as little as four years to complete with a full-time schedule. But some schools estimate a six-year completion time for online aerospace engineering programs, which may be due to required campus visits where students are asked to work in laboratories.

If you do attend an online program, you'll probably take asynchronous courses with no live meetings. Instead, you learn by watching lectures, downloading readings, and interacting with classmates in a learning management platform.

Admission requirements differ by school. Applicants typically need to submit high school or GED transcripts showing a 2.5-3.0 GPA, at least one letter of recommendation, and a personal essay. Many schools also require ACT or SAT scores, though . 

Bachelor's graduates might choose to continue their studies with an affordable master's degree in aerospace engineering.

Students need to learn advanced mathematics, physics, and materials science before they can put machines into the air. Some programs feature a specialized concentration, which is usually a choice between aeronautical and astronautical engineering 鈥� that is, either aircraft or spacecraft. However, the following online courses are common to the core of all aerospace engineering online degree programs, not just those with concentrations. 

• Aerodynamics: Aerodynamics is at the heart of flight because it describes how solid materials move through and react to air. Students typically learn about compressible and noncompressible flows, differential analysis, and gas dynamics.
• Flight Dynamics: This course covers the specific principles of aerodynamics that apply to aircraft and spacecraft. Professors lecture on lift, drag, weight, and thrust, and students usually conduct lab experiments using different types of airfoils and resistance.
• Instrumentation for Flight: Enrollees learn to design electromechanical systems that help airframes leave the ground and fly safely. They also learn to create workable user interfaces for complex flight software and instrument panels.
• Propulsion: Propulsion is one of the key components of flight, so aerospace engineering students usually study it over a series of courses. Some of these courses include work in special propulsion labs where students can witness rocket nozzles, propellers, and combustion chambers in action.

If you're looking for an exclusively online degree, you might find one in one of the following disciplines that are related to aerospace engineering. Make sure to always ask admissions officers whether individual programs have in-person learning requirements.

• Aviation: Bachelor's degrees in aviation can cover everything from aviation management to professional pilot programs. A number of colleges offer online degrees, but pilot programs also require hundreds of hours of flight time.
• Engineering Technology: Many engineering specializations rely on engineering technologists who work closely with engineers to implement their designs and solutions. You can seek an online engineering technology degree in various disciplines, such as a mechanical engineering degree or an electrical engineering degree.
• Industrial Engineering: Students of this discipline learn to design and improve fundamental production processes. Industrial engineering programs cover much of the same math and physics material as aerospace engineering programs. At the bachelor's degree level, this program is similar to a systems engineering degree, although the career paths of graduates can vary largely. 
• Space Studies: As with aviation, this field contains a variety of career paths. For example, some programs feature concentrations in astronomy while others focus on space policy. A space studies degree might help you qualify for work in space research or agency administration. 

You can also see our list of the most affordable bachelor's in engineering degrees, though not all of these colleges offer aerospace programs.

Aerospace engineering students develop both technical expertise and valuable soft skills, including analytical problem-solving, deductive reasoning, and clear communication. These abilities, combined with a strong foundation in flight mechanics and systems design, can prepare graduates for careers in a range of specialized roles.

Professionals in this field typically focus on either atmospheric or space flight:

• Aeronautical engineers work on aircraft and other vehicles that operate within Earth鈥檚 atmosphere. They may be employed by commercial manufacturers, defense contractors, or federal agencies responsible for setting safety and quality standards.
• Astronautical engineers concentrate on spacecraft and satellite systems. These professionals often work in government or commercial space exploration, satellite deployment, or aerospace R&D organizations.

Yes, but fully online bachelor's degree programs in aerospace engineering are rare, which is why we only have two on our list from accredited schools. This type of program is offered on campus more often because students need access to laboratories with cumbersome equipment and special instruments to study aerodynamics and propulsion systems. Even programs with asynchronous online coursework typically feature campus visits.

The BLS expects the in the 2023-2033 period. This growth rate is slightly higher than the rate for all U.S. jobs combined. Students can expect about 4,200 open positions per year due to growth and turnover.

Aerospace engineering is a broad term encompassing both aeronautical and astronautical engineering. Aeronautical engineering deals with aircraft in the earth's atmosphere, whereas astronautical engineering covers vehicles that leave the atmosphere for space. Bachelor's students often learn concepts from both, although engineers tend to specialize in one or the other during their careers.

Aerospace engineering degrees can be very difficult to complete. Students must master math and science principles that took humanity most of its history to develop, and the costly equipment involved in aerospace engineering means that professors (and employers) expect good performance. Even if you're an engineering wiz, you may struggle with other required soft skills, such as collaboration, critical thinking, or writing.

Before committing your time and money, you should determine what matters to you most in your education. The questions below might help you get a sense of what you want from your bachelor's in aerospace engineering.

Is This College Accredited?

Some of these questions help you find your nice-to-haves, but institutional accreditation is a must-have. Independent accrediting bodies review an entire school and grant it accreditation if they find it to have high-quality academic standards, curricula, faculty, and services.

Most schools list their accreditation status on their websites, but it's a good idea to double-check any claims using the U.S. Department of Education's .

Is This Aerospace Engineering Program Accredited?

The Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) grants accreditation to individual aerospace engineering programs. ABET's stamp of approval can be very important to an aerospace engineer's career because some employers prefer applicants from ABET-accredited programs. You can search ABET's for both online and on-campus options. 

Is There Anything Else I'm Looking For?

Additional factors can range from crucial, such as necessary disability accommodations, to mere preferences, such as well-known faculty members or alumni networking events. Some of these considerations might help tip the balance if you're closely weighing two or three colleges.

Do I Want To Study on Campus or Online?

This question is related to accreditation but goes further. If you want an ABET-accredited degree, then it's in your best interest to consider on-campus programs. But you may prefer an online program for the flexibility it offers; the ability to make your own classwork schedule can make it easier to balance work with school and other parts of your life.  

Read our Guide to Starting an Online Education if you're curious about the practicalities of distance learning.