Prospective Students in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering
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Office of Future Engineers
We are the
#1
public institution for graduate aerospace engineering
(U.S. News and World Report 2024)
Careers in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering
Graduates from the Purdue School of Aeronautics and Astronautics hold a certain prestige among their colleagues. We also tend to be more passionate about aircraft and spacecraft than other engineering disciplines.
Our hands-on courses teach skills in aerodynamics, rocket and jet propulsion, aircraft structures, autonomous systems, and space mission planning. With an AAE degree, you could have your hands in thousands of projects in the aerospace industry, including:
- human missions to the Moon and Mars
- self-flying air taxis
- missile defense technologies
- satellite design, launch, and tracking
- hydrogen-fueled jet engines
- and much more!
Top Employers*
| Northrop Grumman | Lockheed Martin |
| Blue Origin | Collins Aerospace |
| Gulfstream Aerospace | Raytheon |
| Rolls-Royce | GE Aerospace |
| Aerojet Rocketdyne | Pratt & Whitney |
| Boeing | Astranis Space Technologies |
| United States Air Force | NASA |
| United States Space Force | SpaceX |
| Bell Flight | ANSYS |
Top Employment States*
| California | Washington |
| Indiana | Texas |
| Virginia | Colorado |
| Utah | Alabama |
| Georgia | Pennsylvania |
*These figures are based on research done by the Purdue Center for Career Opportunities on the AAE Class of 2022.
What is Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering?
The School of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AAE) focuses on the study of aerospace engineering, also known as aeronautical and astronautical engineering. This discipline encompasses the systems and physical phenomena defining flight in and out of Earth’s atmosphere, including aerodynamics, propulsion, orbital dynamics, control systems and aerospace structures.
The BS AAE degree prepares you for a wide range of jobs in aerospace engineering. Graduates design, develop and work with a wide range of technologies including aircraft powerplant and airframe design; rocket propulsion; missiles and defense; satellites and spacecraft design; space mission and trajectory planning; astronaut training; and motorsports.
Purdue engineers have an interest in changing the world, making an impact in their communities, and doing meaningful work. Strong leadership characteristics, ingenuity, adaptability, critical thinking, problem solving skills, and technical proficiency are among the main competencies that our students gain. Purdue engineering is dedicated to helping students attain the skills and attributes needed to succeed in this rapidly-changing global economy.
AAE Offices
Location
Neil Armstrong Hall of Engineering, Suite 2000
701 W. Stadium Avenue
West Lafayette, IN 47907-2045
Phone: (765) 494-5117
Fax: (765) 494-0307
Email: aaeugrad@purdue.edu
Hours
Monday - Friday
8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
For additional information, please contact the Office of Future Engineers.