The Gambaro Graduate Program of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AAE) at Purdue continues to provide a top-tier graduate education, according to new rankings released by U.S. News and World Report. The school was ranked 6^th in the nation by the current assessment, marking more than a quarter century of Purdue AAE placing at this level or better.

“We’ve been 5^th or 6^th for the last 24 years now. Our strong reputation has drawn incredible numbers of talented students to enroll in and graduate from our school, to the point that we’re now the largest aerospace program in the country by degrees granted. Specific to the graduate rankings, we had the largest number of PhD graduates, too,” says Bill Crossley, the Uhrig and Vournas Head of Aeronautics and Astronautics.

“To do that while maintaining our long-held esteem is a remarkable feat.”

Purdue’s College of Engineering ranks first among Big 10 universities. Overall, the College of Engineering’s graduate program held in 4^th place for the third year running – its highest position in nearly 30 years.

In January, Purdue’s online engineering graduate program moved up from third to second place. The program continues expanding — a new online graduate certificate in hypersonics was just announced this month.

AAE’s undergraduate program was ranked fifth in the nation last fall. Purdue is also ranked in the top 10 most innovative schools.

Other high-ranked aerospace engineering programs include MIT, Cal Tech, Stanford, Georgia Tech and UM Ann Arbor.