Purdue University Aerospace Engineering: Forging the Future of Flight and Space
Purdue University boasts a distinguished aerospace engineering program with a rich history and a forward-looking vision. The program stands at the forefront of aerospace education and research, preparing students to shape the future of flight and space exploration. Purdue's legacy in space exploration is built on collaboration, innovation, and a relentless pursuit of discovery.
A Legacy Written in the Stars
Purdue University's contributions to space exploration are profound and well-documented. A striking example is the "30 Boilermakers" who have been chosen to become astronauts, a testament to the program's ability to cultivate exceptional talent.
Comprehensive Degree Programs
Purdue offers a range of aerospace engineering degree programs designed to cater to diverse interests and career aspirations. The university provides two degree programs focused on providing students with comprehensive knowledge and skills. Purdue Engineering’s online master’s engineering programs are ranked No. 1 by U.S. News & World Report in 2025.
To further broaden access to space engineering knowledge, Purdue offers an Undergraduate Space Engineering Certificate, opening opportunities for exposure and experience in space engineering to students across the campus and schools. The new credentials will build on Purdue’s traditional courses in space engineering across Aeronautics & Astronautics, Mechanical Engineering, and Electrical and Computer Engineering.
Tuition and Fees
For the 2019-2020 academic year, part-time graduate students at Purdue paid an average of $948 per credit hour if they came to the school from out-of-state.
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Diversity in Aerospace Engineering
While strides have been made, the aerospace industry, like many STEM fields, continues to strive for greater diversity. In the 2019-2020 academic year, 112 master’s degrees in aerospace engineering were awarded. According to data from that year, the racial and ethnic makeup of master's students in aerospace engineering at Purdue was as follows:
- Asian: 11
- Black or African American: 0
- Hispanic or Latino: 5
- Native American or Alaska Native: 0
- Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander: 0
- White: 55
- International Students: 33
- Other Races/Ethnicities: 8
The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students, international students, and students whose race/ethnicity was unknown. The percentage of racial-ethnic minorities among master's degree recipients was about the same as the nationwide number of 20%.
According to the Space Foundation, a nonprofit advocate organization working to advance the global space community, only 17% of the space agency’s workforce is under 35.
Faculty Expertise
Purdue's aerospace engineering program benefits from the leadership and expertise of renowned faculty members. Dan Dumbacher, for instance, has served in senior executive roles at NASA, including as deputy associate administrator of NASA’s Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate. In this role, he led a team of 5,000 people and managed a budget of $3 billion to initiate the Artemis campaign.
Kathleen Howell is a world-renowned expert in astrodynamics, known for her pioneering work on spacecraft orbits around Lagrange points to support lunar missions and space domain awareness. Her contributions to the field are so significant that an asteroid in the solar system has been named after her.
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Preparing for a Dynamic Industry
The aerospace industry is undergoing rapid transformation, encompassing commercial space ventures, government space programs, and defense systems. Purdue's aerospace engineering program is designed to equip graduates with the knowledge and skills to thrive in this dynamic environment. The main focus area for this major is Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering.
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