Bachelor's Degree in Aerospace Engineering

Bachelor of Science
WPI Aerospace Engineering students working on flight prototype
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Launch Your Future with a Degree in Aerospace Engineering @ WPI  

At a Glance

Bachelor's + Master's Program

BS/MS available: Earn both degrees in five years.

STEM-Designated Degree

Qualifies international students for extended U.S. work authorization through Optional Practical Training (OPT)

ABET Accredited

Ensuring program meets highest engineering standards

Proven Career Success

Average Starting Salary: $77,114 (Bachelor's degree graduates)* 

Notable Employers: SpaceX, Lockheed Martin, Blue Origin, RTX, BAE Systems** 

*WPI Class of 2024 First Destination Survey **WPI First Destination Survey data (2020–24) 

Application Deadlines

Early Decision/Early Action I: Nov. 1 

Early Decision/Early Action II: Jan. 5 

Regular Decision: Feb. 1 

Explore This Degree

Options

Customize Your Path

Your WPI degree is yours to shape. Specialize with a concentration to go deeper into the area driving your curiosity. Complement your major with a minor, or fill the rest with electives that interest you. And if you're not ready to be done, the accelerated BS/MS program earns you both your bachelor's and master's in just five years.

Concentrations

Aeronautics

Design what makes aircraft fly — aerodynamics, propulsion, composites, and the dynamics of flight.

Astronautics

Design what makes spacecraft fly — rocket propulsion, orbital mechanics, navigation, and flight dynamics.

Potential Minors

Business | Computer Science | Mathematics | Physics

View All Minors

Undecided? No problem. Apply now and explore before committing to a specific path. 

13:1

Student-to-Faculty Ratio 

235+

Student Clubs and Organizations

95%

Of First-Year Students Return for Their Sophomore Year (2025)

WPI Difference

What Makes WPI’s Aerospace Engineering Degree Distinct

Build rockets, drones, and spacecraft that actually fly.  

Through WPI's immersive seven-week terms and hands-on project work, you will pursue pathways to:

Design

real flight systems using the same tools as SpaceX and Boeing engineers

Test

your designs in wind tunnels and space simulators to prove they work 

Launch

actual projects—from high-altitude balloons to CubeSats

BUILD

a professional portfolio of completed projects at one of our 50+ project centers worldwide

 

CUSTOMIZE

your expertise by choosing a mix of electives or a concentration to match your interests

Collaborate

with teams across disciplines to develop solutions for today's complex challenges

Resources & Tech You'll Tap Into

WPI student in dimly lit low speed wind tunnel lab

Low-speed wind tunnel and aerodynamics lab

Test your wing and fuselage designs on real airfoils. Watch smoke flows reveal turbulence patterns while measuring lift and drag forces in real time.
WPI students in aerospace engineering lab and flight cavity

Vacuum chambers and space environment testing

Subject your spacecraft designs to the brutal reality of space. Test materials and components under extreme temperatures and pressures that match orbital conditions.
WPI students working on project or prototype

Controls and flight simulation lab

Code autopilot systems that keep planes stable and satellites on course. Test your control algorithms on professional simulators before they fly real missions.
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Research & Partnership Opportunities 

  • Fluid dynamics for supersonic flight 
  • Composite materials for lighter spacecraft 
  • Orbital mechanics and trajectory planning 
  • Rocket and jet propulsion systems 
  • Autonomous flight control systems 

Project-Based Learning Experiences

Apply aerospace engineering theory and practice from day one. Build a professional portfolio with real work that matters.

At WPI, learn in an immersive environment where classroom concepts transform into hands-on projects, thanks to our intensive, seven-week terms. Complete increasingly advanced projects for industry partners and community organizations, both local and global. Present your solutions directly to organizations that will implement what you create.  

Below, explore real projects completed by aerospace engineering students at WPI.

WPI students and professor huddled on computer
Global

📍Hangzhou, China

Students developed a cloud service platform concept and business plan for coordinating drone delivery operations in China's low altitude economy.

Global

📍Berlin, Germany

Teams created educational posters and data visualizations teaching lake ecosystem processes for the Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries.

Local

Department of Housing and Community Development - Chelsea

Students analyzed air quality data and recommended pollution mitigation strategies for the Department of Housing and Community Development in Chelsea, Mass. 

Local

Mass. Department of Environmental Protection

Project teams designed public notification systems and signage templates for the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection to alert communities about combined sewer overflow events.

Industry

U.S Army

Students designed and built a 1:10 scale autonomous aircraft prototype for the U.S. Army to deliver 100–250 kg payloads over 200–500 km ranges.

Industry

New England Air Museum

Teams produced computational fluid dynamics and finite element analysis on the historic Kaman K-16B aircraft for the New England Air Museum to understand V/STOL performance characteristics.

Skills & Salary

Skills You'll Gain

With WPI's aerospace engineering degree, you'll gain the technical expertise and hands-on experience to design aircraft, launch spacecraft, and engineer the future of flight.

Explore opportunities to build skills such as: 

Aircraft & Spacecraft Structural Design

Design aerospace structures with ANSYS and SolidWorks that survive extreme forces—from rocket launches to atmospheric reentry—while using advanced composites to cut weight.

Test your designs with simulation software to prove they won't fail when it matters, whether facing launch loads or turbulence at 30,000 feet. 

Propulsion Systems Analysis & Testing

Build jet engines and rocket motors in WPI's propulsion lab, then optimize thrust and efficiency using the same fluid dynamics software Boeing and SpaceX rely on.

Design complete propulsion systems—from combustion chambers to nozzles—and fire them up to see if your math checks out in real thrust tests.

Flight Dynamics & Control Systems

Code autonomous flight systems in MATLAB/Simulink to keep drones stable and spacecraft on course by processing sensor data and adjusting controls in milliseconds.

Create navigation algorithms for everything from commercial drones to Mars missions—the same guidance systems that land rovers on other planets.

Professional Excellence

Lead engineering teams through complete design cycles while managing real budgets, deadlines, and technical specs that aerospace companies demand.

Present your designs to NASA engineers, defense contractors, and startup founders—translating complex aerospace concepts into clear proposals that win funding and support.

→ Explore the full curriculum in the academic catalog.

Student Voice

"There's a lot of opportunities to develop new interests and ideas on campus and it's easy to get involved." 

El Garner ’28
El Garner ’28
BS in Aerospace Engineering

El engages in meaningful hands-on projects with mentorship from supportive faculty, while also getting involved in student community groups and activities.[...]

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#15

Best Career Placement

The Princeton Review (2026)
Top 15%

Best Colleges for Engineering in America

Niche (2025)
#53

Best Engineering Program in the United States (mechanical, aeronautical, and manufacturing)

QS World University Rankings
Career

Aerospace Engineering Career & Salary Outlook

Career Path 

Industry Sector 

Entry Level (0–5 years) 

Mid-Level (5–10 years) 

Senior Level (10+ years) 
Aircraft Design  Aerospace & Defense Aerospace Engineer 
$135K 		 Senior Aerospace Engineer 
$202K 		 Director of Aircraft Design 
$270K 
Propulsion Systems  Aerospace & Defense Propulsion Engineer 
$120K 		 Lead Propulsion Engineer 
$180K 		 Chief Propulsion Officer 
$276K 
Flight Testing  Aerospace & Defense Flight Test Engineer 
$115K 		 Senior Flight Test Engineer 
$173K 		 Director of Flight Test Operations 
$265K 
Spacecraft Systems  Space Technology Spacecraft Systems Engineer 
$130K 		 Senior Spacecraft Systems Engineer 
$195K 		 Director of Spacecraft Engineering 
$299K 
Avionics & Controls  Aerospace & Defense Avionics Engineer 
$110K 		 Lead Avionics Engineer 
$165K 		 Director of Avionics Systems 
$253K 
Autonomous Aerial Systems  Emerging Tech UAV Systems Engineer 
$105K 		 Senior Drone Systems Engineer 
$158K 		 Director of Autonomous Systems 
$242K 

Salary data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics 

Tuition & Costs
Preview

Financing Your Future

College is a great investment in your future—and we’re here to help you plan for it. Explore WPI’s cost of attendance and learn how our Office of Financial Aid can guide you through options for funding your education. 

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Start Building Your Future Today

WPI's simple formula helps students thrive: "Go to class. Do the work. Ask for help." With our aerospace engineering degree, you'll gain the skills, experience, and connections to design next-generation aircraft and engineer the future of flight. 

Continue Your Studies

MS in Aerospace Engineering
PhD in Aerospace Engineering

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