The Department of Aerospace Engineering at the University of Michigan has a long and distinguished history as the nation’s oldest aerospace program. Our graduate program is ranked No. 5 among public institutions.

The scope and quality of research here touches on all major technical disciplines of the field which attracts top talent to Ann Arbor. In addition, our reputation for collegiality provides an optimum environment for learning and growth.

Fundamental and applied research

Our graduate students perform cutting-edge research in aerospace engineering-related subjects. A combination of fundamental and applied research topics is a hallmark of our graduate program. In recent years our research has been additionally complemented by new efforts that are addressing engineering systems and applications research. These extend well beyond the traditional boundaries of aerospace engineering sciences and include such contemporary topics as energy usage, environmental sustainability, homeland defense, autonomous systems, and large-scale computing.

These developments are as globally relevant and outward-thinking as the world-class experts and students who call our department home.

LEADERS AND BEST

Our students break new ground in the field of aerospace and aeronautics and go on to join the largest aerospace engineering alumni base in the United States, including Kelly Johnson, the famous Lockheed Skunk Works designer behind innovative aircraft such as the SR-71.

Our large alumni base also includes faculty at prestigious universities, leaders and CEOs of established aerospace corporations and energetic start-up ventures, researchers in national government labs, and the brave people who explore space as astronauts.

#5

GRADUATE PROGRAM

Our graduate program is ranked No. 5 among public institutions in the nation by U.S. News and World Report.

$14.5M

RESEARCH EXPENDITURES

Faculty and students work on research funded by the federal government and private sector worth millions of dollars.

32

COUNTRIES

Our graduate students hail from 32 countries, from every corner of the globe.

Master of Science in Engineering


Learn more about the primary master’s degree offered in our department.

Master of Engineering


This degree provides insight and education in the systems engineering and management area.

Doctor of Philosophy


More more about our PhD program’s background and requirements.

Admission Guidelines & Planning


Find out what we look for in a graduate school application.

Application Process


Details on everything you need to do to apply.

Funding


More more about paying for our graduate programs.

Current Graduate Students


Information for students planning course selections, and more.

Students working inside the Large Vacuum Test Facility inside the Plasmadynamics and Electric Propulsion Laboratory (PEPL)

Top Notch Research

Get Involved

Thomson Reuters reports that Michigan Aerospace is at the center of the most impactful aerospace research being done.

RECENT GRADUATE STUDENT NEWS

Michigan Aerospace Masters Student Awarded the Chia-Lun Lo Fellowship

Congratulations Yu Syuan Lin for receiving the Chia-Lun Lo/Rackham International Students Fellowship

Miguel Castroviejo Fernandez Announced as 2024 FXB Fellowship Awardee

PhD student awarded one of Michigan Aerospace’s most prestigious fellowships

PhD Student Joshua Eckels Awarded NASA Space Technology Graduate Research Fellowship

Eckels recognized for innovative space technology research with NASA funding

Hall thruster firing for the first time in a vacuum chamber at the Plasmadynamics and Electric Propulsion Laboratory at the University of Michigan.

Ph.D. Student Will Hurley Awarded NASA Space Technology Graduate Research Fellowship

Hurley recognized for innovative space technology research with NASA funding

Richard and Eleanor Towner Prize for Outstanding Academic Achievement Awarded to Ruowen Tu

Aerospace Ph.D. candidate recognized for his creativity and outstanding research achievement

First Luis Bernal Memorial Student Award

Aerospace Engineering’s Ericka Mendez Velazquez is the first ever recipient of the award honoring Professor Bernal.

Iman Javaheri is awarded Beyster Computational Innovation Graduate Fellowship

Aerospace PhD Candidate, Iman Javaheri, is honored by the College of Engineering for his research, innovation, and leadership

device in aerospace lab

University of Michigan’s Plasmadynamics and Electric Propulsion Laboratory and NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory share 2022 AIAA Electric Propulsion Best Paper Award

The lab has won this award five times in the last six years

 inspiring a new generation of aerospace leaders and shaping the future of flight and space travel

CAREERS

Where can an aerospace engineering career take you?

student demonstrates use of the wind tunnels.