Affordable aerospace engineering schools

Hey I’m thinking about going into aerospace engineering and was wondering what affordable schools were out there but would still give the same opportunities and connections at schools like GaTech and MIT?
I have 34 ACT and 4.0 GPA with 11 AP classes and countless extracurriculars. So far I have come across U of Alabama, U of Minnesota, Iowa State, Oklahoma State, University of Texas, U of Florida, and Wichita State. Are there any schools that I’m missing that have strong programs and are affordable/give big merit scholarships?

UA Huntsville.

Big merit (as in full ride with your stats), and top-notch aerospace program, in an aerospace-dominated city:
https://www.ozy.com/acumen/the-new-age-of-aerospace-is-in-huntsville-alabama/83661

Also, as you say, Iowa State. And Purdue.

“Affordable” will mean something different to everyone.

What is your home state?

What is your budget per year?

Clarkson University. Lots of merit $ and great job placement if you can handle being in Pottsdam NY for 4 years.

Oh, wait, sorry. I was thinking Aeronautical. Don’t know that Clarkson has an aerospace program.

There’s Embry-Riddle.

CU, Buffalo have ranked programs. You can also major in mechanical engineering if you find a school that gives good aid but doesn’t specifically have aerospace.

@carachel2 my home state is Minnesota and I’m looking to spend around 25k a year

Texas A&M

Missouri S&T—has been a feeder into MacDouglas, now Boeing, for decades.

@tyler1231 then University of Texas should likely not be on the list. Admission itself will be a reach since they are required to fill most of their seats with IN state kids and merit is highly unlikely. Or you could leave it on the list as a “financial reach” in case you become a finalist in one of their super reachy merit opportunities. Apply for Honors for sure. If you don’t get merit (and most do not), you are looking at close to $45-50,000 per year.

Texas A&M will be similar. They do give OOS tuition waivers to a handful, BUT you have to get $4,000 in TAMU scholarships before the OOS tuition will be waived. And observation from the past few years looks like it is very difficult to get the full $4K. Are you a NMF? If so, then TAMU would have some great merit opportunities.

You should also put Purdue on the list as a financial reach. You might be in line for enough merit there to make it within your budget. It would be a financial reach, but you would be in the running there.

OP–have you considered mechanical engineering? Most of the engineers we know who work in aerospace are mechanical engineers. It’s a broader career base that will give you entry to more opportunities and fields. If so, you could really expand your list.