<p>^indeed it does, and I don’t mean to suggest otherwise. I do think, however, that the aeropsace engineering program is siginifcantly “overstated” by the USNews rankings because of confusion with the Aeronautical Science program…which is first rate…and ERAU’s own billboards proclaiming itself as the “best aerospace engineering” in the country (no footnotes included). Indeed, even UCF’s program, just a stone’s throw away, has twice the research, better students and graduation rates at much lower cost. But ERAU still has a good program, and for those that want to around planes and flying, it can certainly be the right choice.</p>
<p>Rogracer, you believe that peer programs mixed up Aerospace Engineering and Aeronautical Science when evaluating the school? That is, unfortunately, the sole basis for the ratings.
[Methodology:</a> The Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs - US News and World Report](<a href=“http://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/articles/2011/09/12/methodology-the-best-undergraduate-engineering-programs-2012]Methodology:”>http://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/articles/2011/09/12/methodology-the-best-undergraduate-engineering-programs-2012)</p>
<p>@ED…I think “mixed up” is a bit strong. But historically the rankings for Aero actually included “aeronautical science” which, some would argue (including myself), should not be included in the same evaluation as the engineering variants. So, historically, the PA rankings have been a bit confused for “aero” as reviewers rightly needed to consider aeronautical science in the evaluation. IMO….ERAU benefited enormously from that. In recent years US News dropped the word “science” from the rankings category which has left it even more confused.</p>
<p>For Aerospace Engineering…who would you choose if the choice was between San Diego State University and San Jose State?</p>
<p>One option, if you want a relatively cheap education with great AE, is Oklahoma State University. Not well known nationally, but it definitely has great AE and ME programs. Unfortunately, if you’re looking at physics and computer science as well, OSU sucks in those departments. Great for engineering, terrible for physics/comp sci.</p>
<p>@rogracer</p>
<p>I’ve seen a number of your comments on here regarding Embry Riddle and all of them are baseless and misinformed. Both Daytona and Prescott offer very good engineering programs, and both are highly ranked overall. You really should visit one of the campuses and see for yourself. They have fantastic engineering facilities available to the students, and the curriculum for all programs is solid. You can also check out the engineering staff profiles on their website and see that the vast majority graduated from top schools like Berkeley, GA Tech, MIT, Cal Poly, UT, Texas A&M, Purdue, etc. </p>
<p>As you will see, the teaching talent is there at both campuses, and so are the resources and facilities available to students. Having said all of that, I believe Riddle is an EXCELLENT choice for undergrad work.</p>
<p>Going to chime for Georgia Tech. Other places with great aerospace engineering programs: Purdue, UIUC, University of Maryland-College Park, Penn State, and Texas A&M.</p>
<p>Top 3:</p>
<p>MIT
GT
Michigan</p>
<p>MIT, Caltech, Michigan, GA Tech, Purdue = Top Aero Schools</p>
<p>fractalmstr…enlighten me, which of my comments were baseless and misinformed?</p>
<p>rogracer</p>
<p>Well, for starters, I believe US News is smart enough to differentiate between an Aeronautical Science program and an Aerospace Engineering program.</p>
<p>That’s fine fractalmstr, but you do realize that it isn’t US News that has to make the distinction…the rankings are totally based on peer assessment, so it is the review responders that cannot be confused.</p>
<p>Yes, I am well aware of that, Rogracer. </p>
<p>“The U.S. News rankings of undergraduate engineering programs accredited by ABET, formerly known as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, are based solely on the peer judgments of deans and senior faculty who rated each program they are familiar with on a scale from 1 (marginal) to 5 (distinguished).”</p>
<p>I’m fairly certain that any dean or senior faculty member will be able to discern the difference as well.</p>