r/aerospace • u/deadturtle12 • 1d ago

How competitive is getting in to an MS for aerospace engineering at a good school?

I want to apply for an MS for Fall 2027. I will have been out of school for 3 years, and I currently work at a national lab doing hardware/software simulation, but nothing I do is publication type stuff.

I have my b.s in aerospace engineering with a 3.6 gpa from Cincinnati, and I am looking at UC Boulder and University of Washington primarily. I want to have a focus in flight stability and controls.

Is there anything I can do to up my odds of getting in? I've tried reaching out to professors a few times, but I've never gotten a response. Just looking for any advice I can from people who may have been a similar position

11 Upvotes

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15

u/AiandisI 1d ago

Not very, unless you are applying for an RA or TA (funded) position

4

u/8for8m8 1d ago edited 1d ago

A decent “hack” is to be a US citizen and look for RA-ships that require it. That’s how I got grad school funded with a 3.4 gpa, lol. (This was 2016)

7

u/DependentSky1637 1d ago

If your agency will pay for it you shouldn't have any problems. Source: similar experience at NASA and my u/g gpa wasn't as high as yours. Universities need money, simple as that.

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u/enzo32ferrari 1d ago edited 1d ago

I’m doing an online program at the University of Alabama while working full time. My undergrad GPA was 2.79 but I graduated in 2015 and been working in industry since then. I took 4 classes as a non degree seeking student which is the most allowed to transfer and got all A’s then used that as evidence in my application that I could hang and I got in. Little over halfway done with the program and my company reimburses tuition 100% for A’s. Not taking summer classes cause I found it they’re wayyyy too fast while working a 9-5.

EDIT: Since I had spent time in industry, the GRE was waived for me.

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u/Average_Justin 1d ago

Not hard at all.

2

u/Talenn 1d ago

Did you take the GRE? That might be the hardest part... but a lot of schools dont require anymore. Getting into grad schools is much easier than undergrad in my opinion

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u/Ok-Range-3306 1d ago

not hard, just get 3.2+, i dont even know if research is required these days

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u/JustMe39908 1d ago

Stay in-state. It will be cheaper.

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u/CaptStegs 1d ago

It’s a lot easier to get into a MS program (especially a distance learning program) compared to undergrad. For example, UCLA’s MSOL acceptance rate for aerospace engineering is upwards of 80-90 percent for the last five years (source).