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Spacecraft systems engineer education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a spacecraft systems engineer. Spacecraft systems engineers usually study aerospace engineering, electrical engineering, or mechanical engineering. 75% of spacecraft systems engineers hold a bachelor's degree, and 17% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 78 real spacecraft systems engineer resumes to see exactly what spacecraft systems engineer education sections show.
The most common colleges for spacecraft systems engineers are the University of Maryland - College Park and the University of Maryland - College Park.
There are also many online spacecraft systems engineer courses to help get the education required to be a spacecraft systems engineer.
What education do you need to become a spacecraft systems engineer?
What degree do you need to be a spacecraft systems engineer?
- Bachelor's, 75%
- Master's, 17%
- Doctorate, 3%
- Associate, 3%
- Other Degrees, 2%
What should I major in to become a spacecraft systems engineer?
- Mathematics, 5%
- Other Majors, 33%
Most common colleges for spacecraft systems engineers
| Spacecraft systems engineer common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| University of Maryland - College Park | 14.71% |
| Arizona State University | 11.76% |
| New York University | 5.88% |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology | 5.88% |
| University of Washington | 5.88% |
Best majors for spacecraft systems engineers
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aerospace Engineering | 30.2% |
| 2 | Electrical Engineering | 19.0% |
| 3 | Mechanical Engineering | 12.7% |
| 4 | Mathematics | 4.8% |
| 5 | Physics | 4.8% |
Best colleges for spacecraft systems engineers
The best colleges for spacecraft systems engineers are Stanford University, Northwestern University, and Johns Hopkins University.
A spacecraft systems engineer with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for spacecraft systems engineers. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become spacecraft systems engineers.
1. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$51,354
Enrollment
7,083
2. Georgia Institute of Technology
Atlanta, GA • Private
In-state tuition
$12,424
Enrollment
15,201
3. Cornell University
Ithaca, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$55,188
Enrollment
15,105
4. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
In-state tuition
$54,568
Enrollment
8,451
5. Pennsylvania State University
University Park, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$18,454
Enrollment
40,108
6. Boston University
Boston, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$53,948
Enrollment
17,238
7. Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD • Private
In-state tuition
$53,740
Enrollment
5,567
8. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Champaign, IL • Private
In-state tuition
$15,094
Enrollment
32,974
9. University of Texas at Austin
Austin, TX • Private
In-state tuition
$10,610
Enrollment
40,329
10. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Troy, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$53,880
Enrollment
6,590
20 best online courses for spacecraft systems engineers
Advertising disclosure
1. Spacecraft Formation Relative Orbits
This specialization studies spacecraft relative orbits. This is of interest to mission scenarios including rendezvous and docking, inspection circumnavigation trajectories, on orbit assembly, space debris mitigation, or interferometric science applications in space. It assumes the learner has already had a complete course on orbital mechanics of a single spacecraft including solutions to the 2-body problem, solving time of flight problems, and understanding J2-perturbations on a spacecraft, as...
2. Kinetics: Studying Spacecraft Motion
As they tumble through space, objects like spacecraft move in dynamical ways. Understanding and predicting the equations that represent that motion is critical to the safety and efficacy of spacecraft mission development. Kinetics: Modeling the Motions of Spacecraft trains your skills in topics like rigid body angular momentum and kinetic energy expression shown in a coordinate frame agnostic manner, single and dual rigid body systems tumbling without the forces of external torque, how...
3. Interplanetary Spacecraft and Satellite Engineering
Aerospace Engineering: A Complete Guide to Design and Technology of Interplanetary Rocket Space Missions and Satellites...
4. Aerospace Engineering: Aircraft Systems and Avionics
Aerospace and Aeronautical Engineering: Master the Systems of Airplanes - Hydraulics, Avionics, Electric, Propulsion...
5. Spacecraft Relative Motion Kinematics and Kinetics
Spacecraft relative motion control has many applications including rendezvous and docking, circumnavigation, on orbit assembly, servicing, etc. The course Spacecraft Relative Motion Kinematics and Kinetics covers the fundamentals of describing the motion of one spacecraft as seen by another spacecraft. A range of relative coordinates are investigated. Further, the course covers developing the differential equations of motion of the relative motion and considers a range of assumptions on...
6. Advanced Spacecraft Dynamics and Control
This Specialization on advanced spacecraft dynamcis and control is intended for experienced spacecraft dynamics and GNC engineers and researchers. It is assumed the viewer has completed the prior spacecraft dynamics specialization already. Through 3 courses we cover the topics of momentum-based attitude dynamics and control, we derive analytical methods to model complex spacecraft systems, and finally conclude with a captstone project course. After this course you will be prepared to model the...
7. Product Development & Systems Engineering
The complete Product Development & Systems Engineering course! Earn 25 contact hours AND prepare to take the INCOSE Exam...
8. Railway Systems Engineering (Equivalent to Micro MSc )
A Journey in the World of Railway Systems Operation Rolling Stock Traction System Engineering Infrastructure...
9. Introduction to Systems Engineering
Introduction to Systems Engineering introduces you to the holistic and interdisciplinary systems engineering approach to designing, realizing, and managing complex systems. In this three-course specialization, you will learn how to evolve a project from idea to fielded hardware customized to meet customer requirements while effectively managing costs, timescales, and limiting risks. You will identify and define a system and its components, model a system life cycle, and apply systems...
10. Advanced Capstone Spacecraft Dynamics and Control Project
This capstone course is the 3rd and final course of the specialization Advanced Spacecraft Dynamics and Control. It assumes you have completed the prior courses on "Attitude Control with Momentum Exchange Devices" and "Analytical Mechanics for Spacecraft Dynamics". This project course investigates the dynamics of a complex spacecraft system where there is a rigid hub onto which a hinged panel is attached. This simulates a spacecraft with a time varying geometry. First, the three-dimensional...
11. Operating Systems Final Part (4): File Systems & Threads
Learn the concepts of Operating Systems from scratch as Operating System forms the core of Computer Science...
12. Operating Systems Part 3: Synchronization and Deadlock
Learn the concepts of Operating Systems from scratch as Operating System forms the core of Computer Science...
13. The Need for Systems Engineering
Systems engineering is an interdisciplinary approach to designing, realizing, and managing complex systems. In this course, you will be introduced to principles of systems engineering and its importance to the development of complex systems. You will learn to identify and define systems, manage their complexity, and describe their life cycle. The course uses real-world engineering examples to address how the systems engineering approach can address challenges. This course can be taken for...
14. Operating Systems from scratch - Part 2
Learn memory management in operating systems as operating system forms the core of computer science...
15. Power Engineering: Power System Analysis - Part 1
Start your career in electrical engineering and power engineering by learning the fundamentals of power system analysis...
16. Operating Systems from scratch - Part 1
Learn the concepts of Operating Systems from scratch as Operating System forms the core of Computer Science...
17. Software Architecture & System Design Practical Case Studies
Design Real-life Large Scale Systems, Practice Modern Software Architecture & Prepare for a System Design Interview...
18. MATLAB/Simulink for Power System Simulations
Learn how to simulate power systems in MATLAB/Simulink by building several Simulink power system models...
19. Rocket Engineering and Interstellar Space Propulsion
Become a rocket scientist and understand the most advanced space propulsion technologies...
20. Write Your Own Operating System From Scratch - Step by Step
Build your own 64-bit operating system - for the x86 architecture...
Top 10 most affordable universities for spacecraft systems engineers
The most affordable schools for spacecraft systems engineers are University of Florida, california state university - long beach, and suny farmingdale.
If the best universities for spacecraft systems engineers are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for spacecraft systems engineers.
1. University of Florida
Gainesville, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,381
Cost of attendance
21,034
2. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,798
Cost of attendance
18,306
3. SUNY Farmingdale
Farmingdale, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$8,306
Cost of attendance
16,091
4. California State University - Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,309
Cost of attendance
16,714
5. California State University - Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,749
Cost of attendance
14,823
6. University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez
Mayaguez, PR • Private
In-state tuition
$4,094
Cost of attendance
14,302
7. New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology
Socorro, NM • Private
In-state tuition
$7,770
Cost of attendance
21,244
8. California State University - Fullerton
Fullerton, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,886
Cost of attendance
17,645
9. Florida International University
Miami, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,556
Cost of attendance
19,434
10. Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$5,656
Cost of attendance
21,623
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for spacecraft systems engineers
The hardest universities for spacecraft systems engineers to get into are Stanford University, Northwestern University, and Johns Hopkins University.
Some great schools for spacecraft systems engineers are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for spacecraft systems engineers based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.
1. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
Admissions rate
4%
SAT average
1,497
2. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,508
3. Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD • Private
Admissions rate
11%
SAT average
1,513
4. Cornell University
Ithaca, NY • Private
Admissions rate
11%
SAT average
1,471
5. California Institute of Technology
Pasadena, CA • Private
Admissions rate
7%
SAT average
1,566
6. Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA • Private
Admissions rate
17%
SAT average
1,507
7. Georgia Institute of Technology
Atlanta, GA • Private
Admissions rate
22%
SAT average
1,465
8. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,492
9. Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
6%
SAT average
1,512
10. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
13%
SAT average
1,445
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for spacecraft systems engineers
The easiest schools for spacecraft systems engineers to get into are Oregon Institute of Technology, capitol technology university, and oklahoma wesleyan university.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a spacecraft systems engineer without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for spacecraft systems engineers.
1. Oregon Institute of Technology
Klamath Falls, OR • Private
Admissions rate
96%
SAT average
1,139
2. Capitol Technology University
Laurel, MD • Private
Admissions rate
69%
SAT average
1,070
3. Oklahoma Wesleyan University
Bartlesville, OK • Private
Admissions rate
68%
SAT average
964
4. Notre Dame de Namur University
Belmont, CA • Private
Admissions rate
82%
SAT average
983
5. The University of Texas Permian Basin
Odessa, TX • Private
Admissions rate
91%
SAT average
1,046
6. Texas A&M University - Kingsville
Kingsville, TX • Private
Admissions rate
89%
SAT average
1,035
7. Notre Dame College
Cleveland, OH • Private
Admissions rate
90%
SAT average
994
8. Kean University
Union, NJ • Private
Admissions rate
86%
SAT average
991
9. Holy Names University
Oakland, CA • Private
Admissions rate
70%
SAT average
849
10. LIM College
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
83%
SAT average
1,061
Average spacecraft systems engineer salary by education level
| Spacecraft systems engineer education level | Spacecraft systems engineer salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $101,351 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $94,345 |
| Doctorate Degree | $105,558 |
Spacecraft systems engineer education FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025