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4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program
California State Polytechnic University PomonaThe BS in Aerospace Engineering at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona (Cal Poly Pomona) is a four-year, on-campus program that prepares students for careers in the aerospace industry or for graduate study. The curriculum emphasises hands-on learning and covers the design, analysis, and operation of aircraft and spacecraft, with tracks in Aeronautics or Astronautics.
Curriculum structure:
Year 1: You’ll take foundational courses such as ARO 101L Introduction to Aeronautics, ARO 102L Introduction to Astronautics, MAT 114 Analytic Geometry and Calculus I, PHY 151 General Physics, and CHM 121 General Chemistry, along with general education requirements.
Year 2: Core engineering modules include ARO 201L Aerospace Statics, ARO 202L Aerospace Dynamics, ARO 2150L Aerospace Computations, ARO 204L Aerospace Materials, ARO 2091L Aerospace Laboratory I, and ARO 2092L Aerospace Laboratory II. You’ll also study thermodynamics and computer-aided design.
Year 3: Specialised courses include ARO 3111 Gas Dynamics and High-Speed Aerodynamics, ARO 3120 Aircraft Jet Propulsion, ARO 3281 Aerospace Structural Analysis and Design, ARO 3191 Space Environment, ARO 4020 Numerical Methods, and ARO 4070 Trajectory Design. Emphasis area selection (Aeronautics or Astronautics) shapes your technical electives and design focus.
Year 4: Advanced modules and design projects include ARO 4050 Aerospace Systems Engineering, ARO 4060 Aerospace Vehicle Design I, ARO 4080 Aerospace Vehicle Design II, and technical electives such as ARO 4160 Computational Fluid Dynamics or ARO 4170 Finite Element Analysis. Aeronautics students focus on aircraft design, while astronautics students select launch or space vehicle design.
Focus areas: Aerodynamics, propulsion, aerospace structures, flight dynamics and controls, astronautics, systems engineering, aerospace design, laboratory skills.
Learning outcomes: Graduates will be able to analyse and design aerospace vehicles and systems, apply systems engineering and problem-solving skills, conduct laboratory experiments, and work effectively in multidisciplinary teams.
Professional alignment (accreditation): Accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET.
Reputation (employability rankings): Cal Poly Pomona’s Aerospace Engineering program is nationally ranked and recognized for its “learn by doing” approach, strong industry connections, and success in student design competitions
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona (Cal Poly Pomona) offers an ABET-accredited Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering. The program is nationally recognised for its hands-on, “learn by doing” approach and offers two emphasis areas: Aeronautics and Astronautics. Students receive a comprehensive education in aerodynamics, propulsion, structures, flight mechanics, systems engineering, and aerospace vehicle design, with a strong focus on industry simulation and project-based learning.
Facilities & Experiential Learning:
Wind Tunnel Complex: Includes both subsonic and supersonic wind tunnels. The subsonic tunnel features a 40" x 28" x 78" test section and speeds up to 200 mph, while the supersonic tunnel (8" x 8" test section) supports Mach 1.7–3.7 testing, complete with a Schlieren flow visualisation system for real-time imaging.
Liquid Rocket Laboratory: Students design, build, and test liquid rocket engines and launch vehicles. The lab is equipped with lathes, mills, weld shops, and dedicated assembly/test areas for hands-on rocketry experience.
Unmanned Air Vehicle (UAV) Lab: Features a fleet of over 25 UAVs, including the Yamaha R-MAX helicopter (10 ft. rotor, 60 lb. payload), SR-100 helicopter, and various fixed-wing and multirotor drones, all equipped for autonomous operation and flight testing.
Aerospace Structures Lab: Supports testing of aerospace materials and components under axial, shear, torsion, and bending loads, with facilities for full-scale structure testing and 3D additive manufacturing.
Flight Controls and Simulation Lab: Offers six control experiments, advanced data processing, and X-Plane flight simulation software for feedback control systems and stability analysis.
Aerospace Vehicle Design Lab: Equipped with industry-standard software (NASTRAN, SolidWorks, AAA, CART3D, STK) for finite element modelling, CFD, and systems simulation, mirroring professional aerospace engineering environments.
Senior Project: A year-long, hands-on team project involving the design, construction, and testing of an aerospace system.
Senior Design: A year-long design project (aircraft, spacecraft, or launch vehicle) presented to a panel of aerospace industry judges. Cal Poly Pomona students have won top honours at AIAA, JPL, and NASA competitions over 25 times in the past 15 years.
Graduates of Cal Poly Pomona’s Aerospace Engineering BS program are ready for impactful roles as aerospace engineers, propulsion specialists, flight systems analysts, and spacecraft designers with top employers in aviation, defence, and space technology. You’ll develop the technical, teamwork, and project management skills to design, test, and innovate in both aeronautics and astronautics.
Career Preparation & Outcomes:
University Services for Career Success: You’ll benefit from personalised academic advising, access to eleven specialised labs (including Subsonic and Supersonic Wind Tunnel Labs, UAV Lab, Aerospace Structures Lab, Astronautics Lab, and the Liquid Rocket Lab), and hands-on “learn by doing” projects starting your first year. The university also provides career fairs, resume workshops, and student chapters like AIAA for networking and leadership.
Employment Stats & Salary Figures: Aerospace Engineering graduates from Cal Poly Pomona earn a median starting salary of $78,320, higher than the national average, and the program awarded 163 bachelor’s degrees in the most recent year—reflecting strong demand and job placement.
University–Industry Partnerships: The department maintains strong connections with industry through AIAA design competitions (over a dozen top honours in the last 10 years), the national AUVSI competition, and industry-sponsored capstone projects, giving you direct access to real-world challenges and networking with employers.
Long-Term Accreditation Value: The Aerospace Engineering BS is fully accredited by ABET, ensuring your degree is recognised and respected by employers and graduate schools worldwide.
Graduation Outcomes: You’ll graduate with expertise in aerodynamics, structures, propulsion, flight and orbital mechanics, and systems engineering, completing a two-semester capstone Senior Design and Senior Project. You can choose an emphasis in either aeronautics (aircraft design) or astronautics (launch/space vehicle design), tailoring your education to your career goals.
Further Academic Progression: After earning your Aerospace Engineering BS at Cal Poly Pomona, you’ll be well-prepared to pursue a master’s in aerospace or mechanical engineering, or to move into advanced certifications and leadership roles in aerospace, defence, or research organisations.
Official transcripts from Grade 9 to Grade 11th. For 12th Grade your school counselor should send the predictedLetters of Recommendation are optionalNon-California must have a 3.00 GPA or higher in the 15 required “a-g” subject courses, with no grade lower than a C-. Applicants with a GPA between 2.47 and 2.99 will be evaluated for admission based on the MFA modelThe California State University (CSU) has eliminated the use of SAT/ACT test scores when making undergraduate admission decisions. Applicants may still submit test scores, however, they will NOT be used for admission purposes. If admitted, these scores maybe used for first year course placeReport your experiences and special circumstances such as military status, first generation to attend college, work experience, foster youth, extra-curricular activities, leadership positions, work related to major, approved campus partnerships and high school educational programsAdvanced placement (AP) and honors courses will continue to earn extra GPA points for up to eight semesters of approved honors level, International Baccalaureate (IB) and Advanced Placement (AP) courses taken in the last three years of high schoolHighlight research experience, science competitions, or unique extracurriculars in your applicationPortfolio, project links, or YouTube channel to enhance your application (optional)Apply via the Cal State Applicant PortalAerospace EngineerAircraft Design EngineerPropulsion EngineerFlight Test EngineerAvionics EngineerStructural AnalystSystems EngineerManufacturing EngineerQuality Assurance EngineerResearch and Development Engineer
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