Are you ready to earn a degree in aerospace engineering? To become licensed as an engineer, you need at least a Bachelor’s degree. You can earn this degree at three schools in Maryland; two schools also offer Master’s degrees in the field. There is a naval academy in Annapolis and two civilian schools located in the western part of Maryland. The overall average cost of tuition in Maryland is $9,200 per semester. However, tuition rates vary based on your residency status and whether you are an undergraduate or graduate student.
Becoming an aerospace engineer requires lots of hard work, dedicated study, and perseverance. You’ll need to earn a Bachelor’s degree in the field before you can work as an engineer; this is comprised of 120 credits. At the rate of 15 credits per semester, you can plan on graduating in about four years.
As you plan out your education, it’s important to look at what courses are required of you. Engineering courses need to be taken in a fairly specific order, since each class builds on the knowledge gained during the previous semester. You may take courses like Flight Dynamics, Aerospace Propulsion, Engineering Materials, and Compressible Flow.
Practical learning and research are both important parts of your engineering education. You’ll work hands-on with engineering materials in your school’s engineering lab and work on increasingly challenging projects. You may be expected to read or even conduct research in the field, depending on your career goals.
The University of Maryland has a unique requirement for its students. In your last year, you complete an aeronautics or astronautics design project. You must then present and defend your design to a panel of instructors and judges.
While it is important to look at tuition rates in Maryland, it is equally important to look at financial aid opportunities. Good financial aid can easily balance out a higher tuition cost. The University of Maryland has very affordable tuition rates; residents pay $3,806 per semester, while non-residents pay $9,765 per semester. At Capitol College, all students pay the same rates regardless of residency status. Tuition is $10,788 per semester.
There are many local, school-specific, and national engineering scholarships you may want to apply for. At the University of Maryland, for example, you can apply for a wide range of scholarships.
After you graduate with a Bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering, you can move to the next step of your career, which is pursuing a license from the Maryland Board for Professional Engineers. This process involves paying a $50 application fee and $225 examination fee. Once you have successfully passed the Professional Engineer exam, you get your PE license.
Do you want to work on professional development, network with other engineers, and stay on top of legislative changes in engineering? If so, you can join the Maryland Society of Professional Engineers. In addition to getting new job postings on a regular basis, you can enter contests, take continuing education classes, and receive legislative updates.