Program Matcher
Aerospace, Astronomy & Space Operations
Find Your Space Studies Program in About a Minute
Our space studies program finder asks six quick questions about the space career you want and how you want to study, then compares 259 programs and shows you the five that fit best.
Takes about two minutes. No sign-up.
Question 1 of 6
Which Degree Are You Going For?
Question 2 of 6
How Do You Want to Study?
Question 3 of 6
Where Do You Live?
So we can use in-state tuition and find campuses close to you.
Question 4 of 6
What Job Do You Picture Yourself Doing?
Pick any that sound like you.
Question 5 of 6
What Matters Most in a Program?
Choose up to three.
Question 6 of 6
Anything Else We Should Know?
Your work schedule, credits you already have, a math class you still need. Skip it if nothing comes to mind.
Please leave out your name and contact details.
Finding Your Matches
- Narrowing 259 programs to your level and format
- Reading what each program teaches
- Ranking your best fits
Your Results
Your Top Space Studies Matches
How the Space Studies Program Finder Works
You don't need to know which school you want yet. Tell the space studies program finder what kind of space work you want and how you can study, and it does the comparing for you.
You Answer Six Questions
Your degree level, online or campus, where you live, the job you picture, what matters most and anything else worth knowing.
We Read 259 Programs
The program finder keeps the programs at your level and in your format, then reads each one's own description against your answers.
You Get Five Matches
Each match shows a match percentage, the school's tuition, its graduation rate and a link to its card in our state rankings.
What Our Space Studies Program Finder Looks At
Your Degree Level
6 associate degrees, 123 bachelor's, 63 master's and 67 research doctorates.
Online or On Campus
13 programs have an online route, 12 of them master's degrees. Most of this field is taught in labs, wind tunnels and observatories, so choose campus and the program finder looks close to home first.
Your Career Goal
127 programs describe spacecraft or astronautics work, 133 astronomy or planetary research, 19 satellite or mission operations and 3 space policy or management.
What Matters to You
Low tuition, research experience, internships, a path to a PhD or studying while you work all change which programs rise to the top.
Where You Live
In-state tuition at public schools, and campus programs across 41 states.
Which Space Studies Program Fits Your Career Goal?
Aerospace or Spacecraft Engineer
Engineering jobs at launch companies, satellite makers and NASA centers start with an aerospace engineering bachelor's. 127 programs in our data describe spacecraft design, astronautics or propulsion, and 52 of them are bachelor's degrees. A master's helps when you want to specialize. Compare the best aerospace engineering programs and read the aerospace engineer career guide.
Mission Control, Satellites and Remote Sensing
Satellite operators, mission planners and remote sensing analysts come from two routes: a space systems operations degree, or an engineering or physics degree with operations coursework. This is the smallest corner of the field. Only 19 programs in our data describe satellite or mission operations, and 10 are master's degrees. Start with our space systems operations rankings.
Astronomer or Planetary Scientist
Most research astronomer jobs ask for a PhD. Your bachelor's in astronomy, astrophysics or physics gets you into a graduate program, and the doctorate is where your own research starts. 133 programs in our data describe observatory access, research projects or a path to a PhD, and 37 are space science doctorates. Compare astronomy and astrophysics programs, planetary science programs and the astronomer career guide.
Space Force, Space Policy or the Business of Space
There's no single degree for these. The service academies commission officers, and some go on to space operations jobs. Our list has 4 programs at service academies. Policy, law and business roles usually follow a technical degree and then a master's in policy, law or management. Only three programs in our data cover policy or management directly. See the service academy space programs.