SPACE STUDIESPROGRAMS

California program rankings

Best Space Studies Programs in California

Compare the best space studies programs in California across 34 degree records and 18 institutions. Each program is scored within its own field and degree-level peer group, then reviewed through either matched school material or its federal record.

Data reviewed August 29, 2026 · Edited by Taylor Rupe

34program records
18institutions
908awards recorded
17cities

State program ranking

Best Space Studies Programs in California, Ranked

The rank follows each program’s national peer score. Program cards lead with record-specific editorial. School-page claims link to the matching official source, while federal field, award, cost, and outcome records stay clearly labeled. The full scoring boundary is in the methodology. The same boundary applies to every one of the space studies programs in California.

Rank #1 Score 91.3

University of California-Los Angeles

Aerospace Engineering BS

space studies programs in California · Los Angeles · Public · Engineering · CIP 14.0201

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Program summary

UCLA’s Aerospace Engineering BS combines aerodynamics, propulsion, structures, and space systems with an ABET-accredited curriculum and a two-course capstone design sequence.

Students choose aeronautics or space coursework, then complete Aerospace Design Laboratory I and II; the source also names fluid mechanics, controls, and structural mechanics.

The capstone follows aircraft development from concept and preliminary design into a structural component such as a lightweight wing. That work brings aerodynamics, materials, aeroelasticity, propulsion, guidance, and control into one design problem, making the aeronautics or space track a technical emphasis within a common engineering process.

For the federal aerospace bachelor’s record, 61 awards and a 91.3 score place UCLA at position 4 within a national peer group of 73.

Published program details
  • ABET-accredited curriculum
  • Aeronautics and space tracks
  • Two-course capstone design sequence
  • Rocket propulsion systems
Institution context
Tuition
$12,260 in-state / $44,148 out-of-state
Graduation rate
93%
Admission rate
9%
Enrollment
47,335

Official program source reviewed August 28, 2026: catalog.registrar.ucla.edu.

Rank #2 Score 91.1

Saddleback College

Associate Degree in Astronomy

Program field from IPEDS

Mission Viejo · Public · Space science · CIP 40.0201

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Program summary

Saddleback’s astronomy page describes lower-division lecture and laboratory study supporting an Associate in Science and transfer preparation for astronomy or astrophysics.

The page frames astronomy around stars, planets, comets, galaxies, and phenomena beyond Earth’s atmosphere. Its lower-division offering includes both lecture and laboratory courses.

The Associate in Science is designed for students preparing to transfer into astronomy or astrophysics, and the department also offers general-education science laboratory coursework. It gives prospective majors a structured lower-division route. Other students can use the courses to complete general-education science laboratory work.

This source matches a federal astronomy associate’s record with 4 awards, a 91.1 score, and national position 1 in a 16-record peer group.

Published program details
  • Associate in Science pathway
  • Lower-division lectures and laboratories
  • Astronomy and astrophysics transfer preparation
  • General-education science laboratory
Institution context
Tuition
$1,380 in-state / $14,760 out-of-state
Graduation rate
48%
Enrollment
20,764

Official program source reviewed August 28, 2026: saddleback.edu.

Rank #3 Score 90.6

University of California-Los Angeles

Master’s in Aerospace Engineering

Los Angeles · Public · Engineering · CIP 14.0201

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Program summary

UCLA’s aerospace master’s requirements provide thesis and capstone plans across fluid mechanics, structures, controls, heat transfer, and other mechanical and aerospace fields.

The MS requires at least 9 courses and 36 units; its thesis plan uses 7 formal courses, including 4 from the 200 series, plus thesis work.

Students choose between a thesis plan and a capstone examination plan, and faculty advising begins when they enter the school. The published subject areas include fluid mechanics and systems and control, allowing the required graduate coursework to be organized around a defined aerospace problem rather than a collection of unrelated classes.

UCLA’s federal aerospace master’s entry records 30 awards, a 90.6 score, and position 4 within a national group of 69 field-and-level peers.

Published program details
  • 9-course, 36-unit minimum
  • Thesis and capstone plans
  • Fluid mechanics
  • Systems and control
Institution context
Tuition
$12,260 in-state / $44,148 out-of-state
Graduation rate
93%
Admission rate
9%
Enrollment
47,335

Official program source reviewed August 29, 2026: grad.ucla.edu.

Rank #4 Score 90.4

University of Southern California

MS Aerospace Engineering

space studies programs in California · Los Angeles · Private nonprofit · Engineering · CIP 14.0201

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Program summary

USC’s MS Aerospace Engineering combines a 27-unit curriculum with specializations in fluid dynamics, controls, design, and solid mechanics, and permits thesis requests after the first semester.

The curriculum spans compressible and incompressible flow, computational fluid mechanics, flight control, spacecraft attitude control, thermodynamics, and aerospace design coursework.

USC requires breadth across more than one aerospace area while leaving technical electives open enough to build a concentration. Fluid Dynamics, Aerospace Control, and Aerospace Design are published specialization choices, and students may request directed research or a thesis after beginning the program, though the thesis route requires separate departmental approval.

USC’s federal aerospace master’s record lists 134 awards and a 90.4 score, corresponding to position 6 among 69 national peers.

Published program details
  • 27-unit coursework requirement
  • Fluid Dynamics specialization
  • Aerospace Control specialization
  • Aerospace Design specialization
  • Thesis requests after first semester
Institution context
Tuition
$69,904
Graduation rate
92%
Admission rate
10%
Enrollment
46,566

Official program source reviewed August 28, 2026: viterbigradadmission.usc.edu.

Rank #5 Score 90.2

Stanford University

Master’s in Aerospace Engineering

Program field from IPEDS

Stanford · Private nonprofit · Engineering · CIP 14.0201

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Program summary

Stanford’s terminal Aeronautics and Astronautics MS centers on 45 quarter units, five core-breadth categories, and a lecture-based technical theme.

The curriculum requires 45 quarter units across fluids, structures, controls, dynamics, and propulsion. Research is available as an optional technical component.

The MS is a terminal degree and does not provide automatic entry to Stanford’s doctorate. Students with an aerospace background may complete the published plan in five quarters, and every student covers the core breadth categories. Optional research can supplement that course plan without becoming a requirement.

With a 90.2 ranking score and 65 recorded master’s awards, this course-focused degree fits engineers preparing for aerospace professional work.

Published program details
  • 45 quarter-unit curriculum
  • Five core-breadth categories
  • Optional research component
  • Terminal master’s degree
  • Five-quarter path for aerospace backgrounds
Institution context
Tuition
$65,127
Graduation rate
92%
Admission rate
4%
Enrollment
18,625

Official program source reviewed August 28, 2026: bulletin.stanford.edu.

Rank #6 Score 89.7

Stanford University

PhD in Aeronautics and Astronautics

Stanford · Private nonprofit · Engineering · CIP 14.0201

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Program summary

Stanford’s Aeronautics and Astronautics PhD joins broad core coursework with specialized research that culminates in a doctoral thesis.

The doctoral route serves research, advanced-development, and teaching goals, with qualifying procedures, candidacy requirements, specialized investigation, and a completed thesis.

Doctoral work begins with a broad aerospace core before narrowing into specialized investigation under faculty direction. Qualifying and candidacy steps mark the transition into that research, and the thesis is the final evidence of independent work, making this a research sequence rather than an expanded version of the terminal master’s.

A score of 89.7 and 23 federal research doctorates support its fit for candidates ready to pair aerospace breadth with intensive inquiry.

Published program details
  • Broad aerospace core
  • Specialized doctoral research
  • Qualifying procedures
  • Doctoral thesis
Institution context
Tuition
$65,127
Graduation rate
92%
Admission rate
4%
Enrollment
18,625

Official program source reviewed August 29, 2026: bulletin.stanford.edu.

Rank #7 Score 89.6

Orange Coast College

Associate Degree in Astronomy

Program field from IPEDS

space studies programs in California · Costa Mesa · Public · Space science · CIP 40.0201

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Program summary

Orange Coast College pairs an Astronomy AS with general-education and specialized courses spanning the night sky, solar system, stars, and galaxies.

The department offers an Associate in Science, an Astronomy House, and courses designed for both general education and students planning four-year transfer.

Astronomy House gives the department a dedicated setting beyond ordinary lecture rooms, while general and specialized courses support students with different starting points. For transfer-minded students, the associate route packages that work into a coherent lower-division base rather than treating astronomy as a single elective before university study.

Its 89.6 score, three federal awards, and 2-of-16 peer position fit students seeking a public-college start in astronomy at the associate level.

Published program details
  • Astronomy Associate in Science
  • General and specialized courses
  • Astronomy House
  • Four-year transfer pathway
  • $1,288 in-state tuition
Institution context
Tuition
$1,288 in-state / $11,536 out-of-state
Graduation rate
48%
Enrollment
17,096

Official program source reviewed August 28, 2026: orangecoastcollege.edu.

Rank #8 Score 87.9

University of Southern California

PhD in Aerospace Engineering

Los Angeles · Private nonprofit · Engineering · CIP 14.0201

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Program summary

USC’s Aerospace Engineering PhD organizes research around exploration, design and manufacturing, urban technologies, controls, aerodynamics, materials, computation, and robotics.

The doctoral program names three strategic themes and research areas spanning bio-inspired engineering, combustion, heat transfer, dynamic systems, fluid mechanics, solid mechanics, and robotics.

USC organizes that work around technologies for exploration, the science and practice of design and manufacturing, and aerospace or mechanical systems intended for urban life. Those themes create a wider research frame than a single aircraft or spacecraft specialty, linking computation, materials, controls, and manufacturing inside the doctorate.

The federal aerospace research-doctorate entry reports 6 awards and an 87.9 score, corresponding to position 7 among 46 national peers.

Published program details
  • Three strategic research themes
  • Bio-inspired engineering
  • Dynamic systems and controls
  • Fluid mechanics and aerodynamics
  • Design and manufacturing
Institution context
Tuition
$69,904
Graduation rate
92%
Admission rate
10%
Enrollment
46,566

Official program source reviewed August 28, 2026: viterbigradadmission.usc.edu.

Rank #9 Score 87.6

California Institute of Technology

Doctorate in Aerospace Engineering

Program field from IPEDS

Pasadena · Private nonprofit · Engineering · CIP 14.0201

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Program summary

Caltech aerospace research spans fluid dynamics, solids and materials, autonomous systems, deployable space structures, hypersonics, combustion, and bioinspired design.

Graduate Aerospace Laboratories support experimental, theoretical, and numerical work through fluid-mechanics, jet-propulsion, hypersonics, hydrodynamics, impact, and flight-science facilities across the campus.

The Graduate Aerospace Laboratories connect the doctorate with deployable space structures, autonomous systems, hypersonic flows, impact mechanics, and bioinspired design. Because the facilities span experiments, theory, and numerical simulation, a researcher can test the same aerospace question through physical measurement and computation instead of committing to only one method.

Nine recorded research doctorates and an 87.6 score fit candidates seeking mechanics-centered aerospace investigation across physical and computational domains in one program.

Published program details
  • Graduate Aerospace Laboratories
  • Deployable space structures
  • Hypersonics facilities
  • Autonomous systems research
  • Bioinspired design
Institution context
Tuition
$63,402
Graduation rate
94%
Admission rate
3%
Enrollment
2,430

Official program source reviewed August 28, 2026: catalog.caltech.edu.

Rank #10 Score 86.3

California Institute of Technology

Master’s in Astrophysics

Program field from IPEDS

space studies programs in California · Pasadena · Private nonprofit · Space science · CIP 40.0202

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Program summary

Caltech awards its astrophysics master’s credential along the PhD route after students complete a 135-unit plan with astronomy and outside-field study.

Published requirements include 54 astronomy units, 36 completed at B- or better, 27 advanced units outside astronomy, and approved science electives.

This credential is earned inside the astrophysics doctoral route, either along the way or when a student exits after meeting the master’s requirements. Research and reading projects remain part of that route. Approved astronomy and outside-field coursework preserve both disciplinary depth and scientific breadth at Caltech.

Seven master’s awards and an 86.3 score fit students evaluating an en-route credential embedded within independent astrophysics research training at Caltech.

Published program details
  • 135-unit requirement
  • PhD-route credential
  • 54 astronomy units
  • 27 outside-field units
  • Research and reading projects
Institution context
Tuition
$63,402
Graduation rate
94%
Admission rate
3%
Enrollment
2,430

Official program source reviewed August 28, 2026: catalog.caltech.edu.

Rank #11 Score 86.0

University of California-San Diego

Aerospace Engineering (MAE-BS-001)

La Jolla · Public · Engineering · CIP 14.0201

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Program summary

UC San Diego’s four-year, ABET-accredited aerospace curriculum advances from engineering fundamentals into structures, aerodynamics, flight mechanics, propulsion, controls, and design.

Early study covers mechanics, thermodynamics, materials, solids, fluids, and heat transfer before students move into aircraft and spacecraft engineering subjects.

The four-year plan moves from mechanics, materials, fluids, thermodynamics, and heat transfer into flight mechanics, structures, propulsion, and vehicle design. Aircraft and spacecraft topics share that same engineering base, so the accredited curriculum prepares students to transfer core analysis between atmospheric and space-system problems during senior project work at UCSD.

Eighty-eight bachelor’s awards and an 86 score fit students seeking a prescribed technical sequence for aerospace and adjacent mechanical industries.

Published program details
  • Four-year curriculum
  • ABET-accredited BS
  • Flight mechanics
  • Aerospace structures
  • Aircraft and spacecraft design
Institution context
Tuition
$12,260 in-state / $44,148 out-of-state
Graduation rate
86%
Admission rate
27%
Enrollment
44,256

Official program source reviewed August 28, 2026: mae.ucsd.edu.

Rank #12 Score 85.4

California Institute of Technology

Master of Science in Aeronautics and Space Engineering

Pasadena · Private nonprofit · Engineering · CIP 14.0201

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Program summary

Caltech’s aerospace master’s is a one-year, coursework-only degree with five core courses and separate Aeronautics and Space Engineering tracks.

The master’s requires a one-year plan totaling 135 units. At least 81 units come from the selected track, with additional mathematics, seminar, and approved elective work.

Students choose Aeronautics or Space Engineering, then build the plan from fluid mechanics, solid or structural mechanics, autonomy and control, experimental methods, or space engineering sequences. The catalog states that this master’s has no research or thesis requirement, distinguishing it from Caltech’s research-focused doctoral path.

Ten recorded master’s awards and an 85.4 score fit engineers seeking an intensive graduate year organized around advanced coursework and adviser-approved technical choices.

Published program details
  • One-year coursework plan
  • Five required core courses
  • Aeronautics track
  • Space Engineering track
  • No thesis requirement
Institution context
Tuition
$63,402
Graduation rate
94%
Admission rate
3%
Enrollment
2,430

Official program source reviewed August 28, 2026: catalog.caltech.edu.

Rank #13 Score 85.3

California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

Aerospace Engineering (BS)

space studies programs in California · San Luis Obispo · Public · Engineering · CIP 14.0201

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Program summary

Cal Poly’s Aerospace Engineering BS turns theory into practice through systems engineering, experimentation, aeronautics or astronautics concentration work, and technical problem-solving.

The curriculum covers propulsion, thermo-fluid dynamics, structures, orbital mechanics, numerical analysis, and professional responsibilities within a multidisciplinary engineering setting and design practice.

The aeronautics and astronautics concentrations share a systems-engineering approach, then diverge through subjects such as atmospheric flight, orbital mechanics, and spacecraft design. Propulsion laboratories and multidisciplinary projects connect that choice to testing and integration. Internships provide a separate route into applied aerospace work.

A federal count of 95 bachelor’s awards with an 85.3 score suits students choosing between atmospheric-flight and spacecraft-oriented study at Cal Poly.

Published program details
  • Aeronautics concentration
  • Astronautics concentration
  • Systems engineering approach
  • Propulsion laboratory
  • Orbital mechanics
Institution context
Tuition
$6,084 in-state / $18,684 out-of-state
Graduation rate
86%
Admission rate
31%
Enrollment
23,069

Official program source reviewed August 28, 2026: catalog.calpoly.edu.

Rank #14 Score 84.9

California Institute of Technology

Bachelor’s in Astrophysics

Program field from IPEDS

Pasadena · Private nonprofit · Space science · CIP 40.0202

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Program summary

Caltech’s astrophysics research environment links observation, theory, numerical simulation, data analysis, laboratory work, detector development, and gravitational-wave astronomy.

Research topics range from cosmology, dark matter, and galaxy evolution to exoplanets, black holes, transients, sky surveys, spectroscopy, and detector systems.

Undergraduates encounter astrophysics through telescopes, detectors, numerical simulation, spectroscopy, and gravitational-wave work. Projects on planets, galaxies, dark matter, black holes, or transients may start with instrument building, observation, or computation, giving students several documented research methods within Caltech’s undergraduate astrophysics research environment and facilities.

The bachelor’s federal record carries two awards and an 84.9 score, fitting students drawn to astrophysics across computational and observational methods.

Published program details
  • Numerical simulation
  • Detector development
  • Gravitational-wave astronomy
  • Dark matter research
  • Telescope facilities
Institution context
Tuition
$63,402
Graduation rate
94%
Admission rate
3%
Enrollment
2,430

Official program source reviewed August 28, 2026: catalog.caltech.edu.

Rank #15 Score 84.3

California Institute of Technology

Doctorate in Astrophysics

Program field from IPEDS

Pasadena · Private nonprofit · Space science · CIP 40.0202

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Program summary

Caltech astronomy doctoral students move from first-year astrophysics courses into independent, publication-oriented research and three faculty-administered oral examinations.

The program requires six first-year astrophysics courses, broader physics study, research presentations, peer-reviewed work, and a thesis grounded in independent investigation.

Oral review begins early and continues through the dissertation defense. Students present research, complete staged oral examinations, and are expected to develop work suitable for peer-reviewed publication. Observatory access supports projects in cosmology, galaxies, high-energy phenomena, and the interstellar medium throughout doctoral study at Caltech.

A score of 84.3 with six research doctorates suits candidates prepared for sustained oral review and publication-focused astrophysics training at Caltech.

Published program details
  • Six first-year astrophysics courses
  • Three oral examinations
  • Peer-reviewed publications
  • Independent thesis research
  • Observatory access
Institution context
Tuition
$63,402
Graduation rate
94%
Admission rate
3%
Enrollment
2,430

Official program source reviewed August 28, 2026: astro.caltech.edu.

Rank #16 Score 83.3

San Diego State University

Bachelor’s in Aerospace Engineering

space studies programs in California · San Diego · Public · Engineering · CIP 14.0201

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Program summary

San Diego State’s Aerospace Engineering bachelor’s covers atmospheric and space vehicles through aerodynamics, structures, flight mechanics, control, propulsion, and design.

The undergraduate curriculum develops laboratory and multidisciplinary teamwork skills through fluid mechanics, high-speed aerodynamics, rocket and space propulsion, and computer-assisted vehicle design.

The department frames the major around vehicles that travel through the atmosphere and space, with the same design foundation extending to land and sea systems. Its published graduate outcomes include work with aircraft manufacturers, general aviation companies, and government aerospace laboratories, as well as later study at research universities.

The federal aerospace bachelor’s row reports 104 awards and an 83.3 score, corresponding to position 22 across 73 national field-and-level records.

Published program details
  • High-speed aerodynamics
  • Rocket and space propulsion
  • Vehicle design curriculum
  • Computer-assisted design skills
Institution context
Tuition
$6,084 in-state / $18,684 out-of-state
Graduation rate
76%
Admission rate
36%
Enrollment
41,137

Official program source reviewed August 28, 2026: sdsu.edu.

Rank #17 Score 83.1

University of California-Berkeley

Doctorate in Astrophysics

Program field from IPEDS

Berkeley · Public · Space science · CIP 40.0202

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Program summary

Berkeley astronomy doctoral study combines specialized courses, faculty research, teaching experience, instrumentation laboratories, remote observing, cosmology, galaxies, and high-energy astrophysics.

Graduate students work across stellar physics, galaxy evolution, fluid dynamics, data science, black holes, star formation, observatory facilities, and undergraduate instruction.

Teaching experience is built alongside research, and Berkeley graduate students can use remote observing rooms and instrumentation laboratories. That setup supports projects from stellar physics and star formation to galaxy evolution, black holes, and high-energy astrophysics, while also preparing doctoral researchers to explain the field in an undergraduate classroom.

Six research doctorates and an 83.1 score fit candidates seeking astrophysics preparation that connects research, observing, instrumentation, and teaching in Berkeley.

Published program details
  • Teaching experience
  • Remote observing rooms
  • Instrumentation laboratories
  • Galaxy evolution
  • High-energy astrophysics
Institution context
Tuition
$12,260 in-state / $44,148 out-of-state
Graduation rate
93%
Admission rate
11%
Enrollment
45,882

Official program source reviewed August 28, 2026: astro.berkeley.edu.

Rank #18 Score 82.4

California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

Aerospace Engineering (MS)

San Luis Obispo · Public · Engineering · CIP 14.0201

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Program summary

Cal Poly’s Aerospace Engineering MS requires a thesis supported by advanced study in aerodynamics, structures, control, propulsion, orbital mechanics, and systems engineering.

Students develop a faculty-aligned research plan and use design tools and laboratories to build a technical foundation around their chosen thesis topic.

A required thesis gives the master’s a defined research center. Students align that project with faculty work in aerodynamics, propulsion, dynamics and control, structures, systems, or orbital mechanics, then use design tools and laboratories to support the investigation. The result is a research degree, not simply additional upper-division coursework.

Twelve master’s awards and an 82.4 score fit engineers seeking hands-on graduate research as preparation for industry or doctoral study.

Published program details
  • Required thesis
  • Faculty-aligned research
  • Dynamics and control
  • Multidisciplinary design
  • Orbital mechanics
Institution context
Tuition
$6,084 in-state / $18,684 out-of-state
Graduation rate
86%
Admission rate
31%
Enrollment
23,069

Official program source reviewed August 28, 2026: catalog.calpoly.edu.

Rank #19 Score 80.8

San Diego State University

Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering

space studies programs in California · San Diego · Public · Engineering · CIP 14.0201

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Program summary

SDSU’s Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering publishes graduate outcomes in research, aerospace problem solving, technical communication, collaboration, ethics, and continued learning.

The published degree outcomes expect graduates to apply advanced aerospace knowledge to research and problem solving, develop creative responses to aerospace challenges, and communicate technical work clearly in both oral and written formats.

The same outcomes expect graduates to work collaboratively and keep their technical knowledge current through continued learning. They also name ethical norms and societal responsibility, extending the stated goals from research and problem solving to professional conduct.

The federal aerospace master’s entry contains 11 awards and an 80.8 score, corresponding to position 26 among 69 national peers.

Published program details
  • Advanced aerospace problem solving
  • Research application
  • Technical communication
  • Collaborative engineering
  • Ethics and societal responsibility
Institution context
Tuition
$6,084 in-state / $18,684 out-of-state
Graduation rate
76%
Admission rate
36%
Enrollment
41,137

Official program source reviewed August 30, 2026: aerospace.sdsu.edu.

Rank #20 Score 79.3

California Institute of Technology

Doctorate in Planetary Science

Program field from IPEDS

Pasadena · Private nonprofit · Space science · CIP 40.0203

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Program summary

Caltech’s planetary-science doctorate centers on independent investigation of Earth and planets through field settings, complex data, laboratories, and thesis research.

Doctoral students complete an oral qualifying examination with written research propositions, advanced systematic study, a thesis, and a final oral defense.

Before candidacy, students prepare written research propositions and defend them in an oral qualifying examination. Planetary projects may draw on field observations, laboratory experiments, or analytical work. The degree then culminates in a thesis and final oral defense, making independent inquiry the organizing work of Caltech’s doctorate.

One research doctorate and a 79.3 score fit candidates ready to combine planetary inquiry with field, laboratory, and analytical work.

Published program details
  • Planetary science research
  • Two research propositions
  • Oral qualifying examination
  • Field and laboratory work
  • Thesis defense
Institution context
Tuition
$63,402
Graduation rate
94%
Admission rate
3%
Enrollment
2,430

Official program source reviewed August 28, 2026: gps.caltech.edu.

Rank #21 Score 78.0

San Diego State University

Bachelor’s in Astronomy

Program field from IPEDS

San Diego · Public · Space science · CIP 40.0201

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Program summary

San Diego State’s undergraduate astronomy options combine physics, mathematics, applied computing, modern instrumentation, telescope training, and studies of stars and galaxies.

Students can pursue BA, BS, or data science astronomy routes while using Mount Laguna Observatory and taking courses in astrobiology, stellar astrophysics, and extragalactic astronomy.

The BS is the research-oriented route for students considering doctoral study, while the broader astronomy options also build practical computing and modern-instrumentation skills. The department connects those skills to work in observatories, government agencies, contracting, software development, image analysis, instrument making, and telescope operations.

The federal astronomy bachelor’s record lists 6 awards and a 78 score, which maps to position 27 among 57 national peers.

Published program details
  • BA and BS astronomy routes
  • Astronomy data science option
  • Mount Laguna Observatory
  • Applied computing and instrumentation
Institution context
Tuition
$6,084 in-state / $18,684 out-of-state
Graduation rate
76%
Admission rate
36%
Enrollment
41,137

Official program source reviewed August 28, 2026: sdsu.edu.

Rank #22 Score 77.6

Santa Clara University

Master’s in Aerospace Engineering

space studies programs in California · Santa Clara · Private nonprofit · Engineering · CIP 14.0201

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Program summary

Santa Clara’s two-year Aerospace Engineering master’s offers aeronautics and astronautics concentrations covering flight, structures, orbital mechanics, guidance, navigation, and control.

Aeronautics students study flight mechanics, materials, structures, stability, and control, while astronautics students cover space structures, orbit determination, attitude dynamics, and guidance.

Santa Clara positions the program close to local aerospace companies and government agencies, giving faculty a basis for industry collaboration and giving employers access to graduate engineering talent. The concentration choice therefore separates two technical directions while retaining a shared connection to the region’s active aerospace work.

The federal aerospace master’s row records 1 award and a 77.6 score, corresponding to position 30 among 69 national peers.

Published program details
  • Two-year master’s program
  • Aeronautics concentration
  • Astronautics concentration
  • Guidance and navigation
Institution context
Tuition
$60,639
Graduation rate
88%
Admission rate
48%
Enrollment
9,728

Official program source reviewed August 28, 2026: scu.edu.

Rank #23 Score 77.1

San Diego State University

Master of Science in Astronomy

San Diego · Public · Space science · CIP 40.0201

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Program summary

San Diego State’s Master of Science in Astronomy offers thesis and comprehensive-exam tracks within a 30-unit program built around stellar atmospheres, galactic evolution, cosmology, and astronomical techniques.

The 12-unit core covers Stellar Atmospheres and Interiors, Galactic Structure and Evolution, Foundations of Modern Cosmology, and Astronomical Techniques. Students add at least 15 units in astronomy or related graduate courses and demonstrate competency in a scientific computing language.

Plan A culminates in a research thesis and final oral examination for students seeking intensive research or later doctoral study. Plan B ends in a comprehensive examination and is framed for technical, teaching, or outreach careers; students may switch tracks with graduate-adviser approval.

The federal astronomy master’s row includes 9 awards and a 77.1 score, corresponding to position 14 among 27 national records.

Published program details
  • 30-unit graduate program
  • Thesis and exam tracks
  • 12-unit astronomy core
  • Scientific computing competency
  • Faculty-mentored research
Institution context
Tuition
$6,084 in-state / $18,684 out-of-state
Graduation rate
76%
Admission rate
36%
Enrollment
41,137

Official program source reviewed August 30, 2026: astronomy.sdsu.edu.

Rank #24 Score 76.4

University of California-Los Angeles

Doctorate in Astronomy and Astrophysics

Los Angeles · Public · Space science · CIP 40.0299

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Program summary

UCLA’s Astronomy Division integrates theory, observation, instrumentation, fellowship-supported graduate work, telescope access, and an independently administered PhD program.

Doctoral researchers use ground and orbiting observatories, contribute to instrument construction, and participate in projects across astronomy and astrophysics before completing dissertations.

The division’s doctoral setting reaches across ground observatories, orbiting telescopes, solar observing, and the construction of astronomical instruments. Students can contribute to the tools as well as analyze the resulting data, then focus that combination into dissertation research across astronomy or astrophysics with faculty guidance throughout the program.

Six research doctorates with a 76.4 score suit candidates seeking a department-based route that combines facilities, instrumentation, and scholarly investigation.

Published program details
  • Astronomy Division program
  • Ground-based observatories
  • Orbiting telescope work
  • Instrument construction
  • Dissertation research
Institution context
Tuition
$12,260 in-state / $44,148 out-of-state
Graduation rate
93%
Admission rate
9%
Enrollment
47,335

Official program source reviewed August 28, 2026: astro.ucla.edu.

Rank #25 Score 74.6

University of California-Los Angeles

Doctorate in Planetary Science

space studies programs in California · Los Angeles · Public · Space science · CIP 40.0203

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Program summary

UCLA astronomy doctoral students conduct observational, theoretical, and instrumentation research using major ground-based telescopes, orbiting observatories, and solar facilities.

Research projects can incorporate Keck observations, space observatories, Mount Wilson solar work, telescope instrumentation, and a dissertation within the division’s PhD program.

UCLA’s research infrastructure joins ground-based Keck observations with orbiting observatories, solar work at Mount Wilson, and instrument construction. A planetary-science dissertation can therefore draw on existing telescope data or on the hardware that gathers it, placing observational technique and technical development inside the same doctoral environment at UCLA.

One planetary-science research doctorate and a 74.6 score fit candidates who want telescope-centered investigation across Earth and space facilities at UCLA.

Published program details
  • Keck telescope observations
  • Orbiting observatories
  • Solar observatory research
  • Instrumentation construction
  • Doctoral dissertation
Institution context
Tuition
$12,260 in-state / $44,148 out-of-state
Graduation rate
93%
Admission rate
9%
Enrollment
47,335

Official program source reviewed August 28, 2026: astro.ucla.edu.

Rank #26 Score 73.2

Hartnell College

Associate Degree in Astronomy

Program field from IPEDS

Salinas · Public · Space science · CIP 40.0201

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Program summary

Hartnell’s Astronomy AS introduces physical processes governing celestial bodies and connects study with planetarium, observatory, telescope, teaching, and research paths.

Students can use astronomy coursework for natural-science requirements or pursue the associate degree while learning about the physical properties of the universe.

Hartnell links its astronomy associate degree with the physical processes of celestial systems and with observatory pathways. Telescope-based work gives the introductory science a method as well as a subject, helping students connect what they learn about the universe with how astronomers gather evidence before transfer to a university program.

One federal award and a 73.2 score suit students seeking introductory astronomy with visible links to telescope and observatory work.

Published program details
  • Astronomy Associate in Science
  • Celestial physical processes
  • Observatory pathways
  • One associate award
  • 6-of-16 peer position
Institution context
Tuition
$1,380 in-state / $10,374 out-of-state
Graduation rate
40%
Enrollment
11,273

Official program source reviewed August 28, 2026: hartnell.edu.

Rank #27 Score 71.6

Cabrillo College

Associate Degree in Astronomy

Program field from IPEDS

Aptos · Public · Space science · CIP 40.0201

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Program summary

Cabrillo’s Astronomy AS surveys the solar system, galaxy, universe, physical laws, planetary climate, stellar lives, and scientific method.

The astronomy curriculum addresses life in the universe, the Milky Way’s formation, planetary and Earth climate science, astrophysics, and weekend field courses.

Weekend field courses extend the astronomy curriculum beyond regular lectures, while topics connect planetary and Earth climate science with the Milky Way, astrophysics, and the possibility of life elsewhere. That mix gives associate students both an observing context and a bridge between celestial systems and processes closer to Earth.

One federal associate award and a 71.6 score fit students seeking broad astronomy study with field and observatory connections at the associate level.

Published program details
  • Astronomy and astrophysics
  • One associate award
  • 71.6 ranking score
  • 7-of-16 peer position
Institution context
Tuition
$1,104 in-state / $9,696 out-of-state
Graduation rate
38%
Enrollment
9,457

Official program source reviewed August 28, 2026: cabrillo.edu.

Rank #28 Score 71.6

Glendale Community College

Associate Degree in Astronomy

Program field from IPEDS

space studies programs in California · Glendale · Public · Space science · CIP 40.0201

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Program summary

Glendale Community College’s approved astronomy source identifies internship opportunities alongside an associate-level federal record with one award.

The program source confirms astronomy study and internship connections at Glendale Community College, a public institution serving students in Glendale, California.

The source connects astronomy courses with internships, giving the associate record a practical extension beyond general science credit. For students starting at a community college, that pairing creates a way to test interest in astronomy work, build experience through an internship setting, and complete lower-division study before deciding on transfer.

A 71.6 score with an 8-of-16 peer position fits associate students who value a local public-college route and internship exposure.

Published program details
  • Astronomy study
  • Astronomy internships
  • One associate award
  • 8-of-16 peer position
Institution context
Tuition
$1,104 in-state / $10,848 out-of-state
Graduation rate
37%
Enrollment
12,075

Official program source reviewed August 28, 2026: glendale.edu.

Rank #29 Score 70.2

California State Polytechnic University-Pomona

Bachelor’s in Aerospace Engineering

Pomona · Public · Engineering · CIP 14.0201

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Program summary

Cal Poly Pomona’s ABET-accredited aerospace bachelor’s program combines aeronautics and astronautics with laboratories, satellite projects, wind tunnels, rockets, and uncrewed aircraft.

Students study aerodynamics, astrodynamics, propulsion, flight mechanics, thermodynamics, systems engineering, and vehicle design through projects, research, internships, and testing in Pomona.

Project options include satellite development, uncrewed aircraft testing, and work in subsonic or supersonic tunnels. Those settings let students apply aerodynamics, astronautics, propulsion, and systems engineering to hardware with measurable behavior. Internships add an industry setting beyond the campus laboratories during the accredited undergraduate design sequence at Pomona.

The record’s 118 bachelor’s awards and 70.2 score fit undergraduates who want aircraft and spacecraft work tied to physical demonstration.

Published program details
  • ABET-accredited curriculum
  • Aeronautics and astronautics
  • Satellite projects
  • Subsonic and supersonic tunnels
  • Uncrewed aircraft testing
Institution context
Tuition
$6,084 in-state / $18,684 out-of-state
Graduation rate
68%
Admission rate
75%
Enrollment
27,636

Official program source reviewed August 28, 2026: cpp.edu.

Rank #30 Score 69.8

Fullerton College

Astronomy Associate in Science Program

Fullerton · Public · Space science · CIP 40.0201

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Program summary

Fullerton’s Astronomy AS prepares students for transfer into astronomy, astrophysics, or physics while supporting observatory, planetarium, and research-internship interests.

The major requires 20 to 21 units and provides full-time and part-time maps toward an associate degree designed for university transfer.

The program map is built for transfer but also points toward observatory and planetarium operations, research internships, and public astronomy work. Full-time and part-time sequences make the major requirements explicit, giving students a structured way to complete lower-division science before moving into university astronomy or astrophysics after completing the Fullerton College sequence.

One recorded associate award and a 69.8 score fit students seeking a structured transfer plan with astronomy career exposure at community college.

Published program details
  • 20 to 21 major units
  • University transfer preparation
  • Observatory operations
  • Planetarium operations
  • Research internships
Institution context
Tuition
$1,104 in-state / $12,292 out-of-state
Graduation rate
34%
Enrollment
19,521

Official program source reviewed August 28, 2026: pathways.fullcoll.edu.

Rank #31 Score 68.9

Naval Postgraduate School

Master’s in Aerospace Engineering

Program field from IPEDS

space studies programs in California · Monterey · Public · Engineering · CIP 14.0201

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Program summary

Naval Postgraduate School’s aerospace master’s context spans propulsion, spacecraft design, guidance and control, structures, autonomous vehicles, and systems engineering.

Graduate engineering study connects thermal-fluid science, structural mechanics, dynamic systems, materials, power and propulsion, and spacecraft design with defense-relevant research.

Faculty and graduate research extends into space systems, autonomous vehicles and controls, materials science, computational mechanics, and ship survivability. The department connects those areas to applied defense work, giving aerospace students several technical directions for advanced study and a research project shaped by current mechanical and aerospace investigations.

The federal aerospace master’s row records 51 awards and a 68.9 score, corresponding to position 42 among 69 national field-and-level peers.

Published program details
  • Spacecraft design
  • Guidance and control
  • Power and propulsion
  • Autonomous vehicle research
Institution context
Enrollment
2,441

Official program source reviewed August 28, 2026: nps.edu.

Rank #32 Score 67.1

California State Polytechnic University-Pomona

Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering (MSAE)

Pomona · Public · Engineering · CIP 14.0201

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Program summary

Cal Poly Pomona’s Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering is a hybrid program built for working professionals, with live online graduate courses and evening meetings.

The department delivers its graduate-level courses live through an online platform, and classes meet once a week after 5 PM. Some technical electives and undergraduate prerequisites for students entering from other engineering backgrounds are taught in person on the Pomona campus.

Published study areas include aircraft structures, astronautics, air-breathing propulsion, missile engineering, computational fluid dynamics, structural dynamics, hypersonic aerodynamics, flight controls, orbit determination, and aircraft design. Students also practice independent research methods and communicate the master’s project through oral presentations and written reports.

Federal data record five awards and a 67.1 score, placing the master’s entry 50 of 69 nationally. Its score sits below the peer median of 74.4, giving applicants a clear comparison beside the program’s delivery and technical scope.

Published program details
  • Hybrid MSAE format
  • Live online graduate courses
  • Once-weekly evening classes
  • Independent research methods
  • Master’s project reports
Institution context
Tuition
$6,084 in-state / $18,684 out-of-state
Graduation rate
68%
Admission rate
75%
Enrollment
27,636

Official program source reviewed August 29, 2026: cpp.edu.

Rank #33 Score 58.9

San Francisco State University

Master of Science in Astronomy & Astrophysics

San Francisco · Public · Space science · CIP 40.0201

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Program summary

San Francisco State’s Astronomy and Astrophysics MS combines advanced mechanics, stellar astrophysics, radiative processes, cosmology, observational statistics, and three culminating routes.

Students choose a master’s thesis, culminating project, or comprehensive oral examination after coursework that can include relativity, plasma physics, and computational physics.

Expected preparation reaches from multivariable and vector calculus through differential equations, linear algebra, mechanics, electromagnetism, thermodynamics, quantum mechanics, programming, and introductory astronomy. That foundation supports later work in stellar astrophysics, radiative processes, extragalactic astronomy, cosmology, and the statistical analysis of observational research data.

Its federal astronomy master’s record reports 9 awards and a 58.9 score, corresponding to position 25 within 27 national peers.

Published program details
  • Three culminating experience options
  • Stellar astrophysics and radiative processes
  • Observational data analysis
  • Master’s thesis option
Institution context
Tuition
$6,084 in-state / $18,684 out-of-state
Graduation rate
50%
Admission rate
96%
Enrollment
22,563

Official program source reviewed August 28, 2026: bulletin.sfsu.edu.

Rank #34 Score 57.4

Naval Postgraduate School

Master’s in Space Systems Operations

Program field from IPEDS

space studies programs in California · Monterey · Public · Space operations · CIP 29.0305

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Program summary

Naval Postgraduate School’s Space Systems Operations master’s combines military space applications, multidisciplinary graduate study, specialization courses, an experience tour, and a thesis.

The 32-quarter-hour curriculum covers surveillance, communications, navigation, environmental sensing, payload integration, command and control, and employment of space and information products.

The plan draws graduate courses from at least four academic disciplines and requires advanced study in a chosen specialization. An experience tour complements the academic work, while the space-oriented thesis gives students a way to connect operational questions with one of the program’s technical or information-focused disciplines.

Its federal space systems operations master’s entry reports 21 awards and a 57.4 score, placing it at position 4 among 4 national peers.

Published program details
  • 32 graduate quarter-hours
  • Space-oriented thesis
  • Four academic disciplines
  • Experience tour
  • Payload design and integration
Institution context
Enrollment
2,441

Official program source reviewed August 29, 2026: nps.edu.

Continue beyond the state list

Compare California programs with national rankings

Use this list of the best space studies programs in California as your starting point, then move into the same subject, degree level, or career route without restarting your search.

What the federal records show

CA · Engineering spans 17 records

This state view contains 34 program records from 18 institutions in 17 cities. Together, those records report 908 recent awards in this ranking of the best space studies programs in California.

Where the records are

California Institute of Technology in Pasadena contributes 6 records, San Diego State University contributes 4 records, and University of California-Los Angeles contributes 4 records. The other 15 institutions account for 20 records.

Los Angeles contributes 6 records, Pasadena contributes 6 records, San Diego contributes 4 records, and Monterey contributes 2 records. Another 13 cities contribute 16 records.

Fields and degree levels

Engineering accounts for 17 records and 823 awards. Space science accounts for 16 records and 64 awards. Space operations accounts for 1 record and 21 awards.

At the master’s level, 13 records account for 365 awards. At the research doctorate level, 8 records account for 58 awards. At the bachelor’s level, 7 records account for 474 awards. At the associate level, 6 records account for 11 awards.

Institution and career context

Public institutions contribute 23 records across 14 schools. Private nonprofit institutions contribute 11 records across 4 schools. Tuition, admission, graduation, and enrollment figures on each card describe the whole institution.

For aerospace engineers, the statewide median wage is $157,620 across 9,170 jobs. BLS places the 10th-to-90th-percentile range between $104,370 and $220,670.

For astronomers, the statewide median wage is $123,540 across 110 jobs. BLS places the 10th-to-90th-percentile range between $76,020 and $195,190.

For aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians, the statewide median wage is $99,000 across 1,560 jobs. BLS places the 10th-to-90th-percentile range between $71,990 and $161,650.

These wage figures describe statewide occupations, not earnings for graduates of a particular program.

Read before comparing

How to read California’s program records

Use these labels when comparing space studies programs in California: program facts and institution facts answer different questions.

01

Program facts

CIP field, degree level, and awards belong to the individual program record.

02

School facts

Tuition, admission rate, graduation rate, and enrollment describe the institution, not one department.

03

Current requirements

Confirm delivery mode, laboratories, admissions, and residency rules on the school’s current program page.

Continue comparing

Compare more best space studies programs by state

These nearby or similarly sized directories use the same CIP boundary, so their record counts are comparable. That is the same boundary used for space studies programs in California.

MT Montana 1 record NV Nevada 3 records GA Georgia 5 records IN Indiana 5 records

Questions students ask

Questions about the best space studies programs in California

How many space studies programs in California are ranked here?
This directory lists 34 records. Those records come from 18 institutions. Each field-and-level combination counts separately.
Which fields count as space studies in California?
The published scope includes aerospace and astronautical engineering, astronomy, astrophysics, planetary science, and space systems operations. Broad pilot training and aviation management sit outside this degree-field boundary.
What degree levels are listed for California?
Degree levels are counted separately in the summary above. A bachelor’s and a master’s at the same university appear as two records because they are different credentials.
How are the best space studies programs in California ranked?
Each program receives a national peer score inside its own field and degree level. The state rank orders those scores, so an astrophysics doctorate is not scored directly against an aerospace engineering bachelor’s degree.
What do the tuition and outcome figures describe?
Tuition, admission rate, graduation rate, and enrollment describe the institution. CIP code, field, degree level, and awards belong to the individual program record. Confirm current costs and program requirements with the school before enrolling.

Primary sources

Sources for space studies programs in California