SPACE STUDIESPROGRAMS

Minnesota program rankings

Best Space Studies Programs in Minnesota

Compare the best space studies programs in Minnesota across 6 degree records and 1 institution. 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

6program records
1institution
129awards recorded
1city

State program ranking

Best Space Studies Programs in Minnesota, 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.

Rank #1 Score 77.9

University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

Master’s in Astrophysics

Program field from IPEDS

space studies programs in Minnesota · Minneapolis · Public · Space science · CIP 40.0202

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Program summary

Minnesota's master's astrophysics source pairs astronomy and astrophysics with thesis work, while a 77.9 score exceeds the peer median.

The Minnesota Institute for Astrophysics graduate source identifies astronomy, astrophysics, and a thesis for this University of Minnesota master's record.

The program combines a broad theoretical foundation with current research, weekly seminars, and journal clubs. Students work with an individual faculty adviser and may serve as teachers or research collaborators, while the master’s route concludes with a final oral examination tied to the completed thesis.

The federal entry ranks 4 of 10 with a 77.9 score, above the 74.2 peer median. Its 2 awards sit below the median of 3, while institution graduation is 85%.

Published program details
  • Astronomy and astrophysics
  • Thesis work
  • Rank 4 of 10
  • 77.9 federal score
Institution context
Tuition
$15,148 in-state / $36,296 out-of-state
Graduation rate
85%
Admission rate
80%
Enrollment
56,666

Official program source reviewed August 28, 2026: cse.umn.edu.

Rank #2 Score 76.7

University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

Bachelor’s in Aerospace Engineering

Program field from IPEDS

Minneapolis · Public · Engineering · CIP 14.0201

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Program summary

Minnesota's bachelor's aerospace source connects aerodynamics and fluid mechanics with internships and co-op experience, supported by 72 awards.

The University of Minnesota's undergraduate aerospace source names aerodynamics and fluid mechanics, then identifies internships and co-op experience within the program.

Hands-on research and design projects run throughout the undergraduate experience, giving students repeated opportunities to develop and test engineering decisions against real problems. The department frames the major around broad fundamentals that also apply to controls, materials, mechanical systems, biomedical devices, aircraft, and space missions.

Federal data reports 72 awards and a 76.7 score, placing the entry 34 of 73. Both figures sit above peer medians of 70 and 75.5, while the institution graduates 85%.

Published program details
  • Aerodynamics focus
  • Fluid mechanics
  • Internships and co-op experience
  • 72 aerospace awards
Institution context
Tuition
$15,148 in-state / $36,296 out-of-state
Graduation rate
85%
Admission rate
80%
Enrollment
56,666

Official program source reviewed August 28, 2026: cse.umn.edu.

Rank #3 Score 75.7

University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

Doctor of Philosophy in Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics

Minneapolis · Public · Engineering · CIP 14.0201

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Program summary

Minnesota's aerospace PhD combines fundamental principles and multidisciplinary study with research projects conducted across classroom and laboratory settings.

The Doctor of Philosophy in Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics emphasizes fundamental aerospace principles, multidisciplinary learning, practical research projects, and work in classrooms and laboratories.

The graduate program accepts preparation from aerospace and other engineering fields as well as mathematics and physics. Full-time faculty teach throughout the curriculum and work with students in laboratories, creating a doctorate that connects disciplinary foundations with a faculty-guided research problem.

Federal data reports 11 awards and a 75.7 score, placing the entry 24 of 46. The score sits near the 76.2 peer median, while awards exceed the median of 6.

Published program details
  • Fundamental aerospace principles
  • Multidisciplinary learning
  • Research projects
  • Classroom and laboratory work
  • 11 doctoral awards
Institution context
Tuition
$15,148 in-state / $36,296 out-of-state
Graduation rate
85%
Admission rate
80%
Enrollment
56,666

Official program source reviewed August 28, 2026: cse.umn.edu.

Rank #4 Score 75.4

University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics

space studies programs in Minnesota · Minneapolis · Public · Engineering · CIP 14.0201

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Program summary

Minnesota's aerospace M.S. offers coursework-only or research-intensive study, both grounded in multidisciplinary principles and practical research projects.

The Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics provides coursework-only and research-intensive choices within a program emphasizing fundamental principles, multidisciplinary learning, and practical projects.

Students entering from mathematics, physics, aerospace, or another engineering field learn from full-time faculty in both classrooms and laboratories. The research-intensive path connects that multidisciplinary preparation with a practical investigation, while the coursework route retains the same department-wide grounding in aerospace and mechanics.

Federal results show 15 awards and a 75.4 score, corresponding to rank 34 among 69. The score exceeds the 74.4 peer median, while awards sit below the median of 25.

Published program details
  • Coursework-only study
  • Research-intensive study
  • Multidisciplinary learning
  • Practical research projects
Institution context
Tuition
$15,148 in-state / $36,296 out-of-state
Graduation rate
85%
Admission rate
80%
Enrollment
56,666

Official program source reviewed August 28, 2026: cse.umn.edu.

Rank #5 Score 74.7

University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

Bachelor’s in Astrophysics

Program field from IPEDS

Minneapolis · Public · Space science · CIP 40.0202

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Program summary

Minnesota's bachelor's astrophysics source combines thermodynamics and computational astrophysics with capstone and thesis work, alongside 26 federal awards.

The undergraduate source names thermodynamics, astronomy, astrophysics, and computational astrophysics, and identifies capstone or senior design plus a thesis within the published degree plan.

The degree offers professional and secondary-education emphases, both built on mathematics, physics, and astrophysics cores. Published career directions include professional astronomy, computational astrophysics, physical-science teaching, military programs, data analysis, and laboratory science, with additional coursework used to shape preparation for a chosen route.

Federal data records 26 awards, well above the peer median of 5, while a 74.7 score places the entry 20 of 37 and close to the 75.3 median.

Published program details
  • Computational astrophysics
  • Thermodynamics focus
  • Capstone or senior design
  • Thesis work
  • 26 astrophysics awards
Institution context
Tuition
$15,148 in-state / $36,296 out-of-state
Graduation rate
85%
Admission rate
80%
Enrollment
56,666

Official program source reviewed August 28, 2026: cse.umn.edu.

Rank #6 Score 73.7

University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

Doctorate in Astrophysics

Program field from IPEDS

Minneapolis · Public · Space science · CIP 40.0202

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Program summary

Minnesota's doctoral astrophysics source confirms astronomy and astrophysics, while a 73.7 score ranks 6 of 13 and 3 awards approach the peer median.

The University of Minnesota's graduate source identifies astronomy and astrophysics for this research-doctorate record within the Minnesota Institute for Astrophysics.

Students join weekly research seminars and journal clubs from the beginning, complete a written examination in physics and graduate astrophysics, and move into thesis research with individual faculty advising. The doctorate ends with a public presentation and a final examination conducted by the thesis committee.

A 73.7 federal score places the entry 6 among 13 and above the 69.5 peer median. Its 3 awards sit below the median of 4, while in-state tuition is $15,148.

Published program details
  • Astronomy and astrophysics
  • 3 doctoral awards
  • Rank 6 of 13
  • 73.7 federal score
Institution context
Tuition
$15,148 in-state / $36,296 out-of-state
Graduation rate
85%
Admission rate
80%
Enrollment
56,666

Official program source reviewed August 28, 2026: cse.umn.edu.

Continue beyond the state list

Compare Minnesota programs with national rankings

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

What the federal records show

MN · University of Minnesota-Twin Cities supplies 6 program records

This state view contains 6 program records from 1 institution in 1 city. Together, those records report 129 recent awards in this ranking of the best space studies programs in Minnesota.

Where the records are

University of Minnesota-Twin Cities in Minneapolis supplies all 6 records in this state directory.

Fields and degree levels

Engineering accounts for 3 records and 98 awards. Space science accounts for 3 records and 31 awards.

At the bachelor’s level, 2 records account for 98 awards. At the master’s level, 2 records account for 17 awards. At the research doctorate level, 2 records account for 14 awards.

Institution and career context

One public institution contributes 6 records. Tuition, admission, graduation, and enrollment figures on each card describe the whole institution.

For aerospace engineers, the statewide median wage is $159,060 across 140 jobs. BLS places the 10th-to-90th-percentile range between $85,330 and $194,950.

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

Read before comparing

How to read Minnesota’s program records

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.

IA Iowa 2 records KS Kansas 6 records SC South Carolina 1 record WV West Virginia 1 record

Questions students ask

Questions about the best space studies programs in Minnesota

How many space studies programs in Minnesota are ranked here?
This directory lists 6 records. Those records come from 1 institution. Each field-and-level combination counts separately.
Which fields count as space studies in Minnesota?
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 Minnesota?
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 Minnesota 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 Minnesota