SPACE STUDIESPROGRAMS

Tennessee program rankings

Best Space Studies Programs in Tennessee

Compare the best space studies programs in Tennessee across 2 degree records and 2 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

2program records
2institutions
72awards recorded
2cities

State program ranking

Best Space Studies Programs in Tennessee, 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 80.5

Vanderbilt University

Ph.D. in Astrophysics

space studies programs in Tennessee · Nashville · Private nonprofit · Space science · CIP 40.0202

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Program summary

Vanderbilt’s Astrophysics PhD supports observational, theoretical, and computational research in exoplanets, black holes, galaxies, gravitational waves, and cosmology.

Doctoral students can use high-performance computing, join NANOGrav, LIGO, and LISA collaborations, and travel to telescope facilities in New Mexico and Chile.

Students may approach astrophysics observationally, theoretically, or computationally, with research spanning exoplanets, stars, the Milky Way, large-scale structure, and cosmology. Access to a campus data-science center complements the computing and collaboration infrastructure, helping doctoral researchers move between data-intensive methods and physical interpretation across Vanderbilt’s research-centered doctoral training environment.

The federal astrophysics research-doctorate row reports 2 awards and an 80.5 score, corresponding to position 5 among 13 national peers.

Published program details
  • Observational and computational astrophysics
  • High-performance computing
  • International research collaborations
  • Telescope facilities in Chile
  • Five-year support package
Institution context
Tuition
$65,008
Graduation rate
94%
Admission rate
6%
Enrollment
13,575

Official program source reviewed August 30, 2026: as.vanderbilt.edu.

Rank #2 Score 75.6

The University of Tennessee-Knoxville

Aerospace Engineering, BS

Knoxville · Public · Engineering · CIP 14.0201

Open the official program page

Program summary

Tennessee’s Aerospace Engineering BS organizes study around aerodynamics, propulsion, orbital mechanics, stability and control, experiential research, and industry-connected projects.

Students can work with wind-tunnel and aerothermodynamics facilities while studying fluid mechanics, mission planning, uncrewed aircraft, manufacturing, testing, and satellite development.

The program defines four research pillars: aerodynamics, propulsion, orbital mechanics, and stability and control. Students can cross into mechanical and biomedical engineering projects, use maker-space fabrication equipment, and pursue internships or cooperative education that applies manufacturing, testing, and design while drawing on the program’s laboratory and fabrication resources, including industrial cutting, machining, and additive manufacturing.

The federal aerospace bachelor’s row reports 70 awards and a 75.6 score, corresponding to position 36 among 73 national peers.

Published program details
  • Four research thrusts
  • Arcjet wind-tunnel facility
  • Satellite projects
  • Mission planning
  • Internships and co-ops
Institution context
Tuition
$11,560 in-state / $30,704 out-of-state
Graduation rate
74%
Admission rate
42%
Enrollment
38,728

Official program source reviewed August 28, 2026: tickle.utk.edu.

Continue beyond the state list

Compare Tennessee programs with national rankings

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

What the federal records show

TN · The University of Tennessee-Knoxville and Vanderbilt University are two comparison points

This state view contains 2 program records from 2 institutions in 2 cities. Together, those records report 72 recent awards in this ranking of the best space studies programs in Tennessee.

Where the records are

The University of Tennessee-Knoxville contributes 1 record and Vanderbilt University in Nashville contributes 1 record.

Fields and degree levels

Engineering accounts for 1 record and 70 awards. Space science accounts for 1 record and 2 awards.

At the bachelor’s level, 1 record accounts for 70 awards. At the research doctorate level, 1 record accounts for 2 awards.

Institution and career context

One public institution contributes 1 record. One private nonprofit institution contributes 1 record. Tuition, admission, graduation, and enrollment figures on each card describe the whole institution.

For aerospace engineers, the statewide median wage is $128,510 across 610 jobs. BLS places the 10th-to-90th-percentile range between $79,690 and $171,560.

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

Read before comparing

How to read Tennessee’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.

NC North Carolina 1 record OK Oklahoma 1 record MI Michigan 7 records WA Washington 7 records

Questions students ask

Questions about the best space studies programs in Tennessee

How many space studies programs in Tennessee are ranked here?
This directory lists 2 records. Those records come from 2 institutions. Each field-and-level combination counts separately.
Which fields count as space studies in Tennessee?
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 Tennessee?
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 Tennessee 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

Primary sources for Tennessee’s degree directory