How We Chose and Ordered These Programs
A program qualifies when its official school page states that the aerospace or space systems master’s is available online and describes a coursework-only or non-thesis route. We left out programs whose online pages do not confirm that route. Programs from our affordable online tuition page appear here only when they publish a coursework route, and the broader online space studies list covers every verified online record. Order is computed from the national peer score (65.3 to 92.6 here) described in our methodology.
Read our program comparison methodology for sourcing and editorial standards.
Online Coursework Routes Compared
| School | Credits | Route | Admission Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Georgia Institute of Technology | 33 credit hours | Non-thesis coursework | Minimum 2.7 GPA to graduate |
| University of Southern California | 27 units | Coursework, with optional thesis or directed research | Confirm state authorization |
| University of Washington | 45 credits | Coursework only | See program admissions page |
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | 32 credits | Non-thesis, non-research | See program admissions page |
| University of Central Florida | 30 credit hours | Non-thesis track | Prerequisite courses listed |
| Florida Institute of Technology | 33 credit hours | Coursework, thesis optional | No GRE or GMAT, 3.0 GPA, no application fee |
Coursework Route With a Written Credit Map
1. Georgia Institute of Technology
MS in Aerospace Engineering (Distance Learning)
- 33 Credit Hours, Non-Thesis
- Offered Online Through Distance Learning
- Thesis Route Also Available
Georgia Tech spells out exactly what a non-thesis plan must contain: 33 hours, at least 12 in aerospace courses, 6 in mathematics, and 24 at the 6000 level or above. That makes it easy to sketch your evenings semester by semester before you apply, which matters when work travel can interrupt a term.
Who Should Consider This Program?
Engineers who like a published checklist and want to plan a part-time schedule against it.
What Should You Check Before Applying?
The catalog does not describe live-session rules for the online route, so ask the department how courses are delivered.
Read Georgia Institute of Technology’s MS in Aerospace Engineering (Distance Learning) Details →Same Degree and Diploma as the Campus Program
2. University of Southern California
MS in Aerospace Engineering (DEN@Viterbi)
- 27 Units of Coursework
- Online Through DEN@Viterbi
- Same Requirements as Campus Students
USC delivers this master’s through its online DEN@Viterbi division with the same curriculum, academic standards, and diploma as the campus version. The degree is 27 units of coursework, the shortest credit requirement in this group. Thesis or directed research can be requested after your first semester, though a thesis is not guaranteed.
Who Should Consider This Program?
Professionals who want the campus curriculum without relocating, and who value a single diploma for both formats.
What Should You Check Before Applying?
USC asks online students to confirm that their state authorizes the program before enrolling.
Read University of Southern California’s MS in Aerospace Engineering (DEN@Viterbi) Details →Terminal Coursework Degree for Working Professionals
3. University of Washington
Master of Aerospace Engineering (Online)
- 45 Graduate Credits
- Every Course Online
- Live Webcast or Recorded Lectures
The University of Washington built this professional master’s for recent graduates and working professionals. All courses are online, including for international students, and you can watch lectures live by webcast or later from recordings. It is coursework only and does not lead to a PhD, and with continuous enrollment the program points to about three years.
Who Should Consider This Program?
Employed engineers who want applied industry skills and recorded lectures to fit around shifts and travel.
What Should You Check Before Applying?
At 45 credits it is the longest credit requirement here, and it is a terminal degree, so look elsewhere if a doctorate is your goal.
Read University of Washington’s Master of Aerospace Engineering (Online) Details →Defined Breadth Requirement Before Electives
4. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
MS in Aerospace Engineering (Online)
- 32 Credits
- Non-Thesis, Non-Research Degree
- Same Requirements as the Campus Non-Thesis Route
Illinois offers its online master’s as a non-thesis, non-research degree with the same requirements as its campus non-thesis route. You cover breadth in fluid mechanics, solid mechanics and materials, and dynamics and controls, plus mathematics, then use electives to specialize. The structure gives a working engineer a few anchor courses to schedule first.
Who Should Consider This Program?
Professionals who want a broad aerospace base across several disciplines before choosing electives.
What Should You Check Before Applying?
Elective availability by term decides how fast you can specialize, so review the course schedule before you commit.
Read University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s MS in Aerospace Engineering (Online) Details →Online With a Space Systems Focus
5. University of Central Florida
MS in Aerospace Engineering (Space Systems Design and Engineering)
- 30 Credit Hours
- May Be Completed Fully Online
- Reduced Campus Fees for Online-Only Students
UCF lets you finish the MSAE entirely online through a 30-credit non-thesis track: 12 credits of required courses, 12 of approved electives, and a 6-credit closing component. Its space systems design page points to controls, space environment, structures, and thermal analysis, so a working engineer can aim coursework at a satellite or launch employer.
Who Should Consider This Program?
Aerospace and mechanical engineers near Florida’s space industry who want a clear online path.
What Should You Check Before Applying?
UCF warns that not every elective or prerequisite is offered online, so check each term’s schedule early.
Read University of Central Florida’s MS in Aerospace Engineering (Space Systems Design and Engineering) Details →Entry Without the GRE or GMAT
6. Florida Institute of Technology
MS in Space Systems (Online)
- 33 Credit Hours
- Finish in as Few as 15 Months
- No GRE or GMAT Required
Florida Tech’s online space systems master’s runs eight core courses in propulsion, power, communications, astrodynamics, and spacecraft dynamics, plus nine elective credits, and a thesis is only one elective choice. It accepts a science or engineering bachelor’s with a 3.0 GPA, waives the GRE and GMAT, and charges no application fee.
Who Should Consider This Program?
Working scientists or engineers from adjacent fields who want a spacecraft-focused credential without a test requirement.
What Should You Check Before Applying?
The program page does not say whether classes are live or asynchronous, so ask before planning around work hours.
Read Florida Institute of Technology’s MS in Space Systems (Online) Details →How Do You Fit an Aerospace Master’s Around a Full-Time Job?
Count credits before you compare names. A 27-unit plan and a 45-credit plan ask for very different years of your evenings. Divide the credits by how many you can take in a term while working, and you have a realistic finish date.
Then ask how lectures reach you. Recorded lectures suit shift work or travel, while live sessions suit people with predictable evenings. Several programs on this list do not state the format, so email the department and ask.
- Check whether prerequisite courses are offered online or only on campus.
- Ask how exams are handled and whether local proctoring is required.
- Find out the maximum time allowed to finish the degree.
- Ask your employer about tuition reimbursement rules before you enroll.
What Background Do These Programs Expect?
Most programs here expect an engineering or science bachelor’s and a solid base in calculus, differential equations, physics, statics, and dynamics. UCF lists specific prerequisite courses, so compare your transcript against them first.
If your degree is in a nearby field, Florida Tech’s program accepts science as well as engineering bachelor’s degrees. The aerospace engineering degree requirements guide explains the usual course sequence if you need to fill gaps.
Which Online Master’s Should You Compare Next?
If cost is your first question, start with the affordable online aerospace engineering master’s comparison. For every online degree we have verified across the space field, use the online space studies rankings.
To see how master’s programs compare nationally, open the master’s degree rankings or the aerospace engineering rankings. Engineers still deciding on a specialty may also like the guide to space systems engineering vs. aerospace engineering.
Questions About Online Aerospace Master’s Degrees for Working Professionals
Can You Earn an Aerospace Engineering Master’s Online While Working Full Time?
Yes. Each program on this page publishes an online route and a coursework-only or non-thesis option. Plan your pace around the credit requirement, which ranges from 27 units to 45 credits.
Do Online Aerospace Engineering Master’s Programs Require the GRE?
It varies. Florida Tech does not require the GRE or GMAT for its online space systems master’s. Check the current testing policy at each school before you apply.
Do I Need an Engineering Bachelor’s Degree?
Most programs expect engineering or a closely related science, plus calculus, physics, statics, and dynamics. Florida Tech accepts a science or engineering bachelor’s degree. Confirm prerequisites with the department.
Is the Online Degree the Same as the Campus Degree?
USC states that online students follow the same curriculum and academic standards as campus students and receive the same diploma. Other schools describe their own rules, so read each linked source.
How Long Does an Online Aerospace Master’s Take?
Florida Tech lists as few as 15 months for its 33-credit program, and the University of Washington points to about three years with continuous enrollment. Most working students take longer than the fastest published pace.
Official Sources and Review Date
Program and policy sources checked October 2, 2026.