Be Boulder in Aerospace

  Explore the Curriculum

  Meet our Graduate Students

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We're pushing the limits of technology in space exploration, remote sensing, and unmanned aerial vehicles in an aerospace graduate program ranked 6th among public universities.

Our graduates advance the frontiers of aerospace engineering and space science as technical leaders, entrepreneurs, educators, and groundbreaking researchers.

Research Focus Areas

  • Astrodynamics and Satellite Navigation Systems – This focus area investigates orbital motion of spacecraft, interplanetary mission design, attitude control, as well as navigation utilizing GPS and advanced sensors.

  • Autonomous Systems– Incorporating robotics, human-machine interaction, artificial intelligence, uncrewed systems, and estimation and control theory to develop new technologies and applications.

  • Bioastronautics – The study and support of human life in space.  Explores how to enable safe and efficient human space exploration.

  • Fluids, Structures and Materials – Conducting fundamental and applied research into multi-physics problems and fluid-structure interactions and design of high-performance materials and quantum systems.

  • Remote Sensing, Earth and Space Sciences – Bridges the gap between science and engineering by exploring Earth from space, and space from Earth.

The Aerospace building.

Now open: 175,000 sq. ft. dedicated Aerospace Building.

Completed Summer 2019.

Students working in a lab.
Student in the Dream Chaser mockup.
Students working in a lab.
Working in the machine shop.
Students in a class.

#1

Public University
in NASA Funding

 

175,000 ft2

Dedicated Aerospace Building
Opened 2019

 

$41.6 M

in New Research 
for FY 2024

 

2nd

Largest Aerospace
Economy in USA

 

Live in one of these states?

In-state tuition rates for graduate students are available to more than just Colorado residents. Students from the following places majoring specifically in aerospace engineering can receive in-state rates at CU Boulder, thanks to the Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP):

  • Alaska

  • Arizona

  • California

  • Colorado

  • Hawai'i

  • Idaho

  • Montana

  • Nevada

  • New Mexico

  • North Dakota

  • Oregon

  • South Dakota

  • Utah

  • Washington

  • Wyoming

  • U.S. Pacific Territories and Freely Associated States

To be considered for the tuition exemption under WRGP, visit the Office of the Registrar Residency Exceptions page and scroll down to “Program & Employment Exceptions” to learn more.

A map of WICHE member states and territories.

"There is no other program that offers so many opportunities for hands-on experience with the variety of aerospace activities that CU Boulder has.”

Jordan Holquist (AeroEngr MS '14, PhD '18)