Wichita, Kansas calls itself "the Air Capital of the World" for good reason: Kansas has produced over 250,000 aircraft, the majority of them built in Wichita, and Wichita State University's Aerospace Engineering department, the seventh oldest in the nation, sits right in the middle of that industry. The program is ABET-accredited, houses the National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR), and maintains direct ties to Airbus, Boeing, Bombardier-Learjet, Textron Aviation (Cessna and Beechcraft), and Spirit AeroSystems, several of which recruit and co-op directly out of WSU's campus. For international applicants specifically drawn to aerospace, this is one of the few US programs where the surrounding city's economy is literally built around the degree.
This guide covers admission requirements, fees, how to get in, English proficiency rules, and career outcomes for WSU's Aerospace Engineering program.
Acceptance Rate
WSU does not publish a department-specific acceptance rate for Aerospace Engineering, and we were unable to verify a reliable third-party figure for the department either. What is verifiable:
- Undergraduate admission to WSU (including Aerospace Engineering) follows the university-wide model: international freshmen can be admitted via a grades-based pathway (final high school transcript, no SAT/ACT required) or a test-based pathway (SAT 1060+/ACT 21+ with section minimums), rather than a comparative, department-specific review.
- Graduate admission (MS and PhD) to Aerospace Engineering sets its own GPA bar (see Admission Requirements below), which functions as the department's real selectivity filter rather than a published percentage.
- WSU is ranked #47 in Best Engineering Graduate Schools by U.S. News & World Report and #1 in industry-funded aeronautical R&D expenditures according to National Science Foundation data, which reflects a research-active, well-resourced department rather than a small or under-resourced one.
Because the undergraduate pathway is criteria-based rather than comparative, well-prepared applicants meeting WSU's general admission standards are admitted at a high rate; the graduate program's 3.0 GPA (or 2.75 probationary) threshold is the more meaningful bar for master's and PhD applicants.
Fees and Cost of Attendance
Aerospace Engineering students pay WSU's standard international student rate; the department does not carry a separate, higher tuition band. Based on WSU's own International Education office figures for 2026-2027:
| Cost item (9-month academic year) | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition & fees | ~$20,100 |
| Housing & meals | ~$12,700 |
| Books | ~$1,200 |
| Medical insurance (mandatory) | ~$2,300 |
| Total estimated cost (without scholarship) | ~$36,300/year |
| Total estimated cost (with Global Select Scholarship) | ~$30,800/year |
For the full 12-month year including summer, WSU estimates roughly $46,500/year without scholarship or $39,700/year with the Global Select Scholarship. New students also pay a one-time $200 International Enrollment Fee and $150 Orientation Fee. We were not able to locate a separately published international graduate tuition figure comparable to this undergraduate breakdown; confirm current per-credit-hour graduate rates directly with WSU's Financial Operations office or the Graduate School before budgeting for a master's or PhD.
Graduate students in Aerospace Engineering, particularly those working in NIAR-affiliated or faculty research labs, can often access research or teaching assistantships that combine a stipend with a tuition waiver; availability depends on current funded projects and should be confirmed directly with the graduate coordinator.
Admission Requirements
Undergraduate (BS in Aerospace Engineering)
- Completed international application, selecting the undergraduate/Intensive English track
- Final official high school transcripts (grades-based pathway) or qualifying SAT (1060+, 490+ per section) / ACT (21+, 18+ per section) scores (test-based pathway)
- Certification of Financial Support and financial documentation
- English proficiency test results, or eligibility for conditional admission via the Intensive English Language Center
- Strong high school math and physics preparation is expected given the program's calculus- and physics-heavy first-year sequence, even though it is not a separately scored admission criterion
Graduate (MS and PhD)
- Minimum GPA of 3.0/4.0 for full standing (or 2.75/4.0 for probationary admission) over the last two years or sixty credit hours of prior study
- Official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended
- English proficiency scores (see below), less than two years old
- A Plan of Study filed before completing 12 credit hours, including at least 12 graduate credits in the major and 3 credits in mathematics beyond differential equations or statistics
- Graduate coordinators may impose additional requirements for applicants whose prior degree is not in aerospace engineering
Because policy can vary by entry term, confirm current requirements directly with the department's graduate coordinator (Dr. Charles Yang, charles.yang@wichita.edu) or WSU's Graduate School (316-978-3095).
How to Get Into Wichita State's Aerospace Engineering Program
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Build a solid math and physics foundation before you apply. Aerospace Engineering's first-year curriculum moves quickly into calculus-based physics and engineering fundamentals, so completing pre-calculus or calculus in high school (or a strong quantitative record for graduate applicants) meaningfully smooths the transition, even where it isn't a formal cutoff.
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Hit the 3.0 GPA graduate threshold cleanly, or address it directly if you're below it. Since the department admits at 2.75 GPA on probation, applicants slightly below 3.0 aren't automatically excluded, but a strong statement of purpose and letters that address the gap improve the odds meaningfully.
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Target NIAR and faculty research explicitly in graduate applications. Because the National Institute for Aviation Research anchors much of WSU's aerospace funding and lab capacity, naming specific faculty or NIAR research groups you want to work with in your statement of purpose signals genuine fit, not just brand interest.
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Use the Intensive English Language Center pathway if your English score isn't there yet. Students who meet WSU's academic requirements but fall short of the English proficiency minimum are placed into conditional admission and transition into their degree program once proficiency is demonstrated.
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Look for co-op and Innovation Campus opportunities early, not after graduation. WSU's aerospace program is built around applied, hands-on experience with Wichita-based manufacturers; students who pursue co-ops or research placements during their degree, rather than waiting until their final year, build a stronger record for both OPT-era hiring and future H-1B sponsorship conversations.
English Proficiency Requirement (IELTS/TOEFL)
Aerospace Engineering follows WSU's university-wide undergraduate thresholds, but the graduate program sets its own, slightly different bar from the university default.
Undergraduate
| Test | Minimum score |
|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | 6.0 |
| TOEFL iBT | 72 (pre-Jan 2026); 4 (redesigned scale) |
| PTE Academic | 49 |
| Duolingo English Test | 105 |
Graduate (MS/PhD)
| Test | Minimum score |
|---|---|
| TOEFL iBT | 79 (internet-based) or 550 (paper-based) |
| IELTS Academic | 6.5 |
| PTE Academic | 58 |
Scores must be less than two years old and submitted directly from the testing agency. Undergraduate applicants who fall short of the full-time threshold can be placed into WSU's Intensive English Language Center as a conditional admission pathway. For the full breakdown of WSU's testing policy and conditional admission routes, see Wichita State University: Acceptance Rate, Fees, IELTS/TOEFL Requirements, and How to Get In.
Career Outcomes
WSU's Aerospace Engineering department publishes clear industry and labor-market context for the field, even where department-specific placement rates and starting salaries were not available in a single published source. What is verifiable:
- Per May 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data cited by WSU, the US mean annual wage for aerospace engineers is $142,060, and the Wichita-area mean is $130,220, with projected job growth of 6% from 2023 to 2033.
- The Wichita metro area has a location quotient of 10.66 for aerospace engineering, meaning aerospace engineering jobs are concentrated in Wichita at more than ten times the national average rate, and employs roughly 1,430 aerospace engineers locally.
- Notable employers of WSU aerospace graduates include Boeing, Cessna (Textron Aviation), Spirit AeroSystems, NASA, SpaceX, Blue Origin, Northrop Grumman, and General Dynamics, alongside spin-off opportunities in automotive, renewable energy, and medical device industries that value high-performance design expertise.
- The BS program is ABET-accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission, which matters both for employer recognition and for licensure (FE/PE) pathways.
- As a STEM-designated degree, graduates qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension on top of the standard 12-month OPT period, giving up to three years of US work authorization after graduation without immediately needing an H-1B, a meaningful advantage in an industry where security-clearance-adjacent roles can complicate international hiring.
FAQ
Does WSU publish an acceptance rate for Aerospace Engineering? No. WSU does not release a department-specific rate. Undergraduate admission follows the university's criteria-based model (grades or test-score pathway); graduate admission is governed by the department's 3.0 GPA (or 2.75 probationary) threshold rather than a published percentage.
Is WSU's Aerospace Engineering BS accredited? Yes, it is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET.
What GPA do I need for the graduate Aerospace Engineering program? A minimum 3.0/4.0 GPA over your last two years or sixty credit hours for full standing, or 2.75/4.0 for probationary admission.
What IELTS or TOEFL score do I need? Undergraduate: IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL iBT 72 (4 on the redesigned scale). Graduate: IELTS 6.5, TOEFL iBT 79 (550 paper-based), or PTE 58.
Which companies hire WSU aerospace graduates? Boeing, Cessna/Textron Aviation, Spirit AeroSystems, Airbus, Bombardier-Learjet, NASA, SpaceX, Blue Origin, Northrop Grumman, and General Dynamics are among the named employers, reflecting Wichita's concentration of aircraft manufacturers.
Do WSU Aerospace Engineering graduates qualify for STEM OPT? Yes. As a STEM-designated degree, graduates qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension on top of the standard 12-month OPT period.