Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University is a private university specialising in aviation and aerospace, with its main residential campus beside Daytona Beach International Airport in Florida. It is best known for aerospace engineering, pilot training, air traffic management, cybersecurity and space operations, with its own fleet of training aircraft. Choose it for the most focused aviation and aerospace education in the US.
Daytona Beach, Florida, United States
Official website: erau.edu
Top-ranked undergraduate aerospace programme in the US (U.S. News)
1926 — the oldest aviation university in the world
Over 100 aircraft across its campuses
Around 8,000 students at Daytona Beach
$30,000 – $44,000
Tuition only; flight training fees for pilots are extra
$15,000 – $19,000
Rent, food and local transport
Approximate figures for 2026-27, please verify. Fees change every year and vary by course, so check the latest amount on erau.edu before you apply.
MS Aerospace Engineering
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 79
MS Aeronautics
Masters DegreeDuration
18 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 79
MS Cybersecurity Engineering
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 79
MS Data Science
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 79
BS Aeronautical Science (Professional Pilot)
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.0, TOEFL: 79
BS Aerospace Engineering
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.0, TOEFL: 79
Aerospace engineering — consistently ranked the top non-doctoral programme in the US.
Pilot training — a professional pilot degree with an on-airport flight line.
Research Park — aerospace companies and labs working with students next to campus.
Space — degrees in space operations and a short drive from Cape Canaveral.
Graduates join Boeing, Lockheed Martin, SpaceX, Blue Origin, NASA, the FAA and major airlines.
STEM master's graduates can work in the US for up to three years on OPT.
Pilot graduates move into regional and major airlines through pathway programmes.
Around 95% of graduates are employed or in graduate school within a year.
Undergrad
Rolling
Postgrad
Varies by programme
Undergrad
Rolling
Postgrad
Varies by programme
The campus sits beside Daytona Beach International Airport, with the flight line, wind tunnels, the student union and residence halls on one site and the Research Park next door.
Daytona Beach is a coastal city with beaches ten minutes away, a warm climate and moderate rent. Orlando is an hour away and Kennedy Space Center about 75 minutes.
Form I-20 issued by Embry-Riddle
Proof of funds for one academic year
SEVIS I-901 fee payment receipt
Completed DS-160 online application
US embassy or consulate interview
Passport valid six months beyond stay
Embry-Riddle reviews undergraduate applications on a rolling basis, with a 1 December 2026 priority date for fall 2027 scholarships; international applicants should apply by May. Graduate deadlines are set by each programme, with most closing between 1 February and 1 June for fall.
Undergraduates can start in fall (August) or spring (January), and some programmes also admit for summer. Aerospace engineering, aeronautics, cybersecurity engineering and data science master's admit for both fall and spring. Check your programme's page to confirm.
You need an F-1 student visa. International Student and Scholar Services issues your Form I-20 after you accept the offer and submit proof of funding, which for pilots must include flight costs. Then pay the SEVIS fee, complete the DS-160 and attend a visa interview.
Aerospace engineering, aeronautics, cybersecurity engineering, data science and the professional pilot degree attract the most international applicants. Graduate admission needs a bachelor's degree with a GPA of at least 3.0 and TOEFL 79 or IELTS 6.5. Pilot students need a medical certificate and TSA flight training approval.
Yes. International undergraduates are automatically considered for merit scholarships based on their grades and test scores, and graduate students can apply for assistantships in engineering and research. Flight training costs are not covered by most awards. Check the financial aid pages for current amounts.
