I'm just looking for good unis for engineering. Good connections with NASA or SpaceX would be nice, along with overall good student life.
Best universities in Florida for engineering students?
1 answer
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Here's what I found:
Florida has several strong engineering universities, but the best choice depends on whether you want a broad university experience or a more specialized route into aerospace.
My shortlist would be:
1. University of Central Florida (UCF) – Probably the best overall match for your priorities. UCF offers a wide range of engineering programs and is located about 35 miles from Kennedy Space Center. The university says that 29% of Kennedy Space Center employees are UCF alumni, and its students regularly pursue NASA internships and space-related research. It also has a large, active campus with more than 650 student organizations, so student life is a major strength.
2. University of Florida (UF) – A strong choice if you want a highly regarded, broad-based engineering education combined with a traditional college-town experience. UF has substantial research activity, engineering design teams and organizations such as the Florida Rocket Lab and AIAA. UF, UCF and Embry-Riddle are also the three founding university members of a formal collaboration with NASA’s Kennedy Space Center.
3. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach – One of the most specialized options for aerospace, aviation and space engineering. Its Daytona Beach aerospace engineering department has more than 2,400 students, and students and graduates have gone on to internships and careers with organizations such as NASA and SpaceX. Daytona Beach offers a smaller and more aerospace-focused environment than UCF or UF.
4. Florida Institute of Technology (Florida Tech) – Located in Melbourne on Florida’s Space Coast, Florida Tech is especially worth considering for aerospace, mechanical, electrical and space-related engineering. It was originally founded to educate scientists and engineers working in the early U.S. space program. It offers smaller classes than Florida’s large public universities and has students who obtain internships with NASA and other aerospace employers.
If NASA or the commercial space industry is your main goal, I would give UCF, Embry-Riddle and Florida Tech particularly close consideration. UCF offers the strongest combination of proximity to the Space Coast, broad engineering choices and a large-campus social experience. Embry-Riddle and Florida Tech provide smaller, more specialized aerospace environments.
For the broadest engineering education and a classic university atmosphere, UF and UCF would probably be the leading choices.
One important clarification: attending a university with NASA or SpaceX connections does not guarantee an internship or job. Look closely at the specific engineering major, faculty research, laboratories, student design teams, internship outcomes and total cost. Joining a rocketry, CubeSat, robotics or aerospace design team early can matter almost as much as the university’s name.