Is it the best for aerospace engineering?

Aero101 · 07-05-2009, 01:54 PM

I've heard Embry Riddle is the best for aerospace engineering and that's what I want to do. For those that know, is it the best?

SouthJerseyChessMom · 07-07-2009, 10:23 AM

Hey there Aero,just spend some time reading about Embry Riddle, Daytona/ Prescott yesterday for a prospective applicant and would love to hear from others about this school.
I am especially concerned about the low 4 year graduation rates? Any info would be appreciated.
It certainly reads like the PREMIER aerospace facility in the US?

archiemom · 07-07-2009, 10:50 AM

I don't know if it's the best, and I have no idea why the posted graduation rates hover around 50-60%, but my son is a rising junior at the Prescott campus and he has had a great experience and education so far. He's an AE major, already has earned a minor in math and is also working towards a minor in computer science. His courses have been rigorous and he appreciates that all classes are taught by professors, none by TAs. He has a close relationship with faculty members and his academic advisor and has done both paid and unpaid research for professors, some as early as freshman year. He has been encouraged to submit for a NASA grant based on an expanded class project.

He originally chose ERAU because he wanted to combine the AE degree with flight training, and there are few universities that offer that option. The flight minor has since fallen by the wayside due to medical certificate issues, but he's loving the engineering major and the Arizona weather.

If you do a search, you will find widely varying opinions on ERAU, but I can say that we're happy with our son's choice and he can't wait to get back next month.

SouthJerseyChessMom · 07-07-2009, 11:23 AM

archiemom--thank you so much for that information.
Can you tell me if they offer scholarships, and if so, would you know what the stats might be to qualify?

I see the need based financial aid stats, and curious about scholarships/ grants ?

My nephew is rising junior in aerospace magnet high school, and is also interested in the flight training program!!!
So glad to know that your son is having such a good experience. Prescott looks stunning.

archiemom · 07-09-2009, 08:27 AM

ChessMom:
My understanding is that ERAU is not all that generous with merit scholarships. There is a $1000 annually-renewable Alumni Endorsement Grant; a form has to be submitted by an ERAU graduate (my son receives this based on a signature from an admission staff person, not someone we previously knew). We also receive a $1000 annually-renewable Early Filers Grant, for getting the FAFSA in before March 1st. S also receives an ERAU Scholars Grant each year with no minimum grade point required. My understanding is that the amount varies up to $8000. S does not receive the max (but close) and his stats were well above the 75% level.

Once enrolled, there are a number of private scholarships available to ERAU students, some exclusively. And we have researched and found many outside scholarships for AE and flight students, but never applied.

All in all, I think the costs at ERAU are lower than most private colleges, especially for engineering degrees. This coming school year, tuition and fees total $29,026.00. S lives off-campus and we are estimating those costs at about $8000 for the year. But the flight training costs are high; they estimate $40-45K over the four years in addition to all other school costs. Sometimes I'm happy that S is not pursuing the commercial pilot's training!

Prescott is beautiful. We visited this past February and it's even pretty with a little snow-cover. The Prescott campus has just completed some significant capital improvements including a new library/academic building, a new dining hall and a cute chapel. I think additional dorm projects have been put on hold, though. As I said, S loves it (was elected a Student Government Association Rep last spring) and is going out mid-August to work Freshman Orientation.

Nasa_Nerd · 08-13-2009, 10:22 PM

I've also gotten the impression that ERAU is the numero uno school for Aerospace Engineering. It just sounds so perfect! Smaller classes, great teachers. The price tag is pretty hefty though, but I've visited the Daytona Campus, and they assured me "I recieve the education I pay for". They seem really stingy with the financial aid, I can tell you that. I would absolutely love to go to ERAU, and wouldn't think twice about it. But the price tag is seriously something to think about. Plus, I've been looking at the rankings, and I can't find them on the top 10 this year. I'm not sure, but for once since I've heard about ERAU, I'm beginning to question it.

and I've only got 3 months to make a decision! :|

any information is useful, so keep the posts coming!

pualalala · 08-26-2009, 10:21 PM

Would someone with a 2400 SAT, 4.0, etc fit in well at this school? It looks awesome but the middle 50 range of SATs does not look encouraging. How challenging is it?

petermcd123 · 08-26-2009, 11:09 PM

go to mit lol

Undecided56 · 09-14-2009, 05:53 PM

Are there any major differences between the Prescott and Daytona Beach Campuses? To me, it seems as if it'd be a lot more fun to go to a college next to a beach than a college in the middle of the desert.