Engineering Colleges in Warm Climates?

College Search & Lists
1

Rising junior here, looking for some suggestions to add to my current college application list so I can start visiting and taking tours. Ideally I’m looking for a medium or large size school in a warm climate with a strong STEM focus, especially engineering. If it offers an aerospace engineering major and has an Air Force ROTC program that would be awesome. I’m in state for UW Madison, and my family includes my single mom and my younger sister. Our household income is <60,000 per year, so we wouldn’t be able to afford a UC or any college like that. My stats:

  • 4.0/4.0 unweighted
  • Ranked 5th out of 183
  • PSAT of 1370
  • Involved in 3 clubs, two of which I hold a leadership/officer position

Intended major of mechanical or aerospace engineering. Any input is greatly appreciated ?

2

University of Alabama Huntsville and possibly the University of Alabama. Wait until you get your standardized test scores then more suggestions might be made.

3

Arizona State University

4

ASU is not an engineering college… they are 31% STEM.

There are 6 warm weather colleges that are 50%+ STEM.

Caltech, GaTech, UCSD, USF, UAH, FIT.

5

You missed New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, which is over 50% engineering:

https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=187967#programs

6

Given your apparent goal as officer in the Air Force, have you considered the United States Air Force Academy?

7

Laid out by the US map…

https://best-engineering-colleges.com/

8

Having a 50%+ STEM requirements seems limiting. Perhaps the OP would benefit by considering colleges with strong aerospace engineering programs with AFROTC. Just an option.

9

Remember, “STEM” does not necessarily mean engineering. Biology is a very popular major that is included in “STEM”.

10

“with a strong stem focus” doesn’t mean it has to be 50% engineering…

Based on your SAT scores, UAH and UA could be affordable options, as list above.

Two of the more affordable OOS engineering options, in Florida, are USF and UCF.

University of South Florida is in Tampa and offers generous OOS merit based scholarships (some of which stack).
https://www.usf.edu/admissions/freshmen/admissions-scholarships/nonflorida.aspx
For example:
USF Green & Gold Presidential Award
$48,000 (up to $12,000 per year) 4.00+ GPA and
1340+ SAT (Evidence-Based Reading/Writing and Math) or 29+ ACT
USF doesn’t offer Aerospace Engineering, but they do offer several other degrees, including Mechanical.
USF’s ROTC program:
https://www.usf.edu/undergrad/programs/rotc.aspx

University of Central Florida, in Orlando, also offers generous OOS merit based scholarships. See their forum for examples. UCF does have a large aerospace program (the school was started in the 60’s to support NASA).
UCF’s AFROTC program:
http://airforce.ucf.edu/det159/

FSU has a smaller engineering program, and doesn’t offer Aerospace, but they could offer you an OOS tuition waiver (bringing your cost down to the low instate rate of $6,300+ a year), based on your test scores.
FSU’s AFROTC Program:
https://airforcerotc.fsu.edu/

UF has the best engineering program in the state (and has a large Aerospace program), but they offer little in the way of OOS merit or need based aid, so it’s likely too expensive. However, with a ROTC scholarship, it could be your best Florida option.
http://rotc.ufl.edu/

I would recommend using the ASEE online (Engineering) program profile to get a more detailed look at any engineering program.

http://profiles.asee.org/

11

University of Florida. 44 engineering programs. Next closest in sunshine state is around 30. Miami has 22. Lots of options. And a top ten USA public school and lots to offer. Tough to get in oos but you’d be competitive

12

Info on AFROTC scholarships:

http://afrotc.ufl.edu/scholarships/

13

Embry-Riddle. There’s one campus in Florida and one in Arizona. It’s top ranked in aerospace engineering. It has ROTC. https://daytonabeach.erau.edu/rotc/

14

University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa

Engineering facilities are top notch. My son had research experience beginning freshman year. Great Co-Op program.

Though the scholarships are less than in the past, they are still amazing, esp for National Merit Finalists.

Large OOS population gives the school a unique diversity.

15

Texas A&M has a strong (top 10) aerospace engineering program and a large Air Force ROTC contingent.

16

Florida Tech has ROTC but I think it is Army. Personally, I’d go to Wisconsin and do spring break in Florida.

17

@ucbalumnus

The reason I don’t want to attend a military academy is because I’d still like the “traditional” college experience, and I’m not completely set on becoming an officer yet, just something I’m strongly considering.

I’m also not completely set on engineering, I’ve considered multiple other stem majors such as Applied Physics and Biophysics, so a STEM dominant college would allow me to explore many courses and programs before I declare my major.

Cost doesn’t have to be a full ride or tuition or anything, I’m just looking for ideas right now… top 50 colleges are what I’m really asking for. the only reason I mentioned not suggesting UC colleges is because I know they are notoriously expensive for OOS.

18

NC State (go pack) every undergrad engineering major known to man. (or at least more than most places)

Aerospace Engineering (AE)
Biological Engineering (BE)
Biomedical Engineering (BME)
Chemical Engineering (CHE)
Civil Engineering (CE)
Computer Engineering (CPE)
Computer Science (CSC)
Construction Engineering (CON)
Electrical Engineering (EE)
Environmental Engineering (ENE)
Industrial Engineering (IE)
Materials Science and Engineering (MSE)
Mechanical Engineering (ME)
Mechanical Engineering Systems (MES) (Site-Based,* Craven Community College, Havelock)
Mechatronics Engineering (JEM) (Site-Based,* University of North Carolina at Asheville)
Nuclear Engineering (NE)
Paper Science and Engineering (PSE)
Textile Engineering (TE)

19

STEM percentages:
https://www.usnews.com/education/blogs/college-rankings-blog/2013/06/18/top-ranked-universities-that-grant-the-most-stem-degrees

Engineering degrees (PDF):
https://www.asee.org/documents/papers-and-publications/publications/college-profiles/2017-Engineering-by-Numbers-Engineering-Statistics.pdf

20

Texas A&M