I am ramping up with my S22 on applications. But, I am also starting looking into schools for my D24. She is interested in either Marine Engineering (I believe I have that one nailed down) or Space Studies. That one I have no clue about. So, what universities have strong ties to the public and/or private space programs. Alternatively, what universities have strong degrees in space studies (I would assume Physics and Astronomy). For example, I know Arizona State is heavily tied to the Psyche Asteroid mission this decade. What other universities should we look at? As always, thanks in advance for any advice.
Where do you live and what does she want to do with marine engineering? Would Cal Maritime be something he is interested in?
University of Arizona is worth a look. Many connections with space programs. A relative is doing a planetary sciences PhD there.
Also Florida Institute of Technology (located very near Cape Canaveral) has many connections with NASA
University of Alabama Huntsville gets mentioned frequently with regards to Aerospace programs
We are in Tennessee…no maritime here.
Does she want academic studies and do research into space or does she want to work for a space program? If she wants to do research, then physics or astronomy would be appropriate. If she wants to work for a space program, then an aerospace engineering program would be appropriate.
Purdue University, the “Cradle of Astronauts”: School of Aeronautics and Astronautics - Purdue University
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I am not sure if she has given it much thought, to be honest. In a perfect world, she wants to decision rovers and satellites. For example, she has made offhand comments about how she would like to design a submersible to explore any potential seas on Europa (thus combining her two interests).
@Peruna1998 If she is talking about design, she should be looking at engineering programs.
And any strong program in mechanical, electrical or material science engineering would be a good foundation.
I don’t know much about the field, but CU Boulder has an excellent aerospace engineering program with ties to Ball Aerospace and others. (but landlocked, of course)
Oregon State is doing some stuff with off-shore wave energy if she’s interested in that kind of thing. A quick look at their website shows coastal and ocean engineering.
Designing rovers and satellites is more engineering. Designing the experiments that go on the rovers is more the realm of planetary sciences and astrobiology and such. Your daughter should think about what angle she would like to pursue with respect to space before you narrow the schools too much.
Have you looked at Florida Tech? We toured it twice and I really liked it, but for my kid it was too small (hence I took her there the second time to try to convince her to apply 
) they have ties to NASA (as they are really next to Space Center and all) and they are on the beach so Marine degree there as well…
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You should look at the backgrounds of students who won the Brooke Owens Fellowship which is one of the most prestigious internship programs in the space industry: 44 EXCEPTIONAL STUDENTS SELECTED FOR THE AWARD-WINNING BROOKE OWENS FELLOWSHIP CLASS OF 2021 — Brooke Owens Fellowship
My son was in this boat. He got 50% at ERAU, 50% at Fl Tech, 100% tuition at UAH, he goes to Bama…its big. Got $10k at Purdue. I’ve heard good stuff about Wichita State.
Your ERAU and Fl Tech will bring him with like minded kids. Uah to a point. All are affordable.
For space studies
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If she knows she wants to be an engineer, that’s one thing. If not, I’m not sure it really matters. S19 is a physics and math double major at Bowdoin. His physics professor pointed him to the Maine Space Consortium when he wanted to take this last fall off of school. S19 made a bunch of connections through the MSC and Bowdoin alums who work at NASA via LinkedIn and found himself an internship at a start up aerospace company for last fall. Filled out the app for NASA summer internships (it’s on their website and you give them a resume and recommendations and a bunch of essays and then “click” on the internships that you are interested in - there are hundreds.)
He ended up being offered a (very well) paying NASA internship this summer. He has a little knowledge that they wanted but they will also be teaching him a ton.
Wesleyan gets a lot of funding from NASA:
Redfield Receives NASA Grant to Study the Properties of Outer Space | News @ Wesleyan
NASA Funds Study of Gilmore’s Venus Mission Concept | News @ Wesleyan
Students Receive Research Awards from NASA | News @ Wesleyan
Physics / astronomy would be for the study of space and objects there. Various kinds of engineering would be for the design of devices (spaceships, telescopes, computers, etc.) used for that study.
Florida Tech has Ocean Engineering, other types of Ocean study, a research campus on the ocean (although the main campus is only 5 miles from the beach). Many experiments involving both space and oceanography (building vehicles, preparing experiments for space missions). The senior showcase is sponsored by Northrup, and there are tons of internships and co-ops with all the major space companies and NASA itself.
I think the other Florida schools would also offer a lot of marine studies (Embry-Riddle, USF, UCF), both in engineering and biology.
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