UW Engineers Fly High

The aerospace engineering major launches a new era of space in Wisconsin, supporting the growth of space manufacturing infrastructure and job creation. Joel Hallberg

Badger engineers are cleared for takeoff: a new aerospace engineering major will launch at the start of the fall 2026 semester in the UW’s College of Engineering.

Darryl Thelen, the John Bollinger Chair of the Department of Mechanical Engineering, expects 150 to 200 students a year to pursue the major. Currently, students can select an aerospace engineering option within the engineering mechanics major — a factor that’s driven enrollment growth in the major over the past six years.

“We’re excited to formally launch an aerospace program that builds upon our department’s expertise in a growing field with an expanding footprint in our state,” says Thelen. “This is a logical response to enthusiastic interest from students.”

Aerospace engineers work in careers ranging from space exploration technology to aircraft systems to national defense. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the field is projected to experience rapid growth over the next decade, and more than 200 Wisconsin companies have ties to the industry, according to the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation.

“This launches a new era of space in Wisconsin, supporting the growth of our space manufacturing infrastructure and job creation,” says Devesh Ranjan MS’05, PhD’07, Grainger Dean of the College of Engineering.

The new program will be the first aerospace engineering degree recognized by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology in the state of Wisconsin.

“I’m extremely grateful to all of the individuals who have and continue to put in hard work for the aerospace engineering major at UW–Madison,” says Finley Moss x’28, an engineering mechanics student who will change her major to aerospace engineering in the fall. “It shows a real commitment to listening to students and investing in the future of engineering.”

Published in the Summer 2026 issue