Mechanical Versus Aerospace Engineering Degree: What’s the Difference?
As interest continues to grow in areas like space exploration and emerging technologies, high-skilled engineers with deep technical expertise are in high demand.
However, engineering is a vast technical field with many different branches and specializations. When you’re considering a graduate engineering degree, it’s essential to choose the path that will best fit your future goals and career expectations.
Two of the most common engineering paths are mechanical and aerospace engineering. But it can be difficult to distinguish between these fields and determine which path better matches with your goals. While mechanical and aerospace engineering are closely related with a common foundation, the day-to-day work, research focus, and long-term career paths can look very different.
Key Takeaways: Mechanical vs. Aerospace Engineering
- Mechanical engineering is a broad discipline focused on the design, analysis, testing and production of mechanical systems across industries such as robotics, automotive engineering, energy and manufacturing.
- Aerospace engineering is more specialized, focusing on the design, development, production and testing of aircraft, spacecraft, satellites and other aerospace systems.
- Both mechanical and aerospace engineers rely on foundational skills in mathematics, physics, computational tools, modeling and systems analysis, and professionals in both fields can work across overlapping industries.
- Graduate mechanical engineering programs may emphasize areas such as advanced materials and manufacturing, robotics, energy systems, controls and dynamics, while aerospace programs may focus on aerodynamics, propulsion, orbital mechanics, flight dynamics and aerospace structures.
- When choosing between a master's degree in mechanical or aerospace engineering, consider whether you prefer the broader career flexibility of mechanical engineering or the specialized focus of aerospace engineering.
- An advanced engineering degree can help professionals develop specialized technical expertise and advance their careers, whether they choose mechanical engineering or aerospace engineering.
Aerospace vs. Mechanical Engineering
To fully understand what engineering path is best for you, it’s essential to understand the core definitions of each field.
What Is Mechanical Engineering?
Mechanical engineering is a broad engineering discipline that focuses on the production of mechanical systems and products. Mechanical engineers are involved in the entire production process, from design to analysis to testing, for a broad range of systems such as robotics, automotive engineering, energy systems, and manufacturing processes.
Mechanical engineers use advanced mathematics techniques and modeling to improve the efficiency and performance of mechanical systems.
A mechanical engineering degree will cover a variety of topics, such as:
- Multiphysics modeling
- Advanced materials and manufacturing
- Robotics and autonomous systems
- Energy systems and sustainability
- Controls, dynamics, and precision engineering
Mechanical engineers can work in various industries due to the versatility of expertise, allowing engineers to use their skills in areas from medical device technology to renewable energy.
What Is Aerospace Engineering?
Aerospace engineering is closely related to mechanical engineering because aerospace engineers still work on mechanical equipment and use similar foundational knowledge. However, aerospace engineers work solely on space and air technology and equipment, such as airplanes, spacecrafts, missiles, and satellites.
Aerospace engineers focus on the design, development, production, and testing of high-performance aerospace systems and vehicles.
An aerospace graduate degree may cover topics like:
- Aerodynamics and high-speed flows
- Propulsion and rocket engines
- Orbital mechanics and space systems
- Flight dynamics and control
- Lightweight structures and extreme-environment materials
The aerospace engineering field deals with both air and space travel. Therefore, it is typically divided into two branches:
- Aeronautical engineering focuses on aircraft systems, such as commercial airplanes and military jets
- Astronautical engineering focuses on space systems, such as space shuttles and spacecrafts (space systems),
Key Differences
Mechanical and aerospace engineering share similarities in foundational knowledge, techniques, and technology.
Both disciplines rely heavily on physics, math, and computational tools. The fields often overlap, with mechanical engineers often working in aerospace settings, and aerospace engineers taking on mechanical roles.
Entry-level educational requirements for these roles both require a bachelor's degree in engineering, but advanced degrees are more specialized, such as a Master’s in Aerospace Engineering or Mechanical Engineering.
However, when choosing between mechanical and aerospace engineering as a career path, it’s essential to understand what sets the two disciplines apart.
Here are the key differences between mechanical engineering and aerospace engineering:
- Focus and scale: Mechanical engineering is a broad field that covers everything from robotics to manufacturing to biotech. Aerospace engineering has a specialized focus on the production and advancement of air and space vehicles.
- Salary: Due to the specialization of the field, aerospace engineers typically have a higher salary than mechanical engineers. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, mechanical engineers in the United States earn a mean annual wage of $105,220, while aerospace engineers earn $134,830.
- Job duties: The roles and responsibilities of mechanical engineers focus more on hands-on, practical work, while aerospace engineers have a stronger focus on precision, testing, and analysis to ensure air and spacecrafts are safe and reliable.
- Necessary skills: Mechanical engineers utilize skills like materials testing, advanced manufacturing, and general-purpose simulation tools. Aerospace careers focus on skills like propulsion testing, high-fidelity CFD, and flight-control modeling.
Which Path Is Right For You?
The similarities between mechanical and aerospace engineering can make it hard to decide what path may be best. If you’re looking to advance your engineering career with a master’s degree in either mechanical or aerospace engineering, here are some essential questions to ask:
- Do you want to work in a specialized field, or leave your options open to work in an industry-diverse field?
- Do you want to work with general machinery or specific space and aircrafts?
- Do you want the flexibility to easily switch industries down the line in your career?
- Does your learning style lean more toward understanding several topics at a higher level or narrowing your focus and deepening your knowledge on a few specific topics?
Advancing Your Engineering Career
Getting an advanced degree such as a graduate degree or a doctorate can help advance your career and help you stand out amongst your peers, regardless of which engineering career path you choose.
Villanova offers a range of flexible graduate engineering programs to help you achieve your career goals.
Our mechanical engineering program offers certificates such as thermofluidsystems, mechanics/materials and electro-mechanical systems to develop sharper mechanical engineering skills and specialized knowledge.
Our new Master’s of Science in Aerospace Engineering program helps prepare aerospace engineers for tomorrow’s aerospace challenges with cutting-edge curriculum and practical learning opportunities.
Learn more about Villanova’s engineering offerings to advance your career here.
Frequently Asked Questions About Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Mechanical engineering is a broad discipline focused on the design, analysis, testing and production of mechanical systems across industries. Aerospace engineering is more specialized, focusing on the design, development, production and testing of aircraft, spacecraft, satellites and other air and space systems.
Yes. Mechanical engineers can work in the aerospace industry because the two disciplines share many foundational skills and areas of knowledge. Mechanical engineers may apply their expertise in structures, materials, controls, manufacturing and mechanical systems to aerospace applications.
Aerospace engineers design, develop, test and improve aircraft, spacecraft, satellites and other aerospace systems. Their work may involve aerodynamics, propulsion, flight dynamics, control systems, structural analysis and space flight mechanics.
Mechanical engineers design, analyze, test and develop mechanical systems and products. Because mechanical engineering is a broad field, professionals can work in areas such as robotics, automotive engineering, manufacturing, energy, medical devices and other technology-driven industries.
Aerospace engineers may need expertise in areas such as aerodynamics, computational fluid dynamics, propulsion, flight dynamics, control systems, structural analysis and orbital mechanics. Strong skills in mathematics, physics and computational analysis are also important.
Mechanical engineers can work across a wide range of industries, including robotics, manufacturing, automotive engineering, energy, medical device technology and renewable energy. The broad nature of mechanical engineering allows professionals to apply their skills to many types of systems and technologies.
Aerospace engineering generally encompasses both aeronautical and astronautical engineering. Aeronautical engineering focuses on aircraft and atmospheric flight, while astronautical engineering focuses on spacecraft and systems designed for space.
A graduate engineering degree can help professionals deepen their technical expertise, develop specialized skills and prepare for advanced career opportunities. The best program depends on whether your goals call for the broader scope of mechanical engineering or the specialized focus of aerospace engineering.