Aiming for a Career at NASA

Hi all! As someone who's always been fascinated with the cosmos, I've been dreaming of working at NASA. Does anyone have any ideas on which college NASA hires from the most frequently? I'm looking to align my college decisions with this dream. Thanks!

Hello! Your interest in NASA is commendable. A good starting point, considering your career goals, is to look at colleges that have strong engineering and/or space sciences programs. These academic areas tend to align well with the type of work that NASA does.

That being said, there's a wide selection of schools that NASA hires from, but some notables ones are University of Maryland, University of Colorado Boulder, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Other universities, like Stanford, have also placed many graduates in NASA positions due to strong STEM programs.

However, it's important to keep in mind that NASA doesn't just look at which college a candidate attended. They are also interested in things like research experience, internships, and relevant coursework. Pursuing opportunities like NASA internships while you're in school can help you stand out just as much as the name of your university. For instance, the NASA Pathways program provides internships to current students, and is a great way to gain experience and make connections within NASA.

So when selecting a college, you might want to also consider if there are professors conducting space-related research, whether the college has a cooperative education program or has strong ties to space-oriented industries and laboratories. Also consider if the university offers relevant majors and coursework.

Remember, your career aspiration also depends upon the field of study you want to pursue within NASA, like aeronautical engineering, astrobiology, astrophysics and more. Each field could potentially have different optimal universities to attend.

Finally, don't forget about geolocation. Colleges near NASA centers (like University of Houston near Johnson Space Center) might present more local opportunities for internships and extra-curricular involvement.

Good luck with your college search, and your future goal of working with NASA! It's a worthwhile goal that will undoubtedly lead to some exciting opportunities.