As the region’s leading technical school, Old Dominion University’s Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering trains high performing and work ready engineers. Graduate degrees offered are the Master of Science and the Master of Engineering in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, and the Doctor of Philosophy in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. The department also offers a Master of Engineering program emphasizing design and manufacturing. The department has close ties with the nearby NASA Langley Research Center located in Hampton and NASA Wallops Flight Facility on Virginia’s Eastern Shore.

The Franklin W. Olin School of Engineering, Architecture, and Aviation at Hampton University is a leader among Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) in aviation and engineering programs. Hampton University’s Department of Aviation in the School of Engineering and Technology is one of only 40 Aviation programs accredited by the Aviation Accreditation Board International (AABI), which ensures students are provided with quality education, training, and expertise that meets industry standards. It is also the first Historically Black College and University with a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approved Air Traffic-Collegiate Training Initiative (AT-CTI) program.

Christopher Newport University is a four-year public university which enrolls approximately 4,500 students annually. CNU students and faculty in the Department of Molecular Biology and Chemistry study the natural world at the molecular and chemical level, offering Chemistry and Biochemistry bachelor’s programs that are certified by the American Chemical Society. CNU offers a combination of classroom and laboratory instruction, as well as research experiences that prepare students for success in advanced study or employment.

The Center for Materials Research (CMR) at Norfolk State University (NSU) provides graduate education and conducts pioneering research in materials science and engineering. CMR research falls into four categories, Optics, plasmonics, and metamaterials; Nanomaterials and nanotechnology; Advanced functional materials and devices; Semiconductor materials and devices. NSU graduate students are able to work on projects with external research organizations, including national laboratories, industries, and universities.

Located in Newport News, Denbigh High School’s Aviation Academy is a nationally recognized STEM site with a focus on piloting, aircraft maintenance, engineering, computers, and electronics. Their mission is to provide a quality education that will maximize students’ potential by providing them with the knowledge, skills, experiences, and values needed in the 21st-century workplace.