30 Seats. One Cohort. This Is How You Get In.
This is a selective, cohort-based program -- not open enrollment. We admit engineers, MBAs, scientists, policy professionals, and designers with genuine drive to lead in the space industry. No GRE required. A statement of purpose, a 60-second video pitch, and your transcript. Whether you start with a single module or the full MSTS degree, every path begins here.
Founding cohort applications are open now. Early applicants receive priority review. Apply through ASU's Graduate Admissions portal.
Program Status
The Master of Space Technology and Systems is currently in the proposal and development phase. SpaceForge modules are designed to launch as graduate-level electives within existing ASU degree programs while the full MSTS degree works through the institutional approval process. The Thunderbird Graduate Certificate and MicroMasters can be approved on a faster track through internal university governance. This site represents the program architecture as designed. Enrollment timelines will be confirmed as approvals are secured.
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Admissions Requirements
Choose Your Entry Point
Each credential level has its own set of requirements. Start where it makes sense for your career.
Individual Module
GPA Requirement
3.0+ undergraduate GPA (or equivalent experience)
Materials Needed
- Online application form
- Current resume or CV
- Statement of purpose (500 words)
- One professional reference
Rolling admissions — apply up to 4 weeks before module start
Thunderbird Graduate Certificate
GPA Requirement
3.0+ undergraduate GPA (or significant professional experience)
Materials Needed
- Online application form
- Current resume or CV
- Statement of purpose (750 words)
- Two professional or academic references
- Official transcripts
Priority deadline: June 1 for Fall start
MSTS Degree
GPA Requirement
3.0+ undergraduate GPA and 5+ years professional experience preferred
Materials Needed
- Online application form
- Current resume or CV
- Statement of purpose (1,000 words)
- 60-second video pitch
- Three professional or academic references
- Official transcripts
- Professional portfolio or writing sample (optional)
Application opens March 1 — classes begin August
4+1 Master's Pathway
Exceptional ASU undergraduates can begin earning Thunderbird MicroMasters credits during their senior year. Those credits transfer directly into the MSTS degree at ASU -- approximately 36 total credits across 5 years (bachelor's + master's). Dual alumni: Thunderbird + ASU.
- Open to ASU undergraduates with 3.5+ GPA
- Begin Thunderbird MicroMasters credits during your senior year
- 27 MicroMasters credits transfer into the ASU MSTS degree
- ~36 total credits across 5 years (bachelor's + master's)
Select “Master of Space Technology and Systems” as your program of interest
Video Pitch
60 Seconds. Your Story. No Polish Required.
Instead of a traditional admissions essay, we ask for a 60-second video. Tell us who you are, why space matters to you, and what perspective you will bring to the cohort. That’s it.
Record on your phone. We evaluate clarity of thought and genuine motivation, not production quality. If you can explain why space matters to you in 60 seconds, you are ready.
Be Authentic
We are not looking for polish. We want to see the real you — your passion, your drive, your story. Speak from experience, not from a script.
Show Curiosity
Tell us what question keeps you up at night. What problem in the space industry fascinates you? We want thinkers, not just achievers.
Tell Us Why Cross-Disciplinary Matters
The best space leaders speak multiple languages — engineering, business, policy, science. Tell us why being fluent across disciplines matters to where you want your career to go.
Make It Conversational
Imagine you are explaining your vision to a colleague over coffee. Relax, be direct, and let your personality come through.
Investment
Tuition & Costs
The full MSTS degree tuition is $67,500 for 42 credits. That covers all instruction, immersion site access and programming (Kennedy, Johnson, and D.C.), five CSP certification exam fees ($6,495 retail value, included at no extra cost), executive hybrid delivery with live faculty every weekend, and a cross-disciplinary cohort you cannot find anywhere else. Immersion travel, lodging, and meals are separateand are the student's responsibility.
Not ready for 42 credits? Start with a single module at $4,500. Every credit stacks upward. Pay only once per credit.
Individual Module
$4,500
3 credits -- every credit stacks upward toward any credential
Thunderbird Graduate Certificate
$27,000
18 credits — Thunderbird alumni status included
Thunderbird MicroMasters
$40,500
27 credits — transfer into ASU MSTS or hold standalone
ASU MSTS Degree
$67,500
42 credits — dual alumni: Thunderbird + ASU
Quarterly Installment Plan
$16,875/quarter
$16,875 × 4 quarters for full MSTS Degree
Industry Fellow
$10K-$18K
Employer-sponsored, non-credit (2-4 modules)
Flat-Rate Pricing
All prices are flat-rate regardless of residency status -- in-state and out-of-state students pay the same tuition. Financial aid, employer tuition reimbursement, and military education benefits (GI Bill, TA) may apply. Contact admissions for details.
What $67,500 MSTS Tuition Includes
3 Immersions
Site access and programming at Kennedy, Johnson/South Texas, and D.C. included -- travel, lodging, and meals are separate
5 CSP Cert Exam Fees
$6,495 retail value ($1,299 each) -- exam fees included in tuition through our SFA partnership
Executive Hybrid Delivery
In-person weekends with faculty, not pre-recorded lectures
Cross-Disciplinary Cohort
Engineers, MBAs, scientists, and policy experts in every class
Not ready for the full degree? Start with a single module at $4,500 (3 credits), earn the Thunderbird Graduate Certificate for $27,000 (18 credits), the Thunderbird MicroMasters for $40,500 (27 credits), or explore the employer-sponsored Industry Fellow pathway ($10K-$18K). Every credit stacks upward. MicroMasters credits transfer directly into the ASU MSTS degree.
Key Dates
Application Timeline
Mar
Application Opens
Online portal opens for the next cohort
Jun
Video Pitch Due
60-second video pitch and all materials submitted
Jul
Notification
Admissions decisions released to applicants
Aug
Classes Begin
First SpaceForge module and cohort orientation
How We Compare
ASU MSTS vs. Other Programs
See how the ASU Master of Space Technology and Systems stacks up against alternative space-focused graduate programs.
| Feature | ASU MSTS | UCF Space MBA | Georgia Tech MS Aerospace (Online) | ISU Master of Space Studies | MIT AeroAstro MS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Total) | $67.5K (base tuition) | ~$37K | ~$33K–$36K | ~$30K (€27K MSS) | ~$128K+ (tuition only) |
| Duration | 12 or 18 months | 24 months | ~2-3 years part-time | 12 months intensive | 2 years |
| Delivery | Two tracks: Weekday Evenings (Track A) + Executive Hybrid Weekend (Track B) | 100% online, asynchronous | 100% online | In-person only (Strasbourg, France) | In-person (Cambridge, MA) |
| Credits | 42 credits | 39 credits | 30–33 credits | Intensive 12-month program | Varies by track |
| Cross-Disciplinary Focus | 6 fields: Engineering, Science, Business, Policy, Design, AI | MBA core with space electives (business-focused) | Traditional aerospace engineering | Interdisciplinary but in-person only | Traditional academic aerospace |
| Immersion Trips | FL Space Coast + Houston/South Texas + Washington DC | None | None | Included (Strasbourg campus) | None (campus-based labs) |
| AI-Powered Learning Tools | Integrated AI study tools, adaptive learning, spaced repetition | None | None | None | None |
| Flexible Tracks | Weekday (Track A) + Executive Weekend (Track B) | Self-paced online | Self-paced online | Fixed cohort, in-person only | Fixed academic calendar |
| Stackable Credentials | Module → Certificate → Full Degree (credits stack) | No stackable options | No stackable options | No stackable options | No stackable options |
| Industry Fellowship Path | Structured Industry Fellow track with employer sponsorship | Not specified | No fellowship path | No fellowship path | Research assistantships only |
| Cohort Format | Executive cohort (5+ year professionals preferred) | Online, self-paced | Online, self-paced | Intensive cohort (international) | Traditional academic cohort |
| Space Content | Space-contextualized across all 6 modules (40%–90% space content per module) | ~9 dedicated space credits out of 39 total; space context in some core courses | 100% aerospace (traditional) | 100% space (interdisciplinary) | 100% aerospace (research-focused) |
| Mentorship | Structured alumni mentorship network | Not specified | Faculty advisors | Alumni network (in-person) | Faculty research advisors |
| Online Option | Hybrid (Executive Track B is mostly online with monthly in-person weekends) | Fully online | Fully online | No online option | No online option |
Competitor pricing is approximate and based on publicly available 2025–2026 data. Verify directly with each institution for current tuition and fee schedules.
Founding Cohort Advantage
Get in on the Ground Floor
As a founding cohort member, you’ll help shape the program and benefit from advantages that later cohorts simply won’t have.
Direct Access to Founding Faculty
30 students. Your professors know your name from day one. You learn from the faculty who invented this program, not the ones who inherited it.
Priority Industry Connections
Founding partners are investing in YOUR cohort’s success. You’re not cohort #15 — you’re the reason they signed on.
Alumni Network Builder
You won’t join an alumni network. You’ll start it. Five years from now, cohort seven will be asking cohort one for advice.
Curriculum Influence
Your feedback directly shapes future iterations. The program adapts to what works for real students, starting with you.
Career Pathways
Graduates pursue careers across the full spectrum of the space industry, from commercial launch providers and satellite operators to defense contractors, government agencies, and early-stage ventures. Career outcomes will be tracked and published beginning with the founding cohort (expected 2028).
FAQ
Honest Answers to the Questions You Are Actually Asking
Tuition justification, time commitment, career outcomes, employer reimbursement, and everything else prospective students ask. Don’t see your question? Reach out below.
Get in Touch
Still Have Questions?
Our admissions team is ready to help you navigate the application process. Reach out anytime.
The Space Industry Will Not Wait for You
The founding cohort is limited to 30 students. Early applicants receive priority review and direct access to founding faculty. You will work directly with the faculty who designed the curriculum.
Every week you wait is a week someone else fills your seat.