Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering

Salary data, best schools, and honest ROI assessment

Avg Earnings (4yr)
$74,019
Median Earnings
$96,510
Schools Offering
60
ROI Grade
A

Earnings Range (4 Years After Graduation)

25th: $92,360Median: $96,51075th: $102,756

Best Schools for Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering by Earnings

#School4yr Earnings
1University of Southern California
CA · Private
$125,514
2University of Colorado Boulder
CO · Public
$116,350
3University of California-Los Angeles
CA · Public
$115,706
4University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
MI · Public
$115,075
5Massachusetts Institute of Technology
MA · Private
$114,620
6University of Washington-Seattle Campus
WA · Public
$111,349
7Illinois Institute of Technology
IL · Private
$110,956
8California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
CA · Public
$107,498
9Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
VA · Public
$106,633
10California State Polytechnic University-Pomona
CA · Public
$106,171
11Case Western Reserve University
OH · Private
$106,134
12Worcester Polytechnic Institute
MA · Private
$105,171
13The University of Texas at Austin
TX · Public
$104,422
14University of Notre Dame
IN · Private
$103,022
15Auburn University
AL · Public
$102,756
16Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus
GA · Public
$102,415
17California State University-Long Beach
CA · Public
$101,797
18University of California-Irvine
CA · Public
$100,537
19University of California-San Diego
CA · Public
$100,173
20San Diego State University
CA · Public
$100,139
21The University of Texas at Arlington
TX · Public
$99,239
22Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus
PA · Public
$99,159
23University of Maryland-College Park
MD · Public
$98,044
24Purdue University-Main Campus
IN · Public
$97,332
25University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
IL · Public
$97,276
26Texas A&M University-College Station
TX · Public
$97,227
27Florida Institute of Technology
FL · Private
$97,015
28University of Central Florida
FL · Public
$96,972
29Arizona State University Campus Immersion
AZ · Public
$96,946
30New Mexico State University-Main Campus
NM · Public
$96,510
31Missouri University of Science and Technology
MO · Public
$96,090
32Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott
AZ · Private
$95,552
33Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach
FL · Private
$95,552
34Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Worldwide
FL · Private
$95,552
35Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
NY · Private
$94,750
36West Virginia University Institute of Technology
WV · Public
$94,750
37West Virginia University
WV · Public
$94,750
38Rutgers University-New Brunswick
NJ · Public
$94,598
39University of Florida
FL · Public
$94,375
40Western Michigan University
MI · Public
$94,177
41Iowa State University
IA · Public
$94,089
42University of California-Davis
CA · Public
$93,414
43Ohio State University-Main Campus
OH · Public
$92,999
44University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
MN · Public
$92,422
45University at Buffalo
NY · Public
$92,360
46University of Kansas
KS · Public
$92,335
47The University of Alabama
AL · Public
$91,999
48Oklahoma State University-Main Campus
OK · Public
$91,249
49Clarkson University
NY · Private
$91,066
50Syracuse University
NY · Private
$90,470
Exceptional Value

Is Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering Worth It?

The Numbers Support This Major

Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering is one of the strongest financial bets in higher education. With average graduate earnings of $74,019 four years after graduation, this field consistently outperforms the median across all majors. The return on investment is clear.

This is a more specialized field, offered at 60 schools in our dataset. Fewer options means less room to optimize on cost, so pay close attention to the financial aid packages you receive.

The top school for this major by earnings is Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where graduates earn $114,620 four years out. But averages hide a wide range - where you attend and what you do with the degree matter as much as the major itself.

Earnings data represents median earnings 4 years after graduation for graduates of bachelor's programs, as reported by the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Individual outcomes vary significantly based on career path, location, and other factors.