Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering

What graduates really earn, where the degree pays off most, and whether the numbers add up for you.

Avg Earnings (4yr)

$74,019

Median Earnings

$96,510

Schools Offering

ROI Grade

Earnings Range (4 Years After Graduation)

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

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

#	School	ROI	4yr Earnings	Net Price	Major Debt	Grade
1	University of Southern California CA · Private	91	$125,514	$32,740	$21,140	B+
2	University of Colorado Boulder CO · Public	80	$116,350	$25,346	$25,039	B+
3	University of California-Los Angeles CA · Public	96	$115,706	$12,548	$19,000	B+
4	University of Michigan-Ann Arbor MI · Public	95	$115,075	$13,138	$21,603	B+
5	Massachusetts Institute of Technology MA · Private	99	$114,620	$20,111	$17,724	A
6	University of Washington-Seattle Campus WA · Public	94	$111,349	$14,091	$12,000	A
7	Illinois Institute of Technology IL · Private	92	$110,956	$18,425	$27,000	B
8	California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo CA · Public	96	$107,498	$16,665	$22,500	B+
9	Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University VA · Public	89	$106,633	$24,953	$26,000	B+
10	California State Polytechnic University-Pomona CA · Public	89	$106,171	$11,531	$26,295	B+
11	Case Western Reserve University OH · Private	85	$106,134	$41,190	$26,410	B+
12	Worcester Polytechnic Institute MA · Private	90	$105,171	$43,071	$27,000	B
13	The University of Texas at Austin TX · Public	90	$104,422	$19,857	$22,542	B+
14	University of Notre Dame IN · Private	97	$103,022	$26,780	$24,000	B+
15	Auburn University AL · Public	76	$102,756	$24,323	$20,458	B+
16	Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus GA · Public	97	$102,415	$12,116	$22,750	B+
17	California State University-Long Beach CA · Public	86	$101,797	$10,440	$25,300	B
18	University of California-Irvine CA · Public	94	$100,537	$14,251	$18,950	B+
19	University of California-San Diego CA · Public	96	$100,173	$12,470	$21,305	B+
20	San Diego State University CA · Public	84	$100,139	$15,364	$23,000	B+
21	The University of Texas at Arlington TX · Public	76	$99,239	$13,951	$25,260	B+
22	Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus PA · Public	62	$99,159	$32,875	$26,969	B
23	University of Maryland-College Park MD · Public	94	$98,044	$15,678	$22,500	B+
24	Purdue University-Main Campus IN · Public	91	$97,332	$14,600	$21,500	B+
25	University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign IL · Public	93	$97,276	$14,355	$23,951	B+
26	Texas A&M University-College Station TX · Public	89	$97,227	$21,315	$22,208	B+
27	Florida Institute of Technology FL · Private	36	$97,015	$35,639	$26,982	B
28	University of Central Florida FL · Public	79	$96,972	$10,411	$27,875	B
29	Arizona State University Campus Immersion AZ · Public	77	$96,946	$14,967	$25,500	B
30	New Mexico State University-Main Campus NM · Public	31	$96,510	$8,889	$24,537	B
31	Missouri University of Science and Technology MO · Public	90	$96,090	$16,298	$22,699	B+
32	Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott AZ · Private	76	$95,552	$40,287	$26,995	B
33	Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach FL · Private	74	$95,552	$41,272	$26,995	B
34	Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Worldwide FL · Private	75	$95,552	$18,725	$26,995	B
35	Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute NY · Private	93	$94,750	$36,228	$25,000	B+
36	West Virginia University Institute of Technology WV · Public	64	$94,750	$9,337	$27,242	B
37	West Virginia University WV · Public	64	$94,750	$15,634	$27,242	B
38	Rutgers University-New Brunswick NJ · Public	83	$94,598	$24,406	$26,674	B
39	University of Florida FL · Public	92	$94,375	$6,541	$19,573	B+
40	Western Michigan University MI · Public	50	$94,177	$15,273	$28,021	B
41	Iowa State University IA · Public	79	$94,089	$18,589	$26,572	B
42	University of California-Davis CA · Public	95	$93,414	$14,741	$19,058	B+
43	Ohio State University-Main Campus OH · Public	77	$92,999	$17,339	$25,853	B
44	University of Minnesota-Twin Cities MN · Public	88	$92,422	$16,778	$26,250	B
45	University at Buffalo NY · Public	83	$92,360	$20,995	$24,846	B
46	University of Kansas KS · Public	76	$92,335	$18,059	$25,000	B
47	The University of Alabama AL · Public	64	$91,999	$22,420	$26,787	B
48	Oklahoma State University-Main Campus OK · Public	70	$91,249	$17,447	$19,843	B+
49	Clarkson University NY · Private	88	$91,066	$30,305	$27,000	B
50	Syracuse University NY · Private	76	$90,470	$38,793	$27,000	B

Exceptional Value

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

The Numbers Support This Major

If you're weighing Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering, the money case is about as strong as it gets. Graduates average $74,019 four years out, well above the typical major, so the degree tends to pay for itself fast. The harder question here isn't whether it's worth it - it's where you study it.

This is a more specialized field, offered at 60 schools in our data. Fewer options means less room to optimize on cost, so weigh each aid offer closely.

The top earner here is Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where graduates pull $114,620 four years out. But an average hides a wide spread - where you go, and what you do with the degree, matter as much as the major itself.

Best ROI Schools for Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering All Majors ROI Calculator Compare Schools

Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering

Earnings Range (4 Years After Graduation)

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

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

The Numbers Support This Major

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