Field of study · CIP 14.02
Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering
Offered at 206 college programs that reported results. Here is what graduates earn and owe at each credential level, and which programs pay best.
By credential level
| Credential | Programs | Typical earnings, 1 yr | Typical earnings, 5 yrs | Typical debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Certificate | 7 | — | — | — |
| Associate | 2 | — | — | — |
| Bachelor's | 74 | $78,794 | $101,457 | $21,665 |
| Master's | 70 | $103,026 | $129,427 | — |
| Doctoral | 46 | — | — | — |
| Graduate certificate | 7 | — | — | — |
"Typical" is the median across programs of each program's median, counting only programs with unsuppressed data (at least three). It describes a typical program, not a national median for all graduates. Certificate figures include certificates earned at four-year colleges, often alongside a bachelor's; see degrees vs. certificates for a cleaner comparison. Source: College Scorecard field of study data.
Highest-earning associate programs
| # | College | State | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 5 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach | FL | $81,549 | — | $23,198 |
| 2 | Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Worldwide | FL | $81,549 | — | $23,198 |
Ranked by 5-year median earnings, or 1-year where 5-year is not reported.
Highest-earning bachelor's programs
| # | College | State | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 5 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Southern California | CA | $88,334 | $139,259 | $19,125 |
| 2 | San Jose State University | CA | — | $138,550 | — |
| 3 | University of Colorado Boulder | CO | $80,376 | $124,696 | $23,500 |
| 4 | University of California-Los Angeles | CA | $88,702 | $119,533 | $13,605 |
| 5 | University of Washington-Seattle Campus | WA | $88,006 | $118,272 | $15,925 |
| 6 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | MA | $94,732 | $113,988 | — |
| 7 | California State Polytechnic University-Pomona | CA | $87,482 | $112,513 | $18,000 |
| 8 | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo | CA | $88,269 | $111,710 | $19,500 |
| 9 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | IL | $87,086 | $111,322 | $19,500 |
| 10 | University of California-Davis | CA | $75,453 | $111,260 | $14,000 |
| 11 | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor | MI | $85,422 | $110,181 | $21,250 |
| 12 | Saint Louis University | MO | $82,384 | $108,816 | $26,500 |
| 13 | Worcester Polytechnic Institute | MA | $79,933 | $107,813 | $27,000 |
| 14 | University of California-San Diego | CA | $76,064 | $106,878 | $15,000 |
| 15 | University of Notre Dame | IN | $81,169 | $106,820 | $19,000 |
Ranked by 5-year median earnings, or 1-year where 5-year is not reported.
Highest-earning master's programs
| # | College | State | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 5 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stanford University | CA | $132,178 | $159,961 | — |
| 2 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | MA | — | $158,748 | — |
| 3 | University of Washington-Seattle Campus | WA | $125,965 | $154,004 | — |
| 4 | University of California-Los Angeles | CA | $126,354 | $153,196 | — |
| 5 | University of Southern California | CA | $118,287 | $147,750 | — |
| 6 | Johns Hopkins University | MD | $138,933 | — | — |
| 7 | Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus | GA | — | $134,588 | — |
| 8 | Purdue University-Main Campus | IN | $110,187 | $131,296 | — |
| 9 | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor | MI | $103,026 | $131,057 | — |
| 10 | Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach | FL | $98,721 | $129,734 | — |
| 11 | Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Worldwide | FL | $98,721 | $129,734 | — |
| 12 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh | NC | $100,429 | $129,427 | — |
| 13 | University of Colorado Boulder | CO | $103,638 | $128,121 | — |
| 14 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | IL | $118,500 | $126,668 | — |
| 15 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University | VA | $103,593 | $126,536 | — |
Ranked by 5-year median earnings, or 1-year where 5-year is not reported.
Highest-earning doctoral programs
| # | College | State | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 5 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Colorado Boulder | CO | — | $159,809 | — |
| 2 | Purdue University-Main Campus | IN | $120,263 | — | — |
Ranked by 5-year median earnings, or 1-year where 5-year is not reported.
Related fields
Civil EngineeringBachelor's typical 5-yr earnings $89,879Electrical, Electronics, and Communications EngineeringBachelor's typical 5-yr earnings $104,754Mechanical EngineeringBachelor's typical 5-yr earnings $96,217Engineering, OtherBachelor's typical 5-yr earnings $97,855Engineering, GeneralBachelor's typical 5-yr earnings $92,793Biomedical/Medical EngineeringBachelor's typical 5-yr earnings $99,147Computer EngineeringBachelor's typical 5-yr earnings $115,326Materials EngineeringBachelor's typical 5-yr earnings $97,394
Quick answers
- How much do aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical/space engineering graduates earn?
- One year after finishing, a typical bachelor's program in aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical/space engineering reports median earnings of $78,794. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field of study data.
