Best institutions to study Aerospace in California
The Aerospace program, formally known as Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering, focuses on the development of aircraft and spacecraft. This field combines principles of aeronautical and astronautical engineering,…
Top 9 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings
Earnings = median 1 year after graduation (College Scorecard).
| # | Institution | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Completions | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo Public · Bachelor's degree | $85,509 | 113 | 86% | — | $22,500 |
| 2 | University of Southern California Los Angeles Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $78,980 | 248 | 92% | $26,873 | $21,140 |
| 3 | California State Polytechnic University - Pomona Pomona Public · Bachelor's degree | $78,320 | 128 | 68% | — | $26,295 |
| 4 | San Diego State University San Diego Public · Bachelor's degree | $74,375 | 106 | 76% | — | $23,000 |
| 5 | University of California - Davis Davis Public · Bachelor's degree | $71,633 | 73 | 86% | — | $19,058 |
| 6 | University of California - Los Angeles Los Angeles Public · Bachelor's degree | $71,068 | 104 | 93% | — | $19,000 |
| 7 | University of California - Irvine Irvine Public · Bachelor's degree | $67,425 | 78 | 87% | — | $18,950 |
| 8 | California State University - Long Beach Long Beach Public · Bachelor's degree | $66,477 | 121 | 69% | — | $25,300 |
| 9 | University of California - San Diego La Jolla Public · Bachelor's degree | $65,401 | 110 | 86% | — | $21,305 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Aerospace Engineers (SOC 17-2011).
Top skills
What Aerospace Engineers earn in California
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Aerospace programs in California.
Which Aerospace program in California has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (College Scorecard), California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo tops the list at $85,509. Compare it against completions, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Aerospace Engineers earn in California?+
The average annual wage for Aerospace Engineers in California is $159,960 (median $157,620), across about 9,170 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Aerospace program?+
The Aerospace program, formally known as Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering, focuses on the development of aircraft and spacecraft. This field combines principles of aeronautical and astronautical engineering,…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop critical thinking, reading comprehension, science, active listening, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Aerospace Engineers?+
The national job outlook is about +6.1% growth with around 4,500 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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