Best colleges for Aerospace in California
Ranked by graduate earnings
California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo, University of Southern California and California State Polytechnic University - Pomona are the top bachelor's Aerospace programs in California by graduate earnings. California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $85,509, College Scorecard. University of Southern California, California State Polytechnic University - Pomona and California State University - Long Beach award the most Aerospace degrees in California: 248, 128 and 121 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 15 California colleges offer Aerospace and award 1,421 degrees and certificates a year in all.
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 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | 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 |
Colleges awarding the most Aerospace degrees in California
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Southern California Los Angeles Private not-for-profit | 248 | $78,980 |
| 2 | California State Polytechnic University - Pomona Pomona Public | 128 | $78,320 |
| 3 | California State University - Long Beach Long Beach Public | 121 | $66,477 |
| 4 | California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo Public | 113 | $85,509 |
| 5 | San Jose State University San Jose Public | 111 | Not reported |
| 6 | University of California-San Diego La Jolla Public | 110 | $65,401 |
| 7 | San Diego State University San Diego Public | 106 | $74,375 |
| 8 | University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles Public | 104 | $71,068 |
| 9 | Stanford University Stanford Private not-for-profit | 94 | Not reported |
| 10 | University of California-Irvine Irvine Public | 78 | $67,425 |
ShowHide the other 5 California colleges offering Aerospace
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Naval Postgraduate School (Graduate only) | Monterey | Public | 113 |
| University of California-Davis | Davis | Public | 73 |
| California Institute of Technology | Pasadena | Private not-for-profit | 18 |
| Santa Clara University | Santa Clara | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| University of California-Berkeley | Berkeley | Public | 1 |
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 California colleges award the most Aerospace degrees?+
University of Southern California (248 graduates a year), California State Polytechnic University - Pomona (128 graduates a year) and California State University - Long Beach (121 graduates a year) award the most Aerospace degrees in California, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 15 California colleges offer Aerospace.
What is the best college for Aerospace in California?+
By graduate earnings, California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo leads among bachelor's Aerospace programs in California, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $85,509, College Scorecard. University of Southern California and California State Polytechnic University - Pomona follow. By degrees awarded, University of Southern California is the largest, with 248 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Aerospace program in California has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo tops the list at $85,509. Compare it against graduates a year, 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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