Best colleges for Aerospace in New York
Ranked by graduate earnings
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Clarkson University and Syracuse University are the top bachelor's Aerospace programs in New York by graduate earnings. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $73,213, College Scorecard. University at Buffalo, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and Cornell University award the most Aerospace degrees in New York: 132, 116 and 43 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 5 New York colleges offer Aerospace and award 373 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 4 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 | Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Troy Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $73,213 | 116 | 84% | $28,900 | $25,000 |
| 2 | Clarkson University Potsdam Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $71,783 | 39 | 75% | $27,281 | $27,000 |
| 3 | Syracuse University Syracuse Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $71,417 | 43 | 84% | $28,851 | $27,000 |
| 4 | University at Buffalo Buffalo Public · Bachelor's degree | $69,716 | 132 | 75% | — | $24,846 |
Colleges awarding the most Aerospace degrees in New York
Top 5 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 at Buffalo Buffalo Public | 132 | $69,716 |
| 2 | Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Troy Private not-for-profit | 116 | $73,213 |
| 3 | Cornell University Ithaca Private not-for-profit | 43 | Not reported |
| 4 | Syracuse University Syracuse Private not-for-profit | 43 | $71,417 |
| 5 | Clarkson University Potsdam Private not-for-profit | 39 | $71,783 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Aerospace Engineers (SOC 17-2011).
Top skills
What Aerospace Engineers earn in New York
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Aerospace programs in New York.
Which New York colleges award the most Aerospace degrees?+
University at Buffalo (132 graduates a year), Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (116 graduates a year) and Cornell University (43 graduates a year) award the most Aerospace degrees in New York, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 5 New York colleges offer Aerospace.
What is the best college for Aerospace in New York?+
By graduate earnings, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute leads among bachelor's Aerospace programs in New York, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $73,213, College Scorecard. Clarkson University and Syracuse University follow. By degrees awarded, University at Buffalo is the largest, with 132 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Aerospace program in New York has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute tops the list at $73,213. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Aerospace Engineers earn in New York?+
The average annual wage for Aerospace Engineers in New York is $135,720 (median $130,330), across about 560 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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