Best institutions to study Aerospace
Compare 97 U.S. colleges offering Aerospace by graduate earnings, cost, and outcomes. Federal data across 34 states.
Aerospace programs report a median of $72,607 one year after graduation (College Scorecard, 2024), and map to CIP 14.02 and the Aerospace Engineers occupation (BLS SOC).
About Aerospace programs
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, making it ideal for students interested in cutting-edge technology and innovation in aviation and space exploration. Students will engage in both theoretical and practical applications of engineering concepts.
In this program, students will acquire essential skills in critical thinking, mathematics, and science, alongside knowledge in engineering technology, design, and physics. Coursework typically includes formulating mathematical models, conducting tests on aerospace systems, and developing technical documentation.
Top 50 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings
Earnings = median 1 year after graduation (College Scorecard, predominant credential).
| # | Institution | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Completions | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo, CA Public · Bachelor's degree | $85,509 | 113 | 86% | — | $22,500 |
| 2 | Case Western Reserve University Cleveland, OH Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $83,639 | 49 | 87% | $27,976 | $26,410 |
| 3 | University of Colorado Boulder Boulder, CO Public · Bachelor's degree | $81,835 | 466 | 74% | — | $25,039 |
| 4 | University of Notre Dame Notre Dame, IN Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $81,057 | 57 | 95% | $19,452 | $24,000 |
| 5 | The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX Public · Bachelor's degree | $81,022 | 165 | 89% | — | $22,542 |
| 6 | University of Michigan - Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MI Public · Bachelor's degree | $80,225 | 277 | 93% | — | $21,603 |
| 7 | Georgia Institute of Technology - Main Campus Atlanta, GA Public · Bachelor's degree | $79,300 | 593 | 94% | — | $22,750 |
| 8 | University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $78,980 | 248 | 92% | $26,873 | $21,140 |
| 9 | University of Maryland - College Park College Park, MD Public · Bachelor's degree | $78,631 | 195 | 89% | — | $22,500 |
| 10 | California State Polytechnic University - Pomona Pomona, CA Public · Bachelor's degree | $78,320 | 128 | 68% | — | $26,295 |
| 11 | The University of Texas at Arlington Arlington, TX Public · Bachelor's degree | $78,005 | 85 | 54% | — | $25,260 |
| 12 | University of Virginia - Main Campus Charlottesville, VA Public · Bachelor's degree | $77,922 | 68 | 96% | — | $14,214 |
| 13 | University of Washington - Seattle Campus Seattle, WA Public · Bachelor's degree | $76,881 | 142 | 85% | — | $12,000 |
| 14 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg, VA Public · Bachelor's degree | $76,856 | 302 | 86% | — | $26,000 |
| 15 | Missouri University of Science and Technology Rolla, MO Public · Bachelor's degree | $76,183 | 103 | 64% | — | $22,699 |
| 16 | University of Illinois Urbana - Champaign Champaign, IL Public · Bachelor's degree | $75,859 | 237 | 85% | — | $23,951 |
| 17 | Embry - Riddle Aeronautical University - Prescott Prescott, AZ Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $75,483 | 132 | 68% | $38,461 | $26,995 |
| 18 | Embry - Riddle Aeronautical University - Daytona Beach Daytona Beach, FL Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $75,483 | 461 | 67% | $38,899 | $26,995 |
| 19 | Embry - Riddle Aeronautical University - Worldwide Daytona Beach, FL Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $75,483 | 135 | 21% | $21,266 | $26,995 |
| 20 | Worcester Polytechnic Institute Worcester, MA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $75,218 | 105 | 90% | $32,926 | $27,000 |
| 21 | Saint Louis University Saint Louis, MO Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $75,122 | 28 | 80% | $24,886 | $26,421 |
| 22 | Iowa State University Ames, IA Public · Bachelor's degree | $75,036 | 154 | 75% | — | $26,572 |
| 23 | University of Cincinnati - Main Campus Cincinnati, OH Public · Bachelor's degree | $74,992 | 124 | 75% | — | $20,750 |
| 24 | Texas A&M University - College Station College Station, TX Public · Bachelor's degree | $74,524 | 294 | 84% | — | $22,208 |
| 25 | San Diego State University San Diego, CA Public · Bachelor's degree | $74,375 | 106 | 76% | — | $23,000 |
| 26 | The University of Alabama Tuscaloosa, AL Public · Bachelor's degree | $73,887 | 114 | 73% | — | $26,787 |
| 27 | Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Troy, NY Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $73,213 | 116 | 84% | $28,900 | $25,000 |
| 28 | Pennsylvania State University - Main Campus University Park, PA Public · Bachelor's degree | $73,100 | 231 | 86% | — | $26,969 |
| 29 | University of Oklahoma - Norman Campus Norman, OK Public · Bachelor's degree | $72,607 | 52 | 75% | — | $26,000 |
| 30 | West Virginia University Morgantown, WV Public · Bachelor's degree | $72,210 | 64 | 65% | — | $27,242 |
| 31 | Ohio State University - Main Campus Columbus, OH Public · Bachelor's degree | $72,062 | 112 | 88% | — | $25,853 |
| 32 | Purdue University - Main Campus West Lafayette, IN Public · Bachelor's degree | $71,989 | 668 | 83% | — | $21,500 |
| 33 | Clarkson University Potsdam, NY Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $71,783 | 39 | 75% | $27,281 | $27,000 |
| 34 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion Tempe, AZ Public · Bachelor's degree | $71,712 | 197 | 68% | — | $25,500 |
| 35 | University of California - Davis Davis, CA Public · Bachelor's degree | $71,633 | 73 | 86% | — | $19,058 |
| 36 | Syracuse University Syracuse, NY Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $71,417 | 43 | 84% | $28,851 | $27,000 |
| 37 | University of Kansas Lawrence, KS Public · Bachelor's degree | $71,244 | 68 | 69% | — | $25,000 |
| 38 | University of California - Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA Public · Bachelor's degree | $71,068 | 104 | 93% | — | $19,000 |
| 39 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh Raleigh, NC Public · Bachelor's degree | $70,820 | 152 | 85% | — | $21,574 |
| 40 | University of Florida Gainesville, FL Public · Bachelor's degree | $70,760 | 205 | 91% | — | $19,573 |
| 41 | University of Alabama in Huntsville Huntsville, AL Public · Bachelor's degree | $70,383 | 157 | 64% | — | $25,000 |
| 42 | University at Buffalo Buffalo, NY Public · Bachelor's degree | $69,716 | 132 | 75% | — | $24,846 |
| 43 | Western Michigan University Kalamazoo, MI Public · Bachelor's degree | $69,514 | 62 | 58% | — | $28,021 |
| 44 | Rutgers University - New Brunswick New Brunswick, NJ Public · Bachelor's degree | $69,320 | 47 | 84% | — | $26,674 |
| 45 | Florida Institute of Technology Melbourne, FL Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $69,149 | 122 | 64% | $33,585 | $26,982 |
| 46 | Mississippi State University Mississippi State, MS Public · Bachelor's degree | $69,056 | 78 | 67% | — | $17,625 |
| 47 | Auburn University Auburn, AL Public · Bachelor's degree | $68,607 | 119 | 82% | — | $20,458 |
| 48 | University of Minnesota - Twin Cities Minneapolis, MN Public · Bachelor's degree | $68,495 | 112 | 85% | — | $26,250 |
| 49 | Oklahoma State University - Main Campus Stillwater, OK Public · Bachelor's degree | $68,226 | 96 | 68% | — | $19,843 |
| 50 | New Mexico State University - Main Campus Las Cruces, NM Public · Bachelor's degree | $68,002 | 89 | 55% | — | $24,537 |
Offered across 34 states
The same program, compared state by state. Pick a state for in-state earnings and institutions.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 17-2011, Aerospace Engineers, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Aerospace program can expect a promising career outlook, with a projected growth rate of 6.1% and approximately 4,500 annual job openings. The median wage for aerospace engineers is $134,830, and a typical educational requirement is a Bachelor's degree.
Top-paying metros
Related careers
CIP-to-SOC crosswalk for Aerospace
The SOC occupations NCES officially maps to CIP 14.02.
Under the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk, CIP 14.02 (Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering) maps to 5 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) occupations, the jobs the U.S. Department of Labor links to this field of study.
| SOC code | Occupation |
|---|---|
| 11-9041 | Architectural and Engineering Managers |
| 17-2011 | Aerospace Engineersprimary |
| 17-3021 | Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians |
| 25-1032 | Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary |
| 49-2091 | Avionics Technicians |
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk.
Skills & knowledge in Aerospace programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this program most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
What graduates do on the job
- Formulate mathematical models or other methods of computer analysis to develop, evaluate, or modify design, according to customer engineering requirements.
- Plan or conduct experimental, environmental, operational, or stress tests on models or prototypes of aircraft or aerospace systems or equipment.
- Formulate conceptual design of aeronautical or aerospace products or systems to meet customer requirements or conform to environmental regulations.
- Plan or coordinate investigation and resolution of customers' reports of technical problems with aircraft or aerospace vehicles.
- Write technical reports or other documentation, such as handbooks or bulletins, for use by engineering staff, management, or customers.
- Direct or coordinate activities of engineering or technical personnel involved in designing, fabricating, modifying, or testing of aircraft or aerospace products.
Concentrations within Aerospace
Specializations under this field (NCES CIP 2020).
- Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering, GeneralCIP 14.0201
A program that prepares individuals to apply mathematical and scientific principles to the design, development and operational evaluation of aircraft, missiles, space vehicles, and their systems; appl
- Astronautical EngineeringCIP 14.0202
A program that prepares individuals to apply mathematical and scientific principles to the design, development, and operational evaluation of aircraft and space vehicles
- Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering, OtherCIP 14.0299
Any program in aerospace, aeronautical, astronautical, or space engineering not listed above.
Common questions
What is aerospace engineering?+
Aerospace engineering involves the development of aircraft and spacecraft, encompassing both aeronautical and astronautical engineering.
What skills will I gain from this program?+
You will develop skills in critical thinking, mathematics, science, and technical writing, among others.
What is the job outlook for aerospace engineers?+
The job outlook is strong, with a growth rate of 6.1% and about 4,500 annual openings.
What is the typical salary for aerospace engineers?+
The median wage for aerospace engineers is $134,830.
How much do Aerospace graduates earn?+
Aerospace graduates report median earnings of $72,607 one year after graduation, per College Scorecard (2024); the Aerospace Engineers occupation pays about $142,060 on average nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).
What is the CIP code for Aerospace?+
Aerospace maps to CIP 14.02 in the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP), the U.S. Department of Education taxonomy used for College Scorecard Field of Study earnings and IPEDS completions.
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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