Best Schools for Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering

Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering graduates earn a median of $98,185 within four years of graduating, ranking #20 out of 283 tracked majors — 57% above the median across all fields. There are 63 colleges nationwide with tracked earnings for this major, producing 4,129 recent graduates.

Where you study matters: University of Southern California graduates earn $125,514 while Wichita State University graduates earn $83,057 — a $42,457 difference. Factors like location, employer networks, co-op programs, and curriculum focus drive this gap. Across all fields, though, which major you pick separates earnings more than which college does.

Early career salary growth is modest: Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering graduates see an average 0% increase between year 1 and year 2 post-graduation, reflecting career advancement and skill development in the first years after college.