Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering programs
CIP 1402 · Engineering · ranked by median earnings four years after completion
64 institutions report graduate earnings for Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering programs (College Scorecard, 2024-25). Across them the median is $100,537 four years after completion, with a typical debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.25× and 96% of graduates earning above the federal earnings threshold. Indicatively, all 85 programs with a benchmark clear the earnings-premium benchmark used by the 2025 federal test (effective July 1, 2026).
| # | Institution | Earn 4yr | % > threshold | Median debt | Debt/earn | Earnings premium | 2 of 3 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Johns Hopkins UniversityMD · Master's | $165,562 n=24 | 91% 1yr | — | — | Above +118% | — |
| 2 | Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyMA · Master's | $151,237 n=22 | 95% 5yr | — | — | Above +100% | Clears 2/2 |
| 3 | University of California-Los AngelesCA · Master's | $151,186 n=24 | 93% 1yr | — | — | Above +101% | — |
| 4 | Stanford UniversityCA · Master's | $147,375 n=20 | 95% 5yr | — | — | Above +96% | Clears 2/2 |
| 5 | University of Washington-Seattle CampusWA · Master's | $142,946 n=46 | 97% 5yr | $34,526 | 0.24× | Above +91% | Clears 2/2 |
| 6 | University of Southern CaliforniaCA · Master's | $139,463 n=87 | 94% 5yr | $55,288 | 0.40× | Above +85% | Clears 2/2 |
| 7 | Georgia Institute of Technology-Main CampusGA · Doctoral | $134,630 n=18 | — | — | — | Above +113% | — |
| 8 | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis ObispoCA · Master's | $132,720 n=16 | 100% 1yr | — | — | Above +76% | — |
| 9 | Cornell UniversityNY · Master's | $132,449 n=21 | 100% 1yr | — | — | Above +87% | — |
| 10 | Purdue University-Main CampusIN · Master's | $131,275 n=76 | 95% 1yr | $32,946 | 0.25× | Above +126% | — |
| 11 | Florida Institute of TechnologyFL · Master's | $130,016 n=24 | 100% 1yr | — | — | Above +134% | — |
| 12 | Georgia Institute of Technology-Main CampusGA · Master's | $126,979 n=53 | 100% 5yr | $28,481 | 0.22× | Above +101% | Clears 2/2 |
| 13 | University of Michigan-Ann ArborMI · Master's | $125,870 n=50 | 98% 5yr | $29,625 | 0.23× | Above +100% | Clears 2/2 |
| 14 | University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignIL · Master's | $125,843 n=36 | 100% 1yr | — | — | Above +84% | — |
| 15 | University of Southern CaliforniaCA · Bachelor's | $125,514 n=34 | 94% 5yr | $20,030 | 0.16× | Above +226% | Clears 2/2 |
| 16 | Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona BeachFL · Master's | $121,654 n=19 | 100% 5yr | — | — | Above +119% | Clears 2/2 |
| 17 | Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-WorldwideFL · Master's | $121,654 n=19 | 100% 5yr | — | — | Above +119% | Clears 2/2 |
| 18 | University of Colorado BoulderCO · Master's | $120,144 n=55 | 100% 5yr | $41,000 | 0.34× | Above +78% | Clears 2/2 |
| 19 | Texas A&M University-College StationTX · Master's | $119,512 n=16 | 100% 1yr | — | — | Above +82% | — |
| 20 | Washington University in St LouisMO · Master's | $118,193 n=23 | 95% 1yr | — | — | Above +104% | — |
| 21 | University of Colorado BoulderCO · Bachelor's | $116,350 n=57 | 100% 5yr | $24,500 | 0.21× | Above +180% | Clears 2/2 |
| 22 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityVA · Master's | $115,736 n=18 | — | — | — | Above +63% | — |
| 23 | University of California-Los AngelesCA · Bachelor's | $115,706 n=29 | 90% 5yr | $19,000 | 0.16× | Above +201% | Clears 2/2 |
| 24 | University of Michigan-Ann ArborMI · Bachelor's | $115,075 n=113 | 98% 5yr | $21,125 | 0.18× | Above +228% | Clears 2/2 |
| 25 | Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyMA · Bachelor's | $114,620 n=30 | 97% 5yr | $17,724 | 0.15× | Above +164% | Clears 2/2 |
| 26 | California State University-Long BeachCA · Master's | $114,594 n=16 | — | — | — | Above +52% | — |
| 27 | University of Washington-Seattle CampusWA · Bachelor's | $111,349 n=64 | 94% 5yr | $12,410 | 0.11× | Above +161% | Clears 2/2 |
| 28 | Illinois Institute of TechnologyIL · Bachelor's | $110,956 n=24 | 100% 5yr | $27,000 | 0.24× | Above +194% | Clears 2/2 |
| 29 | Arizona State University Campus ImmersionAZ · Master's | $110,778 n=28 | 93% 5yr | — | — | Above +80% | Clears 2/2 |
| 30 | University of FloridaFL · Master's | $108,542 n=23 | 100% 1yr | — | — | Above +95% | — |
| 31 | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis ObispoCA · Bachelor's | $107,498 n=94 | 96% 5yr | $22,500 | 0.21× | Above +180% | Clears 2/2 |
| 32 | Worcester Polytechnic InstituteMA · Master's | $107,344 n=20 | 91% 1yr | — | — | Above +42% | — |
| 33 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityVA · Bachelor's | $106,633 n=89 | 95% 5yr | $25,833 | 0.24× | Above +180% | Clears 2/2 |
| 34 | California State Polytechnic University-PomonaCA · Bachelor's | $106,171 n=115 | 96% 5yr | $25,750 | 0.24× | Above +176% | Clears 2/2 |
| 35 | Case Western Reserve UniversityOH · Bachelor's | $106,134 n=28 | 100% 5yr | $26,061 | 0.25× | Above +188% | Clears 2/2 |
| 36 | Worcester Polytechnic InstituteMA · Bachelor's | $105,171 n=57 | 95% 5yr | $27,000 | 0.26× | Above +142% | Clears 2/2 |
| 37 | University of Cincinnati-Main CampusOH · Master's | $105,027 n=20 | 100% 5yr | — | — | Above +67% | — |
| 38 | The University of Texas at AustinTX · Bachelor's | $104,422 n=95 | 96% 5yr | $22,125 | 0.21× | Above +192% | Clears 2/2 |
| 39 | University of Notre DameIN · Bachelor's | $103,022 n=29 | 100% 5yr | $19,000 | 0.18× | Above +175% | Clears 2/2 |
| 40 | Auburn UniversityAL · Bachelor's | $102,756 n=37 | 95% 5yr | $20,417 | 0.20× | Above +198% | Clears 2/2 |
| 41 | Georgia Institute of Technology-Main CampusGA · Bachelor's | $102,415 n=135 | 97% 5yr | $22,000 | 0.21× | Above +190% | Clears 2/2 |
| 42 | California State University-Long BeachCA · Bachelor's | $101,797 n=53 | 92% 5yr | $25,775 | 0.25× | Above +165% | Clears 2/2 |
| 43 | University of California-IrvineCA · Bachelor's | $100,537 n=64 | 94% 5yr | $18,400 | 0.18× | Above +162% | Clears 2/2 |
| 44 | University of California-San DiegoCA · Bachelor's | $100,173 n=73 | 98% 5yr | $20,008 | 0.20× | Above +161% | Clears 2/2 |
| 45 | San Diego State UniversityCA · Bachelor's | $100,139 n=75 | 94% 5yr | $23,417 | 0.23× | Above +160% | Clears 2/2 |
| 46 | The University of Texas at ArlingtonTX · Bachelor's | $99,239 n=53 | 97% 5yr | $25,130 | 0.25× | Above +178% | Clears 2/2 |
| 47 | Pennsylvania State University-Main CampusPA · Bachelor's | $99,159 n=132 | 98% 5yr | $26,969 | 0.27× | Above +163% | Clears 2/2 |
| 48 | University of Maryland-College ParkMD · Bachelor's | $98,044 n=58 | 94% 5yr | $21,083 | 0.21× | Above +133% | Clears 2/2 |
| 49 | Purdue University-Main CampusIN · Bachelor's | $97,332 n=125 | 96% 5yr | $21,500 | 0.22× | Above +160% | Clears 2/2 |
| 50 | University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignIL · Bachelor's | $97,276 n=80 | 100% 5yr | $23,888 | 0.25× | Above +158% | Clears 2/2 |
| 51 | Texas A&M University-College StationTX · Bachelor's | $97,227 n=114 | 96% 5yr | $21,999 | 0.23× | Above +172% | Clears 2/2 |
| 52 | Florida Institute of TechnologyFL · Bachelor's | $97,015 n=57 | 96% 5yr | $24,976 | 0.26× | Above +187% | Clears 2/2 |
| 53 | University of Central FloridaFL · Bachelor's | $96,972 n=64 | 93% 5yr | $24,750 | 0.26× | Above +187% | Clears 2/2 |
| 54 | Arizona State University Campus ImmersionAZ · Bachelor's | $96,946 n=96 | 94% 5yr | $25,390 | 0.26× | Above +163% | Clears 2/2 |
| 55 | New Mexico State University-Main CampusNM · Bachelor's | $96,510 n=17 | 96% 5yr | $24,262 | 0.25× | Above +196% | Clears 2/2 |
| 56 | Missouri University of Science and TechnologyMO · Bachelor's | $96,090 n=73 | 97% 5yr | $22,000 | 0.23× | Above +169% | Clears 2/2 |
| 57 | Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona BeachFL · Bachelor's | $95,552 n=286 | 98% 5yr | $26,312 | 0.28× | Above +183% | Clears 2/2 |
| 58 | Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-PrescottAZ · Bachelor's | $95,552 n=286 | 98% 5yr | $26,312 | 0.28× | Above +160% | Clears 2/2 |
| 59 | Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-WorldwideFL · Bachelor's | $95,552 n=286 | 98% 5yr | $26,312 | 0.28× | Above +183% | Clears 2/2 |
| 60 | Southeastern Oklahoma State UniversityOK · Master's | $95,171 n=58 | 100% 5yr | — | — | Above +75% | Clears 2/2 |
| 61 | Rensselaer Polytechnic InstituteNY · Bachelor's | $94,750 n=81 | 98% 5yr | $24,861 | 0.26× | Above +149% | Clears 2/2 |
| 62 | West Virginia UniversityWV · Bachelor's | $94,750 n=84 | 93% 5yr | $27,242 | 0.29× | Above +170% | Clears 2/2 |
| 63 | West Virginia University Institute of TechnologyWV · Bachelor's | $94,750 n=84 | 93% 5yr | $27,242 | 0.29× | Above +170% | Clears 2/2 |
| 64 | Rutgers University-New BrunswickNJ · Bachelor's | $94,598 n=19 | 76% 1yr | $26,325 | 0.28× | Above +137% | — |
| 65 | University of FloridaFL · Bachelor's | $94,375 n=76 | 94% 5yr | $17,416 | 0.18× | Above +179% | Clears 2/2 |
| 66 | Western Michigan UniversityMI · Bachelor's | $94,177 n=52 | 100% 5yr | $27,000 | 0.29× | Above +169% | Clears 2/2 |
| 67 | Iowa State UniversityIA · Bachelor's | $94,089 n=146 | 94% 5yr | $26,017 | 0.28× | Above +144% | Clears 2/2 |
| 68 | University of California-DavisCA · Bachelor's | $93,414 n=36 | 98% 5yr | $18,748 | 0.20× | Above +143% | Clears 2/2 |
| 69 | Ohio State University-Main CampusOH · Bachelor's | $92,999 n=77 | 97% 5yr | $25,360 | 0.27× | Above +153% | Clears 2/2 |
| 70 | University of Minnesota-Twin CitiesMN · Bachelor's | $92,422 n=85 | 96% 5yr | $23,083 | 0.25× | Above +131% | Clears 2/2 |
| 71 | University at BuffaloNY · Bachelor's | $92,360 n=67 | 91% 5yr | $23,000 | 0.25× | Above +143% | Clears 2/2 |
| 72 | University of KansasKS · Bachelor's | $92,335 n=28 | 86% 1yr | $25,000 | 0.27× | Above +154% | — |
| 73 | The University of AlabamaAL · Bachelor's | $91,999 n=42 | 90% 5yr | $26,787 | 0.29× | Above +167% | Clears 2/2 |
| 74 | Oklahoma State University-Main CampusOK · Bachelor's | $91,249 n=68 | 83% 1yr | $19,500 | 0.21× | Above +158% | — |
| 75 | Clarkson UniversityNY · Bachelor's | $91,066 n=50 | 95% 5yr | $27,000 | 0.30× | Above +139% | Clears 2/2 |
| 76 | Syracuse UniversityNY · Bachelor's | $90,470 n=41 | 81% 1yr | $27,000 | 0.30× | Above +138% | Clears 2/2 |
| 77 | North Carolina State University at RaleighNC · Bachelor's | $89,932 n=52 | 82% 5yr | $20,750 | 0.23× | Above +162% | Clears 2/2 |
| 78 | University of Oklahoma-Norman CampusOK · Bachelor's | $89,714 n=27 | 94% 1yr | $23,500 | 0.26× | Above +153% | Clears 2/2 |
| 79 | The University of Tennessee-KnoxvilleTN · Bachelor's | $89,015 n=32 | 97% 5yr | $25,000 | 0.28× | Above +155% | Clears 2/2 |
| 80 | University of Cincinnati-Main CampusOH · Bachelor's | $88,511 n=55 | 90% 5yr | $20,750 | 0.23× | Above +140% | Clears 2/2 |
| 81 | Mississippi State UniversityMS · Bachelor's | $88,444 n=49 | 94% 5yr | $17,500 | 0.20× | Above +168% | Clears 2/2 |
| 82 | University of Alabama in HuntsvilleAL · Bachelor's | $87,339 n=19 | 88% 1yr | $23,250 | 0.27× | Above +153% | — |
| 83 | University of ArizonaAZ · Bachelor's | $86,529 n=30 | 100% 5yr | $23,000 | 0.27× | Above +135% | Clears 2/2 |
| 84 | University of Virginia-Main CampusVA · Bachelor's | $85,681 n=26 | 90% 5yr | $14,000 | 0.16× | Above +125% | — |
| 85 | Wichita State UniversityKS · Bachelor's | $83,057 n=35 | 94% 5yr | $20,500 | 0.25× | Above +128% | Clears 2/2 |
% > threshold is ED's own share of graduates earning above the federal earnings threshold, taken from the best available measurement window (4-, 5- or 1-year) pooled across all nine College Scorecard Field-of-Study releases; a chip marks any figure not on the 4-year window. Earnings premium compares median earnings four years out to the U.S. Census ACS median for a high-school graduate (undergraduate credentials) or bachelor's-degree holder (graduate credentials) in the institution's state. 2 of 3 yrs flags programs below that benchmark in two of the latest three reported cohort-years — the statutory trigger under the 2025 federal earnings-premium test (effective July 1, 2026). Indicative estimates; the Department of Education's official determination may differ. Figures lag the current year by 2–3 years.
| State | Median earn 4yr | Programs |
|---|---|---|
| Georgia | $126,979 | 3 |
| Michigan | $115,075 | 3 |
| California | $111,046 | 14 |
| Massachusetts | $110,982 | 4 |
| Illinois | $110,956 | 3 |
| Virginia | $106,633 | 3 |
| Indiana | $103,022 | 3 |
| Texas | $101,830 | 4 |
| Ohio | $99,013 | 4 |
| Florida | $97,015 | 9 |
| Arizona | $96,249 | 4 |
| New York | $92,360 | 5 |
| Alabama | $91,999 | 3 |
| Oklahoma | $91,249 | 3 |
States with at least 3 reporting Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering programs, by median graduate earnings.
Which colleges have the highest-paying Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering programs?
By median earnings four years after completion, the highest-paying Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering programs in this dataset are Johns Hopkins University ($165,562), Massachusetts Institute of Technology ($151,237), University of California-Los Angeles ($151,186). Earnings reflect College Scorecard field-of-study data (2024-25) and vary by credential level and location.
Are Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering programs at risk under the federal earnings-premium test?
Indicatively, 0 of the 85 Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering programs with both earnings and a state/national benchmark have median graduate earnings below the earnings-premium benchmark used by the 2025 federal test (effective July 1, 2026), under which a program can lose Title IV eligibility if its graduates earn less than a typical worker without the credential for 2 of 3 years. This estimate uses College Scorecard earnings vs U.S. Census ACS medians; the Department of Education's official determination uses its own cohort definition and may differ.
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Source: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard Field of Study, 2014–15 through 2022–23 cohorts plus the most-recent snapshot (2024-25); threshold pass-rates pooled across all nine releases. Earnings-premium benchmarks from the U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS). Compiled by Ibex Insights. See the methodology.