Bright outlook
Management
Architectural and Engineering Managers
- Median pay
- $171,270
- Outlook
- Faster than average
Bachelor's degree
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Complex Problem Solving
Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering
CIP14.02
76 colleges offer Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering. See what it covers, which degree levels are available and what graduates earn and borrow.
Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Colleges offering it
- 76
- at its most common level
- Bachelor's earnings
- $96,300
- median, 4 years after
- Bachelor's debt
- $21,377
- median federal loans
Colleges offering it, by degree level
- Certificate
- 8
- Associate's
- 2
- Bachelor's
- 76
- Master's
- 69
- Doctoral
- 49
- Graduate/professional certificate
- 12
What it covers
About Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering
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; applied research on flight and orbital characteristics; and the development of systems and procedures for the launching, guidance, and control of air and space vehicles.
Definition: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs 2020, code 14.02.
Programs in this field
Colleges report these specific programs under CIP 14.02.
- Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering, General
- Astronautical Engineering
By degree level
Earnings and debt by degree level
Medians across colleges of each college's own program median. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working.
| Degree level | Colleges | Median earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Certificate | 8 | Not reported | Not reported |
| Associate's | 2 | $81,5491 yr after · 2 colleges | $24,9792 colleges |
| Bachelor's | 76 | $96,3004 yrs after · 58 colleges | $21,37761 colleges |
| Master's | 69 | $125,8434 yrs after · 25 colleges | $30,92812 colleges |
| Doctoral | 49 | $134,6304 yrs after · 1 college | Not reported |
| Graduate/professional certificate | 12 | Not reported | Not reported |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025. Colleges with too few graduates have their earnings and debt suppressed, so the number of colleges reporting is smaller than the number offering the program.
Bachelor's programs
Where Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering graduates earn the most
Median earnings four years after finishing, among programs with at least 10 graduates in the latest year. Earnings are one measure; cost and graduation rate matter too.
- 1
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA · Private nonprofit · 61 graduates
$125,514
debt $19,125
- 2
University of Colorado Boulder
Boulder, CO · Public · 206 graduates
$116,350
debt $22,750
- 3
University of California-Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA · Public · 61 graduates
$115,706
debt $14,095
- 4
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, MI · Public · 128 graduates
$115,075
debt $21,000
- 5
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge, MA · Private nonprofit · 57 graduates
$114,620
debt not reported
- 6
University of Washington-Seattle
Seattle, WA · Public · 64 graduates
$111,349
debt $15,925
- 7
Illinois Institute of Technology
Chicago, IL · Private nonprofit · 21 graduates
$110,956
debt $24,687
- 8
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo, CA · Public · 95 graduates
$107,498
debt $19,333
- 9
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Blacksburg, VA · Public · 202 graduates
$106,633
debt $22,000
- 10
California State Polytechnic University-Pomona
Pomona, CA · Public · 119 graduates
$106,171
debt $18,000
Careers
Careers this program leads to
Occupations linked to Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering by the NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, highest national median pay first. Pay and outlook are BLS figures for each occupation.
- Bright outlook
Management
Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers
- Median pay
- $171,270
- Outlook
- Faster than average
Bachelor's degree
- Complex Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Bright outlook
Architecture and engineering
Aerospace Engineers
- Median pay
- $134,960
- Outlook
- Much faster than average
Bachelor's degree
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Complex Problem Solving
- Bright outlook
Education
Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary
- Median pay
- $109,270
- Outlook
- Faster than average
Doctoral or professional degree
- Instructing
- Learning Strategies
- Speaking
- Bright outlook
Architecture and engineering
Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians
- Median pay
- $82,890
- Outlook
- Much faster than average
Associate's degree
- Critical Thinking
- Operations Monitoring
- Quality Control Analysis
- Bright outlook
Installation and repair
Avionics Technicians
- Median pay
- $82,280
- Outlook
- Much faster than average
Postsecondary certificate
- Equipment Maintenance
- Repairing
- Troubleshooting
More in Engineering
Other programs in the same area of study, by how many colleges offer them.
Every program in this area- Engineering, General452 colleges
- Mechanical Engineering395 colleges
- Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering387 colleges
- Computer Engineering367 colleges
- Civil Engineering300 colleges
- Biomedical/Medical Engineering200 colleges
- Chemical Engineering182 colleges
- Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering130 colleges
Questions about Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering
How many colleges offer Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering?
Published colleges on CollegesRef report Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering at these degree levels: certificate (8 colleges), associate's (2 colleges), bachelor's (76 colleges), master's (69 colleges), doctoral (49 colleges), graduate/professional certificate (12 colleges). Counts are from College Scorecard field-of-study data (2025).
What do Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering graduates earn?
At the median college, bachelor's graduates in Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering earn $96,300 a year four years after finishing, across 58 colleges that report earnings. Figures cover graduates who received federal aid.
Where do Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering graduates earn the most?
University of Southern California reports the highest median earnings for bachelor's graduates in Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering: $125,514 four years after finishing, among programs with at least 10 graduates.