Aerospace Engineering: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Aerospace Engineering is a rigorous, multidisciplinary field dedicated to the advancement of flight and space exploration through the application of advanced mathematics, physics, and engineering principles. This program equips students with the analytical and design capabilities needed to innovate in the development, testing, and optimization of aircraft, missiles, spacecraft, and their integrated systems.
- Fluid Dynamics: The study of how fluids—such as air and propellants—interact with moving bodies, essential for understanding lift, drag, and propulsion efficiency in flight.
- Aerodynamics: The analysis of airflow around aircraft and spacecraft to improve performance, stability, and fuel efficiency during atmospheric flight.
- Structural Analysis: The evaluation of material strength and load distribution in aerospace vehicles to ensure structural integrity under extreme conditions.
- Propulsion Systems: The design and optimization of engines and thrusters, including jet, rocket, and electric propulsion, to achieve efficient and reliable flight performance.
- Orbital Mechanics: The application of celestial physics to predict and control the motion of spacecraft in Earth's orbit and beyond.
- Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC): The development of systems that enable autonomous or remote steering, positioning, and stabilization of aerospace vehicles during flight.
- Materials Science: The exploration of high-performance materials such as composites, ceramics, and advanced alloys used in extreme thermal and mechanical environments.
- Systems Engineering: The holistic approach to integrating complex subsystems into functional, reliable aerospace platforms through iterative design and testing.
Aerospace Engineering Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Aerospace Engineering Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Aerospace Engineering degrees, including Architectural and Engineering Managers, Aerospace Engineers and Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 318,690 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Architectural and Engineering Managers 11-9041 | $167,740 | $111,450 - $239,200 | 210,340 | $80.64 |
| Aerospace Engineers 17-2011 | $134,830 | $85,350 - $205,850 | 68,440 | $64.82 |
| Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1032 | $106,120 | $59,790 - $200,650 | 39,910 | N/A |
Aerospace Engineering Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $106,737 in Wisconsin to $158,270 in California—a 48% difference. The highest-paying states include California, New Mexico, and District of Columbia. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 318,690 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for Aerospace Engineering by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 92 institutions offering Aerospace Engineering programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Aerospace Engineering is found at Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech), Main Campus (544 graduates), Purdue University (PU), Main Campus (543 graduates), Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU), Daytona Beach (413 graduates), University of Colorado Boulder (CU) (382 graduates), and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) (296 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 9,539 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
| College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
544 | Atlanta, Georgia | Public | gatech.edu |
| Purdue University (PU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
543 | West Lafayette, Indiana | Public | purdue.edu |
| Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
413 | Daytona Beach, Florida | Private | daytonabeach.erau.edu |
| University of Colorado Boulder (CU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
382 | Boulder, Colorado | Public | colorado.edu |
| Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
296 | Blacksburg, Virginia | Public | vt.edu |
| University of Central Florida (UCF) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
291 | Orlando, Florida | Public | ucf.edu |
| Texas A & M University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
287 | College Station, Texas | Public | tamu.edu |
| University of Michigan (U‑M) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
282 | Ann Arbor, Michigan | Public | umich.edu |
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
215 | Champaign, Illinois | Public | illinois.edu |
| University of Southern California (USC) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
203 | Los Angeles, California | Private | usc.edu |
| University of Florida (UF) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
200 | Gainesville, Florida | Public | ufl.edu |
| Iowa State University (ISU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
192 | Ames, Iowa | Public | iastate.edu |
| Pennsylvania State University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
Other Award
|
192 | University Park, Pennsylvania | Public | psu.edu |
| University of Maryland (UMCP) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
163 | College Park, Maryland | Public | umd.edu |
| Arizona State University Campus Immersion (ASU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
154 | Tempe, Arizona | Public | asu.edu |
| University of Alabama (UAH) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
153 | Huntsville, Alabama | Public | uah.edu |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
150 | Cambridge, Massachusetts | Private | web.mit.edu |
| Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) |
Bachelor's
|
149 | Prescott, Arizona | Private | prescott.erau.edu |
| The University of Texas |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
147 | Austin, Texas | Public | utexas.edu |
| California State University (CSULB) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
146 | Long Beach, California | Public | csulb.edu |
| Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University |
Associate's
Bachelor's
Master's
Other Award
|
145 | Daytona Beach, Florida | Private | worldwide.erau.edu |
| The University of Alabama (UA) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
143 | Tuscaloosa, Alabama | Public | ua.edu |
| Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
137 | Monterey, California | Public | nps.edu |
| North Carolina State University (NC State) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
130 | Raleigh, North Carolina | Public | ncsu.edu |
| Johns Hopkins University (JHU) |
Master's
|
129 | Baltimore, Maryland | Private | jhu.edu |
| Auburn University (AU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
128 | Auburn, Alabama | Public | auburn.edu |
| United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) |
Bachelor's
|
125 | USAF Academy, Colorado | Public | usafa.edu |
| California State Polytechnic University (CPP) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
124 | Pomona, California | Public | cpp.edu |
| Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
120 | Troy, New York | Private | rpi.edu |
| University at Buffalo (UB) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
118 | Buffalo, New York | Public | buffalo.edu |
| Ohio State University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
117 | Columbus, Ohio | Public | osu.edu |
| University of Washington (UW) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
117 | Seattle, Washington | Public | washington.edu |
| San Diego State University (SDSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
116 | San Diego, California | Public | sdsu.edu |
| University of California (UCSD) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
115 | La Jolla, California | Public | ucsd.edu |
| Florida Institute of Technology (Florida Tech) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
113 | Melbourne, Florida | Private | fit.edu |
| University of Cincinnati (UC) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
108 | Cincinnati, Ohio | Public | uc.edu |
| California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
107 | San Luis Obispo, California | Public | calpoly.edu |
| West Virginia University (WVU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
103 | Morgantown, West Virginia | Public | wvu.edu |
| Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
102 | Worcester, Massachusetts | Private | wpi.edu |
| Stanford University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
101 | Stanford, California | Private | stanford.edu |
| The University of Tennessee |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
100 | Knoxville, Tennessee | Public | utk.edu |
| University of Minnesota (UMN) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
98 | Minneapolis, Minnesota | Public | twin-cities.umn.edu |
| University of California (UCLA) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
97 | Los Angeles, California | Public | ucla.edu |
| Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
87 | Rolla, Missouri | Public | mst.edu |
| San Jose State University (SJSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
83 | San Jose, California | Public | sjsu.edu |
| Oklahoma State University (OSU) |
Bachelor's
|
83 | Stillwater, Oklahoma | Public | okstate.edu |
| University of Kansas (KU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
80 | Lawrence, Kansas | Public | ku.edu |
| The University of Texas |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
80 | Arlington, Texas | Public | uta.edu |
| Mississippi State University (MSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
77 | Mississippi State, Mississippi | Public | msstate.edu |
| University of California (UCI) |
Bachelor's
|
73 | Irvine, California | Public | uci.edu |
| United States Naval Academy (USNA) |
Bachelor's
|
73 | Annapolis, Maryland | Public | usna.edu |
| University of Arizona |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
72 | Tucson, Arizona | Public | arizona.edu |
| Wichita State University (WSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
69 | Wichita, Kansas | Public | wichita.edu |
| University of California (UCD) |
Bachelor's
|
67 | Davis, California | Public | ucdavis.edu |
| Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
66 | Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio | Public | afit.edu |
| Rutgers University |
Bachelor's
|
65 | New Brunswick, New Jersey | Public | newbrunswick.rutgers.edu |
| New Mexico State University (NMSU) |
Bachelor's
|
62 | Las Cruces, New Mexico | Public | nmsu.edu |
| Western Michigan University (WMU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
61 | Kalamazoo, Michigan | Public | wmich.edu |
| University of Virginia (UVA) |
Bachelor's
|
50 | Charlottesville, Virginia | Public | virginia.edu |
| University of Oklahoma (OU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
49 | Norman, Oklahoma | Public | ou.edu |
| Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
46 | Cleveland, Ohio | Private | case.edu |
| University of Notre Dame (ND) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
41 | Notre Dame, Indiana | Private | nd.edu |
| Syracuse University |
Bachelor's
|
39 | Syracuse, New York | Private | syracuse.edu |
| University of South Carolina (USC) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
37 | Columbia, South Carolina | Public | sc.edu |
| Washington University in St Louis (WashU) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
36 | Saint Louis, Missouri | Private | wustl.edu |
| Cornell University |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
32 | Ithaca, New York | Private | cornell.edu |
| Clarkson University (Clarkson) |
Bachelor's
|
30 | Potsdam, New York | Private | clarkson.edu |
| Saint Louis University (SLU) |
Bachelor's
|
26 | Saint Louis, Missouri | Private | slu.edu |
| Kent State University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
25 | Kent, Ohio | Public | kent.edu |
| University of Akron |
Bachelor's
|
23 | Akron, Ohio | Public | uakron.edu |
| Morehead State University (MSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
22 | Morehead, Kentucky | Public | moreheadstate.edu |
| Illinois Institute of Technology (Illinois Tech) |
Bachelor's
|
21 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | iit.edu |
| Utah State University (USU) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
21 | Logan, Utah | Public | usu.edu |
| California Institute of Technology (Caltech) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
19 | Pasadena, California | Private | caltech.edu |
| University of Dayton (UD) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
19 | Dayton, Ohio | Private | udayton.edu |
| The University of Texas (UTSA) |
Master's
Other Award
|
18 | San Antonio, Texas | Public | utsa.edu |
| University of Kentucky (UK) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
Other Award
|
12 | Lexington, Kentucky | Public | uky.edu |
| University of Miami (UM) |
Bachelor's
|
11 | Coral Gables, Florida | Private | miami.edu |
| Rowan University |
Other Award
|
9 | Glassboro, New Jersey | Public | rowan.edu |
| Tuskegee University (TU) |
Bachelor's
|
8 | Tuskegee, Alabama | Private | tuskegee.edu |
| Florida Atlantic University (FAU) |
Postbac Cert.
Other Award
|
8 | Boca Raton, Florida | Public | fau.edu |
| Capitol Technology University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Other Award
|
8 | Laurel, Maryland | Private | captechu.edu |
| Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) |
Bachelor's
|
8 | Manchester, New Hampshire | Private | snhu.edu |
| Rice University |
Master's
|
8 | Houston, Texas | Private | rice.edu |
| The University of Texas (UTEP) |
Bachelor's
|
5 | El Paso, Texas | Public | utep.edu |
| University of Houston (UH) |
Master's
|
4 | Houston, Texas | Public | uh.edu |
| Colorado State University (CSU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
3 | Fort Collins, Colorado | Public | colostate.edu |
| University of Hartford (UHart) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | West Hartford, Connecticut | Private | hartford.edu |
| Wright State University |
Master's
|
2 | Dayton, Ohio | Public | wright.edu |
| Santa Clara University (SCU) |
Master's
|
1 | Santa Clara, California | Private | scu.edu |
| University of Nevada (UNLV) |
Master's
|
1 | Las Vegas, Nevada | Public | unlv.edu |
| George Mason University |
Postbac Cert.
|
1 | Fairfax, Virginia | Public | www2.gmu.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Aerospace Engineering programs
How much can I earn with a Aerospace Engineering degree?
Salaries for Aerospace Engineering graduates vary by role and location. Architectural and Engineering Managers earn a median of $167,740 annually, while Aerospace Engineers earn around $134,830. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in California average $158,270 compared to $106,737 in Wisconsin. Approximately 318,690 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest Aerospace Engineering programs?
Currently 92 accredited institutions offer Aerospace Engineering degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech), Main Campus (544 graduates), Purdue University (PU), Main Campus (543 graduates), and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU), Daytona Beach (413 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in Aerospace Engineering growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 4,732 in 2010 to 9,539 in 2023-24. This represents a 102% increase overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with steady interest, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
What career paths are available with a Aerospace Engineering degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Architectural and Engineering Managers, Aerospace Engineers, and Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary. Related occupations employ approximately 318,690 professionals nationwide.
Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
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