Aerospace Engineering Major — Salary & ROI 2026
Design and development of aircraft, spacecraft, satellites, and missiles.
Starting Salary
$73K
median
Mid-Career
$115K
salary
ROI Payback
3.5 yrs
avg payback
Unemployment
2.2%
rate
Aerospace Engineering Overview
Design and development of aircraft, spacecraft, satellites, and missiles.
Category
Engineering
Degree Level
Bachelor's
Graduation Rate
64%
Enrollment Trend
growing
Online Available
Limited
Underemployment
10%
Lifetime Premium
$980K
Female Graduates
16%
Aerospace Engineering Degree ROI Calculator
Estimate your actual return on investment based on school type and scholarships.
0 to $40K/year in aid
Est. Total Cost
$22,500
4-year tuition
Net Cost (w/ aid)
$22,500
after scholarships
ROI Payback
1 years
to break even
Lifetime Return
$957,500
Lifetime earnings premium ($980,000) minus net degree cost ($22,500)
Aerospace Engineering Salary Progression
Common Aerospace Engineering Careers
Aerospace Engineer
Flight Test Engineer
Systems Engineer
Top Employers
Skills You'll Learn
Top Schools for Aerospace Engineering
#1
MIT
#2
Caltech
#3
Georgia Tech
#4
University of Michigan
#5
Purdue
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Aerospace Engineering Degree FAQ
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