Aerospace Engineering Degree in St. Paul, MN — Salary & ROI 2026
Aerospace Engineering degree analysis for St. Paul, MN. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$86K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$124K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
2 yrs
in St. Paul
Cost of Living
108
index (100 = avg)
Aerospace Engineering in St. Paul, MN Overview
St. Paul, Minnesota (pop. 308,096) has 20 colleges offering Aerospace Engineering programs. The local cost of living index of 108 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $843/month. Aerospace Engineering has seen growing enrollment nationally, reflecting rising employer demand for Aerodynamics and Propulsion skills. The adjusted starting salary in St. Paul is approximately $86,400.
Category
Engineering
Local Colleges
20
Public Tuition
$10,448/yr
Private Tuition
$52,990/yr
Room & Board
$13,408/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$15,005/yr
Unemployment
4.7%
Graduation Rate
70%
Aerospace Engineering Salary in St. Paul (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for St. Paul's cost of living index of 108 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Aerospace Engineering salary: $80,000 starting, $115,000 mid-career, $145,000 senior level.St. Paul adjustment factor: 1.08x based on the local cost of living index.
Aerospace Engineering ROI Calculator for St. Paul
Estimate your return on investment for a Aerospace Engineering degree using local St. Paul tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $10,448 | Private avg: $52,990
St. Paul avg aid: $15,005/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$95,424
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$48,600
vs HS diploma in St. Paul
ROI Payback Period
2 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in St. Paul
$962,976
Lifetime earnings premium ($1,058,400) minus total education cost ($95,424)
Student Loan Payoff for Aerospace Engineering in St. Paul
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in St. Paul for Aerospace Engineering
Hamline University
private
$45,776/yr
$183,104 total
Macalester College
private
$60,204/yr
$240,816 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Saint Paul College
$5,772/yr
Top Employers for Aerospace Engineering in St. Paul
St. Paul offers opportunities in Engineering firms, Manufacturing, Defense contractors for Aerospace Engineering graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key St. Paul Hiring Sectors for Engineering
Engineering firms
Manufacturing
Defense contractors
Energy companies
Construction firms
Common Aerospace Engineering Job Titles
Aerospace Engineering in Nearby Minnesota Cities
Minneapolis, MN
$78K starting · COL 97
15 colleges
Saint Paul, MN
$81K starting · COL 101.5
11 colleges
Rochester, MN
$84K starting · COL 105
8 colleges
Duluth, MN
$80K starting · COL 100
5 colleges
Bloomington, MN
$80K starting · COL 100.2
4 colleges
Brooklyn Park, MN
$79K starting · COL 98.8
4 colleges
Plymouth, MN
$86K starting · COL 107.3
4 colleges
Maple Grove, MN
$86K starting · COL 107.4
4 colleges
Other Engineering Majors in St. Paul
Petroleum Engineering
$54K starting · 2.5 yr ROI
Computer Engineering
$54K starting · 3 yr ROI
Chemical Engineering
$89K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Nuclear Engineering
$54K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Electrical Engineering
$86K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Mechanical Engineering
$84K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mining Engineering
$54K starting · 3 yr ROI
Materials Science & Engineering
$54K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Aerospace Engineering Degree in St. Paul — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Aerospace Engineering ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in St. Paul.