2026 Best Value Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering Schools in the Far Western Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in aerospace & aeronautical engineering, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering Schools
Leading the list is California State University Long Beach, our #1 best value for aerospace & aeronautical engineering in the Far Western Region. Located in the city of Long Beach, California State University Long Beach is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,374, while out-of-state students pay about $19,974. Typical student debt for aerospace & aeronautical engineering graduates is $25,300. Soon after graduation, aerospace & aeronautical engineering degree recipients from California State University Long Beach generally make around $66,477. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 46%.
California State Polytechnic University Pomona came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value aerospace & aeronautical engineering schools. Set in the suburb of Pomona, California State Polytechnic University Pomona is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,781, with out-of-state students paying around $20,381. Typical student debt for aerospace & aeronautical engineering graduates is $26,295. Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering graduates of California State Polytechnic University Pomona earn a median of $78,320 early in their careers. Set against $26,295 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. California State Polytechnic University Pomona admits about 75% of applicants.
University Of California San Diego is a great value for students pursuing a degree in aerospace & aeronautical engineering, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of La Jolla, University Of California San Diego is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,788, while out-of-state students pay about $47,676. Students borrow a median of $21,305 to complete the aerospace & aeronautical engineering program here. Soon after graduation, aerospace & aeronautical engineering degree recipients from University Of California San Diego generally make around $65,401. That is a strong return on a $21,305 median debt. Roughly 27% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Stanford University earned it the #4 place for aerospace & aeronautical engineering. Set in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $65,910. Typical student debt for aerospace & aeronautical engineering graduates is $10,492. Early-career aerospace & aeronautical engineering graduates make about $111,760. That is a strong return on a $10,492 median debt. Stanford University admits about 4% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of California Irvine earned it the #5 place for aerospace & aeronautical engineering. Set in the city of Irvine, University Of California Irvine is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,752, with out-of-state students paying around $46,640. Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering graduates carry a median of $18,950 in student loans. Early-career aerospace & aeronautical engineering graduates make about $67,425. Set against $18,950 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of California Irvine admits about 29% of applicants.
University Of Washington Seattle Campus placed #6 among the best values for aerospace & aeronautical engineering. Set in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,973, while out-of-state students pay about $43,209. Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans. Early-career aerospace & aeronautical engineering graduates make about $93,709. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 39% of applicants are accepted.
San Jose State University placed #7 among the best values for aerospace & aeronautical engineering. Set in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,410, compared with $21,010 for out-of-state students. Median earnings reach $78,988 ten years out. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California Los Angeles ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value aerospace & aeronautical engineering schools. University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public school located in the city of Los Angeles. In-state tuition and fees average $14,233, with out-of-state students paying around $46,121. Students borrow a median of $19,000 to complete the aerospace & aeronautical engineering program here. Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering graduates of University Of California Los Angeles earn a median of $90,170 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of California Los Angeles admits about 9% of applicants.
University Of California Davis placed #9 among the best values for aerospace & aeronautical engineering. University Of California Davis is a very large public school located in the suburb of Davis. Students from in state pay about $15,804 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $47,692. Students borrow a median of $19,058 to complete the aerospace & aeronautical engineering program here. Soon after graduation, aerospace & aeronautical engineering degree recipients from University Of California Davis generally make around $71,633. That is a strong return on a $19,058 median debt. The acceptance rate is 42%.
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo came in at #10 for value in aerospace & aeronautical engineering this year. Located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,161, while out-of-state students pay about $33,230. Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering graduates carry a median of $22,500 in student loans. Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering graduates of California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earn a median of $96,072 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo admits about 31% of applicants.
San Diego State University placed #11 among the best values for aerospace & aeronautical engineering. Located in the city of San Diego, San Diego State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,728, compared with $21,328 for out-of-state students. Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering graduates carry a median of $23,000 in student loans. Early-career aerospace & aeronautical engineering graduates make about $74,375. That is a strong return on a $23,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 36%.
California Institute Of Technology came in at #12 for value in aerospace & aeronautical engineering this year. Set in the city of Pasadena, California Institute Of Technology is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $65,898 in tuition and fees. Early-career aerospace & aeronautical engineering graduates make about $173,344. California Institute Of Technology admits about 3% of applicants.
University Of Southern California came in at #13 for value in aerospace & aeronautical engineering this year. University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. In-state tuition and fees average $71,647. Students borrow a median of $21,140 to complete the aerospace & aeronautical engineering program here. Early-career aerospace & aeronautical engineering graduates make about $95,562. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 10% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 17 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 11 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
[Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering](/majors/engineering/aerospace-and-aeronautical-engineering/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
