by our College Data Analytics Team
[Aerospace And Aeronautical Engineering](/majors/engineering/aerospace-and-aeronautical-engineering/) graduates earn very different salaries depending on where they study. The schools below stand out for the salaries their aerospace and aeronautical engineering graduates go on to command.
College Factual analyzed 60 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the highest-paying aerospace and aeronautical engineering schools.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose aerospace and aeronautical engineering graduates go on to earn the most.
Massachusetts Institute Of Technology earned the #1 spot for highest-paid aerospace and aeronautical engineering graduates in the United States. Massachusetts Institute Of Technology is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cambridge. After graduating, aerospace and aeronautical engineering degree recipients from Massachusetts Institute Of Technology typically earn about $138,934 annually.
Students chasing top earnings in aerospace and aeronautical engineering will find them at San Jose State University, which ranked #2. San Jose State University is a public school located in the city of San Jose. Early-career aerospace and aeronautical engineering graduates from San Jose State University make a median of around $101,217 per year.
Strong graduate earnings at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earned it the #3 place for aerospace and aeronautical engineering. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a public school located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo. After graduating, aerospace and aeronautical engineering degree recipients from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo typically earn about $112,671 annually.
Students chasing top earnings in aerospace and aeronautical engineering will find them at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor, which ranked #4. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a public school located in the city of Ann Arbor. Early-career aerospace and aeronautical engineering graduates from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor make a median of around $113,025 per year.
Strong graduate earnings at University Of Southern California earned it the #5 place for aerospace and aeronautical engineering. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the aerospace and aeronautical engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $113,915.
University Of Colorado Boulder placed #6 among the highest-paying schools for aerospace and aeronautical engineering. Located in the city of Boulder, University Of Colorado Boulder is a public institution. After graduating, aerospace and aeronautical engineering degree recipients from University Of Colorado Boulder typically earn about $103,431 annually.
University Of Maryland College Park earned the #7 position for aerospace and aeronautical engineering graduate earnings this year. University Of Maryland College Park is a public school located in the suburb of College Park. Early-career aerospace and aeronautical engineering graduates from University Of Maryland College Park make a median of around $106,431 per year.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign came in at #8 for aerospace and aeronautical engineering graduate earnings this year. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a public school located in the city of Champaign. Early-career aerospace and aeronautical engineering graduates from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign make a median of around $109,503 per year.
The University Of Texas At Austin came in at #9 for aerospace and aeronautical engineering graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a public institution. After graduating, aerospace and aeronautical engineering degree recipients from The University Of Texas At Austin typically earn about $100,587 annually.
Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus came in at #10 for aerospace and aeronautical engineering graduate earnings this year. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a public school located in the city of Atlanta. After graduating, aerospace and aeronautical engineering degree recipients from Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus typically earn about $101,967 annually.
University Of Notre Dame landed the #11 spot for aerospace and aeronautical engineering salaries this year. University Of Notre Dame is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Notre Dame. After graduating, aerospace and aeronautical engineering degree recipients from University Of Notre Dame typically earn about $98,886 annually.
University Of Washington Seattle Campus earned the #12 position for aerospace and aeronautical engineering graduate earnings this year. University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a public school located in the city of Seattle. Early-career aerospace and aeronautical engineering graduates from University Of Washington Seattle Campus make a median of around $102,468 per year.
Case Western Reserve University landed the #13 spot for aerospace and aeronautical engineering salaries this year. Located in the city of Cleveland, Case Western Reserve University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, aerospace and aeronautical engineering degree recipients from Case Western Reserve University typically earn about $90,949 annually.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University landed the #14 spot for aerospace and aeronautical engineering salaries this year. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a public school located in the city of Blacksburg. Aerospace And Aeronautical Engineering graduates of Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University earn a median of about $100,423 a year early in their careers.
California State Polytechnic University Pomona came in at #15 for aerospace and aeronautical engineering graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Pomona, California State Polytechnic University Pomona is a public institution. Students who complete the aerospace and aeronautical engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $97,066.
The University Of Tennessee came in at #16 for aerospace and aeronautical engineering graduate earnings this year. The University Of Tennessee is a public school located in the city of Knoxville. Aerospace And Aeronautical Engineering graduates of The University Of Tennessee earn a median of about $85,604 a year early in their careers.
Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach came in at #17 for aerospace and aeronautical engineering graduate earnings this year. Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Daytona Beach. Early-career aerospace and aeronautical engineering graduates from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach make a median of around $97,915 per year.
Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Prescott ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying aerospace and aeronautical engineering schools. Located in the city of Prescott, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Prescott is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the aerospace and aeronautical engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $97,915.
Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide placed #19 among the highest-paying schools for aerospace and aeronautical engineering. Located in the city of Daytona Beach, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the aerospace and aeronautical engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $97,915.
Worcester Polytechnic Institute earned the #20 position for aerospace and aeronautical engineering graduate earnings this year. Worcester Polytechnic Institute is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Worcester. Early-career aerospace and aeronautical engineering graduates from Worcester Polytechnic Institute make a median of around $98,303 per year.
University Of Virginia Main Campus placed #21 among the highest-paying schools for aerospace and aeronautical engineering. Located in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a public institution. Early-career aerospace and aeronautical engineering graduates from University Of Virginia Main Campus make a median of around $93,485 per year.
Missouri University Of Science And Technology earned the #22 position for aerospace and aeronautical engineering graduate earnings this year. Set in the town of Rolla, Missouri University Of Science And Technology is a public institution. After graduating, aerospace and aeronautical engineering degree recipients from Missouri University Of Science And Technology typically earn about $95,014 annually.
Texas A And M University College Station placed #23 among the highest-paying schools for aerospace and aeronautical engineering. Texas A And M University College Station is a public school located in the city of College Station. Aerospace And Aeronautical Engineering graduates of Texas A And M University College Station earn a median of about $96,505 a year early in their careers.
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying aerospace and aeronautical engineering schools. Located in the city of Troy, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, aerospace and aeronautical engineering degree recipients from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute typically earn about $98,049 annually.
University Of Florida came in at #25 for aerospace and aeronautical engineering graduate earnings this year. University Of Florida is a public school located in the city of Gainesville. Students who complete the aerospace and aeronautical engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $100,208.
Not far behind, these schools also produced high-earning aerospace and aeronautical engineering graduates:
Explore the highest-paying aerospace and aeronautical engineering schools at other degree levels:
This ranking is produced by College Factual, 2026 edition. Schools are ranked on the median early-career earnings of their aerospace and aeronautical engineering graduates, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 60 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
