by our College Data Analytics Team
[Aerospace And Aeronautical Engineering](/majors/engineering/aerospace-and-aeronautical-engineering/) is a field where your choice of school can shape what you earn after graduation. The highest-paying schools turn a aerospace and aeronautical engineering degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 11 schools to find where aerospace and aeronautical engineering graduates earn the most.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose aerospace and aeronautical engineering graduates go on to earn the most.
Leading the list is San Jose State University, our #1 for aerospace and aeronautical engineering graduate salaries in the Far Western Region. Set in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a public institution. After graduating, aerospace and aeronautical engineering degree recipients from San Jose State University typically earn about $101,217 annually.
Strong graduate earnings at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earned it the #2 place for aerospace and aeronautical engineering. Located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a public institution. Early-career aerospace and aeronautical engineering graduates from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo make a median of around $112,671 per year.
Strong graduate earnings at University Of Southern California earned it the #3 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.
Strong graduate earnings at University Of Washington Seattle Campus earned it the #4 place for aerospace and aeronautical engineering. Set in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a public institution. Students who complete the aerospace and aeronautical engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $102,468.
California State Polytechnic University Pomona came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying aerospace and aeronautical engineering schools. Set in the suburb of Pomona, California State Polytechnic University Pomona is a public institution. Aerospace And Aeronautical Engineering graduates of California State Polytechnic University Pomona earn a median of about $97,066 a year early in their careers.
University Of California Davis landed the #6 spot for aerospace and aeronautical engineering salaries this year. University Of California Davis is a public school located in the suburb of Davis. Early-career aerospace and aeronautical engineering graduates from University Of California Davis make a median of around $98,457 per year.
University Of California San Diego placed #7 among the highest-paying schools for aerospace and aeronautical engineering. University Of California San Diego is a public school located in the city of La Jolla. After graduating, aerospace and aeronautical engineering degree recipients from University Of California San Diego typically earn about $107,359 annually.
San Diego State University came in at #8 for aerospace and aeronautical engineering graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of San Diego, San Diego State University is a public institution. After graduating, aerospace and aeronautical engineering degree recipients from San Diego State University typically earn about $93,649 annually.
University Of California Irvine ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying aerospace and aeronautical engineering schools. Set in the city of Irvine, University Of California Irvine is a public institution. Students who complete the aerospace and aeronautical engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $102,765.
University Of California Los Angeles earned the #10 position for aerospace and aeronautical engineering graduate earnings this year. University Of California Los Angeles is a public school located in the city of Los Angeles. Aerospace And Aeronautical Engineering graduates of University Of California Los Angeles earn a median of about $97,069 a year early in their careers.
California State University Long Beach earned the #11 position for aerospace and aeronautical engineering graduate earnings this year. California State University Long Beach is a public school located in the city of Long Beach. After graduating, aerospace and aeronautical engineering degree recipients from California State University Long Beach typically earn about $99,098 annually.
This list is compiled 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 · 11 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.
