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.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 11 schools to find where aerospace and aeronautical engineering graduates earn the most.
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Below are the schools whose aerospace and aeronautical engineering graduates go on to earn the most.
For graduate earnings in aerospace and aeronautical engineering, no school beat San Jose State University this year. Located 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.
A rank of #2 makes California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo one of the highest-paying schools for aerospace and aeronautical engineering. Set in the suburb of San Luis Obispo, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a public institution. After graduating, aerospace and aeronautical engineering degree recipients from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo typically earn about $112,671 annually.
Stanford University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in aerospace and aeronautical engineering, landing the #3 spot this year. Stanford University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Stanford. Students who complete the aerospace and aeronautical engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $144,702.
University Of Southern California produces some of the highest-paid graduates in aerospace and aeronautical engineering, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a private not-for-profit institution. Aerospace And Aeronautical Engineering graduates of University Of Southern California earn a median of about $133,386 a year early in their careers.
A rank of #5 makes California State Polytechnic University Pomona one of the highest-paying schools for aerospace and aeronautical engineering. Located 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 came in at #6 for aerospace and aeronautical engineering graduate earnings this year. University Of California Davis is a public school located in the suburb of Davis. Aerospace And Aeronautical Engineering graduates of University Of California Davis earn a median of about $98,457 a year early in their careers.
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 ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying aerospace and aeronautical engineering schools. San Diego State University is a public school located in the city of San Diego. Students who complete the aerospace and aeronautical engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $93,649.
University Of California Los Angeles ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying aerospace and aeronautical engineering schools. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a public institution. Students who complete the aerospace and aeronautical engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $97,069.
University Of California Irvine landed the #10 spot for aerospace and aeronautical engineering salaries this year. Located in the city of Irvine, University Of California Irvine is a public institution. Early-career aerospace and aeronautical engineering graduates from University Of California Irvine make a median of around $102,765 per year.
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 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 · 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.
