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 25 schools to find where aerospace and aeronautical engineering graduates earn the most.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools send aerospace and aeronautical engineering graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
For graduate earnings in aerospace and aeronautical engineering, no school beat Massachusetts Institute Of Technology this year. Massachusetts Institute Of Technology is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cambridge. Early-career aerospace and aeronautical engineering graduates from Massachusetts Institute Of Technology make a median of around $155,401 per year.
A rank of #2 makes Johns Hopkins University one of the highest-paying schools for aerospace and aeronautical engineering. Located in the city of Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, aerospace and aeronautical engineering degree recipients from Johns Hopkins University typically earn about $128,330 annually.
Stanford University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying aerospace and aeronautical engineering schools. Located in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career aerospace and aeronautical engineering graduates from Stanford University make a median of around $144,702 per year.
Strong graduate earnings at University Of Southern California earned it the #4 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 $142,250.
Students chasing top earnings in aerospace and aeronautical engineering will find them at University Of Washington Seattle Campus, which ranked #5. University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a public school located in the city of Seattle. Aerospace And Aeronautical Engineering graduates of University Of Washington Seattle Campus earn a median of about $139,989 a year early in their careers.
Purdue University Main Campus placed #6 among the highest-paying schools for aerospace and aeronautical engineering. Set in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a public institution. After graduating, aerospace and aeronautical engineering degree recipients from Purdue University Main Campus typically earn about $126,554 annually.
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor landed the #7 spot for aerospace and aeronautical engineering salaries this year. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a public institution. Students who complete the aerospace and aeronautical engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $119,429.
Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus placed #8 among the highest-paying schools for aerospace and aeronautical engineering. Set in the city of Atlanta, Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a public institution. Early-career aerospace and aeronautical engineering graduates from Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus make a median of around $122,569 per year.
University Of Colorado Boulder landed the #9 spot for aerospace and aeronautical engineering salaries this year. Set in the city of Boulder, University Of Colorado Boulder is a public institution. Students who complete the aerospace and aeronautical engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $128,911.
University Of California Los Angeles landed the #10 spot for aerospace and aeronautical engineering salaries this year. University Of California Los Angeles is a public school located in the city of Los Angeles. After graduating, aerospace and aeronautical engineering degree recipients from University Of California Los Angeles typically earn about $109,272 annually.
Ohio State University Main Campus came in at #11 for aerospace and aeronautical engineering graduate earnings this year. Ohio State University Main Campus is a public school located in the city of Columbus. Students who complete the aerospace and aeronautical engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $106,712.
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo landed the #12 spot for aerospace and aeronautical engineering salaries this year. Located 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 $106,635 annually.
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus came in at #13 for aerospace and aeronautical engineering graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a public institution. Aerospace And Aeronautical Engineering graduates of University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earn a median of about $105,853 a year early in their careers.
Cornell University placed #14 among the highest-paying schools for aerospace and aeronautical engineering. Located in the city of Ithaca, Cornell University is a private not-for-profit institution. Aerospace And Aeronautical Engineering graduates of Cornell University earn a median of about $102,439 a year early in their careers.
Florida Institute Of Technology ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying aerospace and aeronautical engineering schools. Set in the city of Melbourne, Florida Institute Of Technology 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 $99,930.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earned the #16 position for aerospace and aeronautical engineering graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a public institution. Early-career aerospace and aeronautical engineering graduates from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign make a median of around $99,132 per year.
Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying aerospace and aeronautical engineering schools. Located in the city of Daytona Beach, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career aerospace and aeronautical engineering graduates from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach make a median of around $98,901 per year.
Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide placed #18 among the highest-paying schools for aerospace and aeronautical engineering. Set 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 $98,901.
Arizona State University came in at #19 for aerospace and aeronautical engineering graduate earnings this year. Arizona State University is a public school located in the city of Tempe. After graduating, aerospace and aeronautical engineering degree recipients from Arizona State University typically earn about $117,792 annually.
University Of Central Florida placed #20 among the highest-paying schools for aerospace and aeronautical engineering. University Of Central Florida is a public school located in the suburb of Orlando. After graduating, aerospace and aeronautical engineering degree recipients from University Of Central Florida typically earn about $97,843 annually.
Worcester Polytechnic Institute came in at #21 for aerospace and aeronautical engineering graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Worcester, Worcester Polytechnic Institute 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 $96,937.
Texas A And M University College Station came in at #22 for aerospace and aeronautical engineering graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of College Station, Texas A And M University College Station is a public institution. Students who complete the aerospace and aeronautical engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $96,252.
University Of Florida landed the #23 spot for aerospace and aeronautical engineering salaries this year. University Of Florida is a public school located in the city of Gainesville. After graduating, aerospace and aeronautical engineering degree recipients from University Of Florida typically earn about $92,942 annually.
Washington University In St Louis earned the #24 position for aerospace and aeronautical engineering graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of St. Louis, Washington University In St Louis 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 $92,802.
Wichita State University ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying aerospace and aeronautical engineering schools. Set in the city of Wichita, Wichita State University is a public institution. Students who complete the aerospace and aeronautical engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $89,838.
Looking for a different degree level? Compare highest-paid Aerospace And Aeronautical Engineering rankings across degree levels:
The ranking above is published by College Factual, 2026 edition. The methodology measures the salaries aerospace and aeronautical engineering graduates go on to earn early in their careers, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 25 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.