by our College Data Analytics Team
[Aerospace And Aeronautical Engineering](/majors/engineering/aerospace-and-aeronautical-engineering/) programs reward a close look at where graduates go on to earn the most. 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 7 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.
For graduate earnings in aerospace and aeronautical engineering, no school beat Missouri University Of Science And Technology this year. Located in the town of Rolla, Missouri University Of Science And Technology is a public institution. Students who complete the aerospace and aeronautical engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $95,014.
Students chasing top earnings in aerospace and aeronautical engineering will find them at Iowa State University, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Ames, Iowa State University is a public institution. Early-career aerospace and aeronautical engineering graduates from Iowa State University make a median of around $92,551 per year.
Students chasing top earnings in aerospace and aeronautical engineering will find them at Saint Louis University Main Campus, which ranked #3. Saint Louis University Main Campus is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Louis. After graduating, aerospace and aeronautical engineering degree recipients from Saint Louis University Main Campus typically earn about $92,038 annually.
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities produces some of the highest-paid graduates in aerospace and aeronautical engineering, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a public institution. Early-career aerospace and aeronautical engineering graduates from University Of Minnesota Twin Cities make a median of around $81,624 per year.
University Of Kansas came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying aerospace and aeronautical engineering schools. Set in the city of Lawrence, University Of Kansas is a public institution. Students who complete the aerospace and aeronautical engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $71,244.
Washington University In St Louis ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying aerospace and aeronautical engineering schools. Set 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 #7 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying aerospace and aeronautical engineering schools. Wichita State University is a public school located in the city of Wichita. Aerospace And Aeronautical Engineering graduates of Wichita State University earn a median of about $82,517 a year early in their careers.
The ranking above is published 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 · 7 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.
