by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 89 U.S. colleges awarded 6,536 degrees and certificates in General Aeronautics/Aviation/Aerospace Science & Technology. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 78% of graduates. College Factual ranks 56 schools in its 2027 Best General Aeronautics/Aviation/Aerospace Science & Technology Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $54,735 one year after completing, rising to $88,771 after four years.
Studying General Aeronautics/Aviation/Aerospace Science & Technology covers Aeronautics/aviation/aerospace Science And Technology, General. A Program That Focuses On The General Study Of Aviation And The Aviation Industry, Including In-Flight And Ground Support Operations. Includes Instruction In The Technical, Business, And General Aspects Of Air Transportation Systems.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, general aeronautics/aviation/aerospace science & technology draws strong interest, with 6,536 degrees awarded annually. 89 colleges award general aeronautics/aviation/aerospace science & technology degrees, an average of 73 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 1,597.
By level, the 6,536 awards include 12 certificates, 462 associate degrees, 5,066 bachelor’s degrees, 955 master’s degrees and 25 doctorates.
Women earned 18% of general aeronautics/aviation/aerospace science & technology degrees and certificates in the latest year (1,158 of 6,536). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (3,787) and Hispanic or Latino (733), and international students earned 719.
College Factual ranks 56 schools in its 2027 Best General Aeronautics/Aviation/Aerospace Science & Technology Schools ranking, including 13 for associate degrees, 49 for bachelor’s degrees and 13 for master’s degrees. It also ranks general aeronautics/aviation/aerospace science & technology schools within 22 states. In all, 89 colleges offer general aeronautics/aviation/aerospace science & technology programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value General Aeronautics/Aviation/Aerospace Science & Technology Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common general aeronautics/aviation/aerospace science & technology credential is the bachelor’s degree: 5,066 of the 6,536 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to general aeronautics/aviation/aerospace science & technology call most for Reading Comprehension, Active Listening and Coordination, and for knowledge of Transportation, Administration and Management and English Language, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Comprehension, Written Expression and Written Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a general aeronautics/aviation/aerospace science & technology degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 12 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 462 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 5,066 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 955 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 25 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to general aeronautics/aviation/aerospace science & technology, at 66.7%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 66.7% |
| Master’s degree | 19.1% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 9.5% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 4.8% |
Source: O*NET Online.
2 occupations are related to General Aeronautics/Aviation/Aerospace Science & Technology, with an average median salary of $107,359; the strongest outlook belongs to Supply Chain Managers, at 12.7% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Supply Chain Logistics Manager, Logistics Supervisor, Global Supply Chain Manager and Supply Chain Operations Manager.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to general aeronautics/aviation/aerospace science & technology, at 421,849.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Supply Chain Managers | 421,849 | 12.7% |
| Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers | 227,314 | 11.6% |
General Aeronautics/Aviation/Aerospace Science & Technology graduates earn a median $54,735 one year after completing their program, $88,771 after four years and $80,211 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $54,735 |
| 4 years | $88,771 |
| 5 years | $80,211 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to general aeronautics/aviation/aerospace science & technology, with a median salary of $138,103.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Supply Chain Managers | $138,103 |
| Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers | $76,615 |
General Aeronautics/Aviation/Aerospace Science & Technology has 7 similar majors in the Transportation & Materials Moving field, which together award 5,464 degrees a year; the largest are Airline/Commercial/Professional Pilot and Flight Crew (2,560), Aviation/Airway Management and Operations (2,152) and Air Traffic Controller (235). Browse all Transportation & Materials Moving majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Airline/Commercial/Professional Pilot and Flight Crew | 2,560 |
| Aviation/Airway Management and Operations | 2,152 |
| Air Traffic Controller | 235 |
| Air Transportation, Other | 219 |
| Remote Aircraft Pilot | 192 |
| Airline Flight Attendant | 70 |
| Flight Instructor | 36 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
