Bachelor's+3% vs national median1,260 grads tracked
Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering at Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University
Ranked 4th of 25 bachelor's programs in Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$78,941
middle 50%: $64,368 – $92,218
Median · 5 years out
$104,947
middle 50%: $87,527 – $123,267
Median · 10 years out
$130,093
middle 50%: $106,716 – $158,907
Salary trajectory
Median earnings vs the national median for Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering (bachelor's) graduates.
This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates
Aerospace Engineering graduates earn a median of $79k in their first year. By year 10, earnings reach $130k.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau PSEO, release V4.13.0 2025Q4. Earnings are for graduates working in covered states; figures are medians in nominal dollars.
Will the degree pay for itself?
Drag the sliders — payback uses this program's actual salary curve.
Assumes a 6.5% APR loan and this program's median salary trajectory (interpolated between years 1, 5 and 10).
Paid off in
3.9 yrs
≈ $4,190 total interest
Same major at other universities
University of Colorado Boulder
$111,066 · 5 yrs out
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
$105,543 · 5 yrs out
University of Michigan
$105,449 · 5 yrs out
Georgia Institute of Technology
$104,210 · 5 yrs out
University of Texas at Austin
$103,863 · 5 yrs out
University of Virginia
$103,464 · 5 yrs out
University of Oklahoma
$103,070 · 5 yrs out
Pennsylvania State University (The)
$102,941 · 5 yrs out
University of Texas at Arlington
$101,878 · 5 yrs out
Arizona State University
$101,595 · 5 yrs out
Purdue University
$100,846 · 5 yrs out
Oklahoma State University
$100,794 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Doctorate)
$160,426 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Doctorate)
$155,674 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$148,193 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Doctorate)
$132,072 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics and Statistics (Doctorate)
$130,533 · 5 yrs out
Applied Mathematics (Bachelor's)
$129,123 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Bachelor's)
$125,251 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's)
$125,251 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$121,443 · 5 yrs out
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's)
$119,838 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Master's)
$116,512 · 5 yrs out
Education (Doctorate)
$109,749 · 5 yrs out