Aerospace Engineering at California State University-Long Beach

Long Beach, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering
74 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
75
Optimistic
74
Base Case
73
Pessimistic
Earnings $66,477/yr (-9% vs median)
AI Risk High (41% exposed)
Job Market Medium (25,800 openings/yr)
ROI 34.6x earnings multiple (12.8x out-of-state)
Ranked #17 of 57 Aerospace programs Top 50%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Aerospace Engineering graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $996K $970K $835K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 35.5x 34.6x 29.8x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 13.2x 12.8x 11.1x
Probability of Field Employment 85% 81% 61%
DegreeOutlook Score 75 74 73

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$28,032
Out-of-state: $75,552 (12.8x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$35,724
-27% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$25,775
4.7 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$99,098
49% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $66,477/yr, Aerospace Engineering graduates from California State University-Long Beach land near the $73,060 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

The 34.6x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 41% task exposure — and the 16% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The median debt load of $25,775 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

Ranked #17 out of 57 programs, California State University-Long Beach's Aerospace Engineering offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $66,477 to $99,098 shows 49% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About California State University-Long Beach

California State University-Long Beach accepts 47% of applicants, balancing access with selectivity, with 34,131 students enrolled in Long Beach, CA. With 49% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum.

See all programs and financial aid at California State University-Long Beach →

Top Career Paths

Architectural and engineering managers $167,740/yr
Aerospace engineers $134,830/yr
Engineering teachers, postsecondary $106,120/yr
View all 5 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Aerospace Engineering at Other Schools

Other Majors at California State University-Long Beach

Frequently Asked Questions

How does California State University-Long Beach's Aerospace Engineering program score?
A score of 74/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. California State University-Long Beach's Aerospace Engineering graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.
How vulnerable is Aerospace Engineering to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Aerospace Engineering careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 41% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →