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Aerospace Engineering at Iowa State University

Ames, IA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering
75 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
75
Optimistic
75
Base Case
72
Pessimistic
Earnings $75,036/yr (3% vs median)
AI Risk High (41% exposed)
Job Market Medium (25,800 openings/yr)
ROI 20.7x earnings multiple (7.9x out-of-state)
Ranked #8 of 57 Aerospace programs Top 25%

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 $890K $870K $760K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 21.2x 20.7x 18.1x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 8.0x 7.9x 6.9x
Probability of Field Employment 85% 81% 61%
DegreeOutlook Score 75 75 72

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$41,988
Out-of-state: $110,732 (7.9x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$72,660
-73% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$26,017
4.2 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$92,551
23% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $75,036/yr, Aerospace Engineering graduates from Iowa State University land near the $73,060 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

The 20.7x 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 15% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The median debt load of $26,017 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

Ranked #8 out of 57 programs, Iowa State University's Aerospace Engineering program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $75,036 to $92,551 shows 23% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About Iowa State University

With 89% of applicants admitted, Iowa State University prioritizes broad access, one of the larger campuses at 25,033 students in Ames, IA.

See all programs and financial aid at Iowa State University →

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

Compare this program → View all 57 schools offering Aerospace Engineering →

Aerospace Engineering at Other Schools

California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo ($85,509) Case Western Reserve University ($83,639) University of Colorado Boulder ($81,835) University of Notre Dame ($81,057) The University of Texas at Austin ($81,022) University of Michigan-Ann Arbor ($80,225) Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus ($79,300) University of Southern California ($78,980)

Other Majors at Iowa State University

Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($84,913) Computer Engineering ($79,182) Computer Science ($78,517) Construction Engineering ($77,845) Chemical Engineering ($76,184) Industrial Engineering ($74,310) Mechanical Engineering ($72,900) Civil Engineering ($72,502)

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Iowa State University's Aerospace Engineering program score?
A score of 75/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. Iowa State University'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.
Why does Iowa State University rank so high for Aerospace Engineering?
The #8 ranking out of 57 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →