Aerospace Engineering at Mississippi State University

Mississippi State, MS · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering
74 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
74
Optimistic
74
Base Case
72
Pessimistic
Earnings $69,056/yr (-5% vs median)
AI Risk High (41% exposed)
Job Market Medium (25,800 openings/yr)
ROI 23.0x earnings multiple (8.5x out-of-state)
Ranked #20 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 $925K $903K $784K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 23.6x 23.0x 20.0x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 8.7x 8.5x 7.4x
Probability of Field Employment 85% 81% 61%
DegreeOutlook Score 74 74 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)
$39,260
Out-of-state: $106,320 (8.5x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$62,004
-58% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$17,500
3.0 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$94,025
36% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $69,056 track close to the $73,060 national median for Aerospace Engineering programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

The 23.0x 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.

At $17,500 in median debt against $69,056 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

Ranked #20 out of 57 programs, Mississippi State University's Aerospace Engineering offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $69,056 to $94,025 shows 36% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About Mississippi State University

Mississippi State University has a 76% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, enrolling 18,092 students in Mississippi State, MS.

See all programs and financial aid at Mississippi 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

Aerospace Engineering at Other Schools

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Frequently Asked Questions

How does Mississippi State University's Aerospace Engineering program score?
A score of 74/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. Mississippi 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.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →