Program Analysis
Graduates earn $68,002/yr, roughly in line with the $73,060 national median for Aerospace. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.
With a 28.3x return on in-state tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.
The 15% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Aerospace career paths face displacement, but others in the field are more insulated.
With first-year pay of $68,002 far exceeding the $24,262 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.
A #21 ranking among 57 Aerospace programs places New Mexico State University-Main Campus in the middle-to-upper range. Solid, not exceptional.
A 40% earnings increase from $68,002 to $95,469 over five years is solid — not a moonshot, but evidence of normal career advancement.