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Aerospace at North Carolina State University at Raleigh

Raleigh, NC · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering
75 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
75
Optimistic
75
Base Case
73
Pessimistic
Earnings $70,820/yr (-3% vs median)
AI Risk High (41% exposed)
Job Market Medium (25,800 openings/yr)
ROI 25.3x earnings multiple (7.1x out-of-state)
Ranked #9 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 graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $921K $899K $782K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 25.9x 25.3x 22.0x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 7.2x 7.1x 6.2x
Probability of Field Employment 85% 81% 61%
DegreeOutlook Score 75 75 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)
$35,580
Out-of-state: $127,068 (7.1x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$67,724
-90% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$20,750
3.5 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$94,192
33% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $70,820 track close to the $73,060 national median for Aerospace programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

The 25.3x 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 $20,750 in median debt against $70,820 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

Ranked #9 out of 57 programs, North Carolina State University at Raleigh's Aerospace program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $70,820 to $94,192 shows 33% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About North Carolina State University at Raleigh

North Carolina State University at Raleigh admits 40% of applicants, placing it among selective institutions, serving a student body of 26,389 in Raleigh, NC.

See all programs and financial aid at North Carolina State University at Raleigh →

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 →

Aerospace 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 North Carolina State University at Raleigh

Computer Science ($85,809) Computer Engineering ($82,997) Chemical Engineering ($81,492) Industrial Engineering ($81,055) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($77,687) Construction Engineering ($76,574) Nuclear Engineering ($74,540) Materials Engineering ($74,058)

Frequently Asked Questions

How does North Carolina State University at Raleigh's Aerospace program score?
A score of 75/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. North Carolina State University at Raleigh's Aerospace graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.
How vulnerable is Aerospace to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Aerospace 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 North Carolina State University at Raleigh rank so high for Aerospace?
The #9 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 →