Aerospace at The University of Alabama

Tuscaloosa, AL · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering
74 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
74
Optimistic
74
Base Case
71
Pessimistic
Earnings $73,887/yr (1% vs median)
AI Risk High (41% exposed)
Job Market Medium (25,800 openings/yr)
ROI 18.6x earnings multiple (6.7x out-of-state)
Ranked #15 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 graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $907K $886K $772K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 19.1x 18.6x 16.2x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 6.8x 6.7x 5.8x
Probability of Field Employment 85% 81% 61%
DegreeOutlook Score 74 74 71

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$47,600
Out-of-state: $132,800 (6.7x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$88,600
-86% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$26,787
4.4 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$93,809
27% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $73,887/yr, Aerospace graduates from The University of Alabama land near the $73,060 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 18.6x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Aerospace programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Aerospace's typical career paths, with 41% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 15% gap from the optimistic case.

The median debt load of $26,787 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

At #15 of 57 Aerospace programs, The University of Alabama scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Earnings grow from $73,887 to $93,809 over five years — a 27% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About The University of Alabama

With 76% of applicants admitted, The University of Alabama prioritizes broad access, one of the larger campuses at 32,323 students in Tuscaloosa, AL.

See all programs and financial aid at The University of Alabama →

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 at Other Schools

Other Majors at The University of Alabama

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Aerospace at The University of Alabama?
This program scores 74/100 — placing it among the stronger programs for Aerospace nationally. The score reflects above-average earnings, manageable AI risk, and solid financial return.
Will AI replace Aerospace careers?
With 41% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $771,906 in decade earnings vs $907,321 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →