Aerospace Engineering at University of Maryland-College Park

College Park, MD · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering
76 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
77
Optimistic
76
Base Case
73
Pessimistic
Earnings $78,631/yr (8% vs median)
AI Risk High (41% exposed)
Job Market Medium (25,800 openings/yr)
ROI 21.9x earnings multiple (6.3x out-of-state)
Ranked #5 of 57 Aerospace programs Top 10%

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 $1,036K $1,008K $864K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 22.5x 21.9x 18.8x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 6.4x 6.3x 5.4x
Probability of Field Employment 85% 81% 61%
DegreeOutlook Score 77 76 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)
$46,020
Out-of-state: $161,224 (6.3x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$62,360
-36% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$21,083
3.2 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$106,431
35% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $78,631/yr, edging above the $73,060 national average for Aerospace Engineering — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 21.9x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Aerospace Engineering programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Aerospace Engineering's typical career paths, with 41% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 17% gap from the optimistic case.

At $21,083 in median debt against $78,631 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

Ranked #5 of 57 programs, University of Maryland-College Park's Aerospace Engineering program falls in the top 10%, outperforming most peers on financial outcomes.

Earnings grow from $78,631 to $106,431 over five years — a 35% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About University of Maryland-College Park

With a 45% acceptance rate, University of Maryland-College Park is moderately selective, one of the larger campuses at 30,246 students in College Park, MD.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Maryland-College Park →

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

Other Majors at University of Maryland-College Park

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Aerospace Engineering at University of Maryland-College Park?
This program scores 76/100 — placing it among the stronger programs for Aerospace Engineering nationally. The score reflects above-average earnings, manageable AI risk, and solid financial return.
Will AI replace Aerospace Engineering careers?
With 41% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $863,669 in decade earnings vs $1,035,501 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →