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Aerospace at West Virginia University Institute of Technology

Beckley, WV · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering
75 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
76
Optimistic
75
Base Case
73
Pessimistic
Earnings $72,210/yr (-1% vs median)
AI Risk High (41% exposed)
Job Market Medium (25,800 openings/yr)
ROI 28.6x earnings multiple (11.5x out-of-state)
Ranked #11 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 $946K $924K $800K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 29.3x 28.6x 24.8x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 11.8x 11.5x 9.9x
Probability of Field Employment 85% 81% 61%
DegreeOutlook Score 76 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)
$32,256
Out-of-state: $80,480 (11.5x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$39,828
-23% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$27,242
4.5 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$96,827
34% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $72,210/yr, Aerospace graduates from West Virginia University Institute of Technology land near the $73,060 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

The 28.6x 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.

The median debt load of $27,242 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

Ranked #11 out of 57 programs, West Virginia University Institute of Technology's Aerospace program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $72,210 to $96,827 shows 34% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About West Virginia University Institute of Technology

West Virginia University Institute of Technology accepts 61% of applicants, balancing access with selectivity, with a smaller student body of 1,009 in Beckley, WV.

See all programs and financial aid at West Virginia University Institute of Technology →

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 West Virginia University Institute of Technology

Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($79,662) Computer Engineering ($76,314) Mechanical Engineering ($71,504) Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($71,298) Chemical Engineering ($69,875) Civil Engineering ($67,062) Computer and Information Sciences, General ($65,223) Accounting and Related Services ($51,824)

Frequently Asked Questions

How does West Virginia University Institute of Technology's Aerospace program score?
A score of 75/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. West Virginia University Institute of Technology'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 West Virginia University Institute of Technology rank so high for Aerospace?
The #11 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 →