Home › Western Michigan University › Aerospace Engineering

Aerospace Engineering at Western Michigan University

Kalamazoo, MI · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $69,514/yr (-5% vs median)

AI Risk High (41% exposed)

Job Market Medium (25,800 openings/yr)

ROI 16.0x earnings multiple (12.8x out-of-state)

Ranked #33 of 57 Aerospace programs

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	$1,005K	$980K	$842K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	16.4x	16.0x	13.8x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	13.2x	12.8x	11.0x
Probability of Field Employment	85%	81%	61%
DegreeOutlook Score	72	72	70

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$61,192

Out-of-state: $76,392 (12.8x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$74,804

-22% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$27,000

4.7 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$100,965

45% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $69,514/yr, roughly in line with the $73,060 national median for Aerospace Engineering. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 16.0x 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 16% gap from the optimistic case.

With first-year pay of $69,514 far exceeding the $27,000 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

Ranked #33 of 57 Aerospace Engineering programs, Western Michigan University falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Earnings grow from $69,514 to $100,965 over five years — a 45% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About Western Michigan University

Western Michigan University accepts 85% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, with a mid-sized student body of 12,704 in Kalamazoo, MI.

See all programs and financial aid at Western Michigan University →

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 Western Michigan University

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Aerospace Engineering at Western Michigan University?

This program scores 72/100 — a respectable number in isolation, but it ranks in the bottom half of Aerospace Engineering programs nationally. The field is competitive, and stronger options exist.

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 $842,153 in decade earnings vs $1,005,443 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →