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Engineering · Aerospace Engineering Rank #28 of 57

Aerospace Engineeringat Auburn University

Graduates earn $68,607/yr in their first year — about 6.0% below the national Aerospace Engineering average. Base-case 10-year earnings $927K; scenarios range from $802K to $950K depending on AI disruption.

Auburn, AL Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
72 STRONG
73
Optimistic
71
Pessimistic
Earnings
$68,607
1-year post-graduation
ROI
18.1x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$927K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
47% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Auburn University

At $68,607/yr, Aerospace Engineering graduates from Auburn University land near the $73,060 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

With a 18.5x return on in-state tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.

The 16% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Aerospace Engineering career paths face displacement, but others in the field are more insulated.

The median debt load of $20,417 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

A #28 ranking among 57 Aerospace Engineering programs places Auburn University in the middle-to-upper range. Solid, not exceptional.

A 40% earnings increase from $68,607 to $95,997 over five years is solid — not a moonshot, but evidence of normal career advancement.

AI Outlook Integration

Three scenarios, ten years out

Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$802K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score71/100
Earnings Multiple16.0x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$927K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score72/100
Earnings Multiple18.5x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$950K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score73/100
Earnings Multiple18.9x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Auburn University's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Aerospace Engineering graduates typically work

Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.

1
Architectural and engineering managers
+3.8% 10-yr growth · 14,500 openings/yr
$167,740/yr
Moderate
2
Aerospace engineers
+6.1% 10-yr growth · 4,500 openings/yr
$134,830/yr
High
3
Engineering teachers, postsecondary
+8.1% 10-yr growth · 4,100 openings/yr
$106,120/yr
High
4
Avionics technicians
+8.2% 10-yr growth · 1,800 openings/yr
$81,390/yr
Low
5
Aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians
+8.1% 10-yr growth · 900 openings/yr
$79,830/yr
Moderate
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Aerospace Engineering

How Auburn University stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
CA · Public
77
DW Score
$86K
1-yr earn
24.4x
ROI
University of Notre Dame
IN · Private nonprofit
61
DW Score
$81K
1-yr earn
2.9x
ROI
The University of Texas at Austin
TX · Public
76
DW Score
$81K
1-yr earn
20.5x
ROI
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
MI · Public
74
DW Score
$80K
1-yr earn
15.4x
ROI
Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus
GA · Public
76
DW Score
$79K
1-yr earn
20.7x
ROI
Also at Auburn University

Other top programs at Auburn University

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Auburn University, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.

FAQ

Frequently asked about Aerospace Engineering at Auburn University

What does a 72/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Aerospace Engineering at Auburn University?

At 72/100, this is a high-performing program. The DegreeOutlook Score combines earnings, AI resilience, and ROI — and this program delivers on all three.

Should I worry about AI if I study Aerospace Engineering at Auburn University?

The 41% AI task exposure score is above average. Our model shows this affecting job availability more than salaries — graduates may face stiffer competition for fewer positions.