Aerospace Engineeringat California State Polytechnic University-Pomona
Graduates earn $78,320/yr in their first year — about 7.0% above the national Aerospace Engineering average. Base-case 10-year earnings $909K; scenarios range from $789K to $931K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Cal Poly Pomona
The strong financial outcomes for Cal Poly Pomona aerospace engineering graduates stem directly from its "learn by doing" educational philosophy and unparalleled geographic advantage. Situated in Southern California, you're at the epicenter of the nation's aerospace industry, with direct pipelines to major employers like Northrop Grumman, SpaceX, JPL, Boeing, and Raytheon. This region’s demand for skilled engineers, coupled with the program’s emphasis on hands-on projects and practical application, means graduates are exceptionally well-prepared for roles in aircraft design, spacecraft development, and advanced manufacturing. While the sector is dynamic, requiring continuous skill development, your robust foundational training makes you highly marketable. To truly maximize your career trajectory, actively seek out multiple internships and engage deeply with the program's capstone projects, building a portfolio that showcases your real-world capabilities.
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.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Cal Poly Pomona's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
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.
Peer schools offering Aerospace Engineering
How Cal Poly Pomona stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Cal Poly Pomona
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Cal Poly Pomona, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Frequently asked about Aerospace Engineering at Cal Poly Pomona
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Aerospace Engineering at California State Polytechnic University-Pomona?
This program scores 77/100 — 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 $789,031 in decade earnings vs $931,242 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
What makes California State Polytechnic University-Pomona's Aerospace Engineering program stand out?
Ranked #2 of 57 programs nationally, California State Polytechnic University-Pomona lands in the top 5%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.