Aerospace Engineeringat Iowa State University
Graduates earn $75,036/yr in their first year — about 3.0% above the national Aerospace Engineering average. Base-case 10-year earnings $870K; scenarios range from $760K to $890K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Iowa State University
Iowa State's aerospace engineering program consistently stands out nationally, a testament to its strong curriculum and deep industry connections. Your education here prepares you for a demanding but rewarding field, with graduates highly sought after by major players like Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and even emerging private space companies. The university's strong engineering legacy and robust career services ensure you're not just learning theory, but gaining practical skills in areas like propulsion, aerodynamics, and structural design. While some analytical tasks in engineering face automation, the program emphasizes critical thinking and complex problem-solving, skills essential for leadership roles. To maximize your prospects, actively seek out internships and hands-on research opportunities to specialize and build a compelling portfolio.
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 Iowa State University'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 Iowa State University stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Iowa State University
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Iowa State University, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Frequently asked about Aerospace Engineering at Iowa State University
How does Iowa State University's Aerospace Engineering program score?
A score of 75/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. Iowa State University's Aerospace Engineering graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.
How vulnerable is Aerospace Engineering to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Aerospace Engineering 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 Iowa State University rank so high for Aerospace Engineering?
The #8 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.