Aerospace Engineeringat San Diego State University
Graduates earn $74,375/yr in their first year — about 2.0% above the national Aerospace Engineering average. Base-case 10-year earnings $883K; scenarios range from $770K to $904K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at San Diego State
San Diego State's aerospace engineering program stands out because it's perfectly situated within a major aerospace and defense industry hub. San Diego hosts numerous companies focused on aviation, space technology, and defense systems, from established giants to innovative startups. This creates an exceptionally fertile ground for internships and post-graduation employment, with employers actively recruiting from SDSU's talent pool. You'll find strong pathways into roles involving advanced design, systems integration, and project management, leveraging the region's demand for skilled engineers. While the field sees increasing AI integration, focusing on complex problem-solving and interdisciplinary project leadership will ensure your skills remain highly valued. To truly capitalize, prioritize securing multiple internships; these direct industry connections are your most powerful asset for launching your career.
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 San Diego State'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 San Diego State stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at San Diego State
Other highest-scoring programs offered at San Diego State, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Frequently asked about Aerospace Engineering at San Diego State
How does San Diego State University's Aerospace Engineering program score?
A score of 75/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. San Diego 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 San Diego State University rank so high for Aerospace Engineering?
The #7 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.