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Engineering · Aerospace Engineering Rank #15 of 57

Aerospace Engineeringat The University of Alabama

Graduates earn $73,887/yr in their first year — about 1.0% above the national Aerospace Engineering average. Base-case 10-year earnings $886K; scenarios range from $772K to $907K depending on AI disruption.

Tuscaloosa, AL Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
74 STRONG
74
Optimistic
71
Pessimistic
Earnings
$73,887
1-year post-graduation
ROI
18.7x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$886K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
47% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at University of Alabama

At $73,887/yr, Aerospace Engineering graduates from The University of Alabama land near the $73,060 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 18.6x 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 15% gap from the optimistic case.

The median debt load of $26,787 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

At #15 of 57 Aerospace Engineering programs, The University of Alabama scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Earnings grow from $73,887 to $93,809 over five years — a 27% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

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
$772K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score71/100
Earnings Multiple16.2x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$886K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score74/100
Earnings Multiple18.6x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$907K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score74/100
Earnings Multiple19.1x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to University of Alabama'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 University of Alabama 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 University of Alabama

Other top programs at University of Alabama

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

FAQ

Frequently asked about Aerospace Engineering at University of Alabama

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Aerospace Engineering at The University of Alabama?

This program scores 74/100 — 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 $771,906 in decade earnings vs $907,321 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.