Aerospace Engineeringat The University of Texas at Austin
Graduates earn $81,022/yr in their first year — about 11.0% above the national Aerospace Engineering average. Base-case 10-year earnings $939K; scenarios range from $812K to $963K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at UT Austin
UT Austin's aerospace program consistently produces top talent, a direct result of its rigorous curriculum and strong industry ties. Being situated in Texas provides unique advantages; you're at the doorstep of major defense contractors, NASA’s influence, and a rapidly expanding private space sector. This robust regional ecosystem ensures a steady demand for graduates, fostering competitive recruitment pipelines and numerous opportunities for internships that often convert into full-time roles. Employers value the practical skills and theoretical depth gained here, leading to impactful careers designing spacecraft, optimizing aircraft performance, or contributing to cutting-edge research. While the field faces evolving automation, your core engineering problem-solving skills remain invaluable. To maximize your trajectory, actively seek out research labs or industry co-ops early on to build a specialized portfolio that stands out in a competitive, evolving market.
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 UT Austin'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 UT Austin stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at UT Austin
Other highest-scoring programs offered at UT Austin, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Frequently asked about Aerospace Engineering at UT Austin
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Aerospace Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin?
This program scores 76/100 — 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 $811,547 in decade earnings vs $962,692 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
What makes The University of Texas at Austin's Aerospace Engineering program stand out?
Ranked #6 of 57 programs nationally, The University of Texas at Austin lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.