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Aerospace at University of California-Irvine

Irvine, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering
72 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
73
Optimistic
72
Base Case
71
Pessimistic
Earnings $67,425/yr (-8% vs median)
AI Risk High (41% exposed)
Job Market Medium (25,800 openings/yr)
ROI 17.7x earnings multiple (5.6x out-of-state)
Ranked #30 of 57 Aerospace programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Aerospace graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $1,037K $1,010K $865K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 18.2x 17.7x 15.2x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 5.8x 5.6x 4.8x
Probability of Field Employment 85% 81% 61%
DegreeOutlook Score 73 72 71

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$56,948
Out-of-state: $180,056 (5.6x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$51,360
10% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$18,400
3.3 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$102,765
52% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

University of California-Irvine's Aerospace program produces graduates earning $67,425/yr — within striking distance of the $73,060 national average for this field.

With a 17.7x return on in-state tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.

The 17% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Aerospace career paths face displacement, but others in the field are more insulated.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $18,400 in median debt clears quickly against $67,425 in annual earnings.

A #30 ranking among 57 Aerospace programs places University of California-Irvine in the lower half. Price, proximity, and personal fit become the stronger arguments.

The $67,425-to-$102,765 earnings arc over five years reflects a 52% gain — well above average career growth for recent graduates.

About University of California-Irvine

Admission to University of California-Irvine is competitive, with 26% of applicants accepted, serving a student body of 29,494 in Irvine, CA.

See all programs and financial aid at University of California-Irvine →

Top Career Paths

Architectural and engineering managers $167,740/yr
Aerospace engineers $134,830/yr
Engineering teachers, postsecondary $106,120/yr
View all 5 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Compare this program → View all 57 schools offering Aerospace →

Aerospace at Other Schools

California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo ($85,509) Case Western Reserve University ($83,639) University of Colorado Boulder ($81,835) University of Notre Dame ($81,057) The University of Texas at Austin ($81,022) University of Michigan-Ann Arbor ($80,225) Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus ($79,300) University of Southern California ($78,980)

Other Majors at University of California-Irvine

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($87,715) Computer Science ($82,161) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($80,412) Computer Engineering ($79,812) Civil Engineering ($73,835) Management Information Systems and Services ($68,786) Mechanical Engineering ($67,633) Biomedical/Medical Engineering ($67,170)

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a 72/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Aerospace at University of California-Irvine?
At 72/100, the score looks reasonable — but Aerospace is a high-scoring field overall. Compared to peers, this program's earnings and ROI fall below the median.
Should I worry about AI if I study Aerospace at University of California-Irvine?
The 41% AI task exposure score is above average. Our model shows this affecting job availability more than salaries — graduates may face stiffer competition for fewer positions.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →