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Aerospace Engineering at University of California-San Diego

La Jolla, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering
72 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
72
Optimistic
72
Base Case
70
Pessimistic
Earnings $65,401/yr (-10% vs median)
AI Risk High (41% exposed)
Job Market Medium (25,800 openings/yr)
ROI 17.6x earnings multiple (5.8x out-of-state)
Ranked #32 of 57 Aerospace programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

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

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $1,107K $1,076K $915K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 18.1x 17.6x 15.0x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 6.0x 5.8x 5.0x
Probability of Field Employment 85% 81% 61%
DegreeOutlook Score 72 72 70

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$61,060
Out-of-state: $184,168 (5.8x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$47,000
23% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$20,008
3.7 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$107,359
64% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

University of California-San Diego's Aerospace Engineering program produces graduates earning $65,401/yr — within striking distance of the $73,060 national average for this field.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 17.6x 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 17% gap from the optimistic case.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $20,008 in median debt clears quickly against $65,401 in annual earnings.

Ranked #32 of 57 Aerospace Engineering programs, University of California-San Diego falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $107,359 show a 64% jump from the $65,401 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About University of California-San Diego

Admission to University of California-San Diego is competitive, with 25% of applicants accepted, with 33,787 students enrolled in La Jolla, CA.

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

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 Engineering →

Aerospace Engineering 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-San Diego

Computer Science ($112,006) Computer Engineering ($96,256) Mathematics and Computer Science ($89,651) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($80,687) Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology ($76,592) Mechanical Engineering ($69,555) Biological/Biosystems Engineering ($67,016) Civil Engineering ($65,478)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Aerospace Engineering at University of California-San Diego?
This program scores 72/100 — a respectable number in isolation, but it ranks in the bottom half of Aerospace Engineering programs nationally. The field is competitive, and stronger options exist.
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 $914,916 in decade earnings vs $1,107,080 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →