Aerospace Engineeringat West Virginia University
Graduates earn $72,210/yr in their first year — about 1.0% below the national Aerospace Engineering average. Base-case 10-year earnings $924K; scenarios range from $800K to $946K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at West Virginia University
At $72,210/yr, Aerospace Engineering graduates from West Virginia University land near the $73,060 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.
Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 23.9x 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 $27,242 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.
At #12 of 57 nationally, this is a top-5% Aerospace Engineering program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.
Earnings grow from $72,210 to $96,827 over five years — a 34% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.
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 West Virginia University'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 West Virginia University stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at West Virginia University
Other highest-scoring programs offered at West Virginia University, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Frequently asked about Aerospace Engineering at West Virginia University
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Aerospace Engineering at West Virginia University?
This program scores 75/100 — 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 $799,940 in decade earnings vs $946,479 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
What makes West Virginia University's Aerospace Engineering program stand out?
Ranked #12 of 57 programs nationally, West Virginia University lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.