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Aerospace Engineering at Wichita State University

Wichita, KS · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering
70 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
71
Optimistic
70
Base Case
70
Pessimistic
Earnings $61,526/yr (-16% vs median)
AI Risk High (41% exposed)
Job Market Medium (25,800 openings/yr)
ROI 21.5x earnings multiple (10.4x out-of-state)
Ranked #38 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 $818K $801K $708K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 21.9x 21.5x 19.0x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 10.6x 10.4x 9.2x
Probability of Field Employment 85% 81% 61%
DegreeOutlook Score 71 70 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)
$37,288
Out-of-state: $76,960 (10.4x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$55,104
-48% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$20,500
4.0 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$82,517
34% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Wichita State University's Aerospace Engineering graduates start at $61,526/yr, trailing the $73,060 national average by 16%. The program's value hinges on affordability.

The 21.5x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 41% task exposure — and the 13% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $20,500 in median debt clears quickly against $61,526 in annual earnings.

At #38 out of 57 programs, Wichita State University's financial outcomes for Aerospace Engineering trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $61,526 to $82,517 shows 34% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About Wichita State University

A 95% acceptance rate means Wichita State University is accessible to most applicants, enrolling 10,493 students in Wichita, KS.

See all programs and financial aid at Wichita State University →

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 Wichita State University

Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($77,435) Mechanical Engineering ($68,018) Computer Engineering ($66,207) Computer Science ($64,699) Computer and Information Sciences, General ($64,287) Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($63,301) Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions ($60,287) Accounting and Related Services ($59,448)

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Wichita State University's Aerospace Engineering program score?
A score of 70/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but Wichita State University trails the majority of Aerospace Engineering programs on relative rankings. Context matters more than the raw number.
How vulnerable is Aerospace Engineering to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Aerospace Engineering careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 41% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Why are Aerospace Engineering earnings lower at Wichita State University?
Lower starting pay at Wichita State University may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →