Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering: is this doctoral degree worth it?
National picture across 1 reporting college programs.
Personal baseline needed
$134,630 in median year-4 earnings
A credible return for this credential must start with what the student would otherwise earn. The federal data does not provide that personal baseline.
$134,630Median year-4 earnings
$12,116Average institution net-price context
Not availableMedian federal debt
Four useful answers about Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering
How much do Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering doctoral degree graduates earn?
The national median is $134,630 four years after completion across reportable doctoral degree programs in this federal field.
How much federal debt do graduates have?
A national median federal-debt figure is not reportable for this degree in the current release.
Does the college matter for Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering?
Yes. The middle half of reporting programs ranges from $134,630 to $134,630 in observed year-4 earnings.
What careers are related to Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering?
DegreeVerdict links this field to 5 displayed occupations using the official federal CIP–SOC crosswalk. Occupational wages are career context, not graduate salary promises.
Observed national outcomes
$134,630Median reported earnings · year 4
Not availableAverage reported earnings · year 5
Not availableMedian federal debt
79thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
44IPEDS 2023–24 first-major awards across matched colleges
1With year-4 earnings
The award total covers 1 matched college records and is not extrapolated to colleges without a match.
The same field can produce a different equation.
Keep the federal field fixed and compare observed outcomes at every reportable credential level. These are separate graduate cohorts, not a promise that more schooling causes the difference.
OPEN PROFILE
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $96,510
- Federal debt
- $25,000
- Reporting programs
- 60
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $125,843
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 25
Doctoral Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $134,630
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 1
Where the middle half of programs lands
Year‑4 earnings differ by college. This band shows the 25th percentile, national median and 75th percentile among reporting programs.
Median
25th percentile$134,630National median$134,63075th percentile$134,630
1 programs report year‑4 earnings.DECISION CHECK
What to compare before choosing a program
The national result is only the starting point. Price, debt and the college-level earnings spread can materially change the payoff.
Choose colleges offering this exact degree
Narrow one field and credential by location, sector and debt, then compare two to four programs side by side.
1 matchesSelect up to four · showing 25 currently operating colleges
Open the full program search →See the spread, not just the national number.
1Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus$134,630Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations, wages and demand
Official CIP–SOC links show where this field can lead. They do not imply that every graduate enters the same occupation.
Pay and projected demand
Related careers do not share one outlook
Bubble size = annual openings2025–35 national projection
Higher median wage ↑
-7%Projected employment growth →14%
Occupation wages describe workers in these jobs, not graduates of this degree. BLS projections are national estimates and do not guarantee hiring.
Architectural and Engineering Managers$171,270 median wage220,260 U.S. jobs · SOC 11-9041+5.5% projected employment, 2025–35 · 14.9k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$120,810–$262,760 10th–90th percentileAerospace Engineers$134,960 median wage67,710 U.S. jobs · SOC 17-2011+8.3% projected employment, 2025–35 · 3.8k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$86,700–$205,890 10th–90th percentileEngineering Teachers, Postsecondary$109,270 median wage40,270 U.S. jobs · SOC 25-1032+7.8% projected employment, 2025–35 · 3.9k annual openingsTypical entry education: Doctoral or professional degree$61,550–$210,370 10th–90th percentileAerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians$82,890 median wage11,280 U.S. jobs · SOC 17-3021+11.9% projected employment, 2025–35 · 1.1k annual openingsTypical entry education: Associate's degree$59,050–$125,160 10th–90th percentileAvionics Technicians$82,280 median wage18,830 U.S. jobs · SOC 49-2091+9.4% projected employment, 2025–35 · 1.7k annual openingsTypical entry education: Postsecondary nondegree award$49,410–$113,680 10th–90th percentile
BLS May 2025 wages and 2025–35 employment projections. Career context is separate from graduate outcomes.
Same degree, different outcomes
Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. Automated ROI is withheld when an exact program price or personal earnings baseline is required.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | ROI status | Cost context |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Georgia Institute of Technology-Main CampusDoctoral Degree | Atlanta, GA | $134,630 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $12,116 |
This page keeps the field and credential level fixed. Federal categories can still combine multiple catalog programs or concentrations. Automated ROI is limited to associate and bachelor’s degrees because institution-wide annual net price is not a reliable proxy for short certificate prices. ROI is an illustrative scenario, not a federal determination.