Best Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering Degrees in California by ROI

Colleges in California ranked by estimated 20-year net return on investment — calculated from median graduate earnings, total attendance cost, and average student debt. Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.

Programs in California

10

Colleges with salary data

Average 20-Yr Net ROI

+$594,229

Across California programs

Average Annual Cost

$35,778

Cost of attendance

# College 20-Yr Net ROI Median Salary Annual Cost Avg Debt
1 California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

Grad rate: 85.3%

 +$797,513 $89,378 $29,918 $22,500 Full ROI →
2 San Jose State University

Grad rate: 66.2%

 +$782,620 $86,270 $25,695 N/A Full ROI →
3 University of Southern California

Grad rate: 92.2%

 +$623,449 $91,535 $84,678 $21,140 Full ROI →
4 San Diego State University

Grad rate: 78.1%

 +$619,602 $80,004 $27,357 $23,000 Full ROI →
5 University of California-San Diego

Grad rate: 87.7%

 +$568,958 $79,151 $36,325 $21,305 Full ROI →
6 California State Polytechnic University-Pomona

Grad rate: 66.5%

 +$555,933 $76,106 $22,672 $26,295 Full ROI →
7 University of California-Irvine

Grad rate: 86.3%

 +$544,173 $77,712 $36,121 $18,950 Full ROI →
8 University of California-Davis

Grad rate: 85.7%

 +$508,463 $76,323 $38,067 $19,058 Full ROI →
9 California State University-Long Beach

Grad rate: 71.3%

 +$499,925 $72,766 $20,310 $25,300 Full ROI →
10 University of California-Los Angeles

Grad rate: 92.6%

 +$441,658 $72,694 $36,643 $19,000 Full ROI →

How ROI is calculated

20-Year Net ROI = Gross Earnings (salary × 20) − Total Degree Cost (annual cost × programme years) − Debt Payoff (avg debt × 1.35) − Baseline Opportunity Cost ($42,000 × 20 = $840,000)

A positive ROI means a degree in this field pays off relative to entering the workforce without one. Data from the U.S. College Scorecard.

Find Best Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering Degrees by State

Browse Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering programs ranked by 20-year ROI in every state that offers this degree.

Alabama Best Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering → Arizona Best Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering → California Current state Colorado Best Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering → Florida Best Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering → Georgia Best Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering → Illinois Best Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering → Indiana Best Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering → Iowa Best Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering → Kansas Best Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering → Maryland Best Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering → Massachusetts Best Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering → Michigan Best Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering → Minnesota Best Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering → Mississippi Best Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering → Missouri Best Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering → New Mexico Best Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering → New York Best Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering → North Carolina Best Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering → Ohio Best Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering → Oklahoma Best Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering → Tennessee Best Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering → Texas Best Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering → Virginia Best Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering → Washington Best Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering → West Virginia Best Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering →