Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering at Florida Institute of Technology

Florida Tech aerospace graduates start at $69,149—below the national median for aerospace programs but solidly middle-of-the-pack among Florida's six aerospace engineering schools. The 40th percentile state ranking tells the real story: you're competing directly with Embry-Riddle's powerhouse programs just up the coast, which place graduates at $75,000+. Still, Florida Tech's debt load of $26,982 is remarkably low for aerospace engineering (6th percentile nationally), giving graduates breathing room that matters in those crucial early career years.

The trajectory is promising. Earnings jump 25% to $86,250 by year four, suggesting Florida Tech's smaller program (moderate sample size) doesn't hold graduates back once they've gained experience. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.39 means your child would owe roughly five months' salary—manageable for an engineering degree. The bigger question is whether paying for Florida Tech makes sense when University of Central Florida delivers comparable outcomes at likely lower in-state tuition, or whether the premium for Embry-Riddle's industry connections would be worth stretching further.

If your child has already chosen Florida Tech for fit or merit aid that closes the price gap with public options, the fundamentals work. The debt is reasonable, the earnings growth is solid, and aerospace employers clearly hire from this program. Just don't expect it to compete with the state's top-tier programs on starting salary alone.