Est. Earnings (1yr)
$72,210
Est. from national median (57 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$23,656
Est. from national median (45 programs)

Analysis

The aerospace engineering field typically delivers strong returns, and national benchmarks suggest Morehead State's program could follow that pattern. Based on comparable aerospace programs nationwide, graduates might expect first-year earnings around $72,000—right at the national median for this specialized field. Combined with estimated debt of roughly $24,000, that produces a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.33, meaning graduates could theoretically pay off their loans with about four months' salary. That's a favorable setup for a technical degree.

The caveat here is significant: Morehead State is the only school in Kentucky offering this bachelor's degree, and the program's small graduate cohorts mean we're working entirely from national comparisons rather than actual outcomes data. While aerospace engineering generally produces solid employment prospects—the field requires specific technical credentials that most employers value—there's no track record to confirm how Morehead's particular program performs. The 82% admission rate suggests this isn't competing directly with top-tier aerospace programs at places like Georgia Tech or Purdue, which could affect both curriculum rigor and employer recruitment.

For families willing to bet on national industry trends translating locally, the estimated debt burden appears manageable. But recognize you're making that bet without seeing verified graduate outcomes from this specific program—a meaningful information gap when considering a specialized technical field where program quality and industry connections matter considerably.

Where Morehead State University Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all aerospace, aeronautical and astronautical engineering bachelors's programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs Nationally

Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering bachelors's programs at top institutions nationally

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
Morehead State UniversityMorehead$9,838$72,210*—$23,656*—
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis ObispoSan Luis Obispo$11,075$85,509*$101,270$22,500*0.26
Case Western Reserve UniversityCleveland$64,671$83,639*$79,428$26,410*0.32
University of Colorado BoulderBoulder$16,430$81,835*$92,144$25,039*0.31
University of Notre DameNotre Dame$62,693$81,057*$80,329$24,000*0.30
The University of Texas at AustinAustin$11,678$81,022*$86,315$22,542*0.28
National Median—$72,210*—$25,000*0.35
* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with aerospace, aeronautical and astronautical engineering graduates

Architectural and Engineering Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as architecture and engineering or research and development in these fields.

$167,740/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Aerospace Engineers

Perform engineering duties in designing, constructing, and testing aircraft, missiles, and spacecraft. May conduct basic and applied research to evaluate adaptability of materials and equipment to aircraft design and manufacture. May recommend improvements in testing equipment and techniques.

$134,830/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses pertaining to the application of physical laws and principles of engineering for the development of machines, materials, instruments, processes, and services. Includes teachers of subjects such as chemical, civil, electrical, industrial, mechanical, mineral, and petroleum engineering. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians

Operate, install, adjust, and maintain integrated computer/communications systems, consoles, simulators, and other data acquisition, test, and measurement instruments and equipment, which are used to launch, track, position, and evaluate air and space vehicles. May record and interpret test data.

$79,830/yrJobs growth:Associate's degree

Avionics Technicians

Install, inspect, test, adjust, or repair avionics equipment, such as radar, radio, navigation, and missile control systems in aircraft or space vehicles.

$79,140/yrJobs growth:Postsecondary nondegree award
About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Morehead State University, approximately 29% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the national median of 57 similar programs. Actual outcomes may vary.