Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering at North Carolina State University at Raleigh

NC State's aerospace engineering program offers middle-of-the-road outcomes that won't impress nationally but represent solid value within North Carolina. Graduates earn $70,820 in their first year—slightly below the $72,210 national median—yet this places them at the 60th percentile among North Carolina programs. The trajectory is encouraging: earnings climb to $81,589 by year four, a 15% gain that suggests strong career progression in an industry that rewards experience.

The debt picture is where this program shines. At $21,574, graduates owe roughly $3,500 less than the national median, resulting in a highly manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.30. For context, this means graduates could theoretically pay off their loans with less than four months' salary. This combination of reasonable earnings growth and below-average debt creates a fundamentally sound financial proposition, even if the starting salary doesn't hit the upper tier of aerospace programs nationally.

For North Carolina residents paying in-state tuition, this is a straightforward choice: you're getting access to aerospace engineering education with minimal debt at one of the state's flagship institutions. Out-of-state families should weigh whether the premium tuition makes sense when peer programs elsewhere might offer stronger earning potential. The 37th national percentile ranking suggests room for improvement, but the fundamentals—low debt, steady growth, and solid institutional reputation—are in place.