Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering at University of California-Los Angeles

UCLA's aerospace engineering program produces graduates earning slightly below both national and California medians—landing at the 40th percentile statewide. That's surprising given UCLA's elite reputation and 9% admission rate. For context, Cal Poly SLO aerospace grads earn $85,509 four years out, while USC grads reach $78,980. UCLA's $93,464 four-year earnings trail most peer programs in California.

The bright spot here is debt: just $19,000 median, which is exceptionally low for any engineering program and translates to a manageable 0.27 debt-to-earnings ratio. That low debt load means graduates have financial flexibility even if their starting salaries lag behind competitors. The 32% earnings growth from year one to year four suggests solid career trajectory, though graduates start from a lower baseline than many California aerospace programs.

Here's the catch: this data comes from fewer than 30 graduates, which makes these numbers less reliable than usual. The small sample could mean a few outliers skewed the results, or it might reflect that UCLA aerospace grads are pursuing graduate degrees (common in aerospace) rather than immediately joining the workforce. If your child is set on aerospace and considering UCLA, the low debt is genuinely attractive, but other California programs appear to deliver stronger early-career earnings without dramatically higher debt burdens.