Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering at University of Kansas

University of Kansas aerospace engineering graduates start with $71,244—trailing the national median by just a thousand dollars but outpacing the only other Kansas program (Wichita State) by nearly $10,000. That 60th percentile state ranking matters more than it might seem: Kansas families choosing between two in-state options will find KU delivers stronger immediate returns, especially considering the relatively accessible $25,000 debt load. The 0.35 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates enter the workforce owing about four months' salary, a manageable burden for a technical field.

The caveat here is significant: with fewer than 30 graduates in the cohort, these numbers could shift considerably year to year. A few graduates landing at Boeing versus smaller regional firms could swing median earnings by thousands. That said, the program's position relative to its in-state competitor has been consistent, and the debt load sits right at the national median—neither particularly high nor impressively low.

For Kansas residents, KU's aerospace program offers solid value: competitive earnings potential without the debt burden that plagues many engineering programs at private institutions. Out-of-state families should weigh the numbers more carefully, as the roughly $1,000 earnings gap below the national median could compound when paying non-resident tuition. The small cohort size means you're betting on a boutique program rather than a high-volume aerospace pipeline, but the debt picture keeps that risk reasonable.