Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering at University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

The University of Minnesota's aerospace engineering program sits in an uncomfortable spot: its $68,495 starting salary trails the national median by roughly $4,000, landing it in just the 16th percentile nationally. That's concerning for a field that typically commands strong entry-level pay. While graduates do see solid 16% earnings growth to $79,301 by year four, they're starting from behind. The debt load of $26,250 is manageable relative to first-year earnings, but you're paying typical debt for below-average outcomes in what should be a lucrative field.

The state context offers little reassurance. Minnesota has only one aerospace engineering program, so the 60th percentile ranking is meaningless—this is your only in-state option. For comparison, aerospace graduates at top programs nationally are earning $76,000+ straight out of college. The university's 77% admission rate and mid-tier SAT scores suggest it may not attract the same caliber of aerospace talent or industry connections as more selective programs.

If your child is set on aerospace engineering and needs in-state tuition, this works—the debt won't be crushing. But if they're willing to look out of state or consider mechanical engineering (which offers broader job prospects), they'd likely see better returns. At these earnings levels, they're essentially getting paid like an above-average mechanical engineer, not a specialized aerospace graduate.