Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering at University of Virginia-Main Campus

UVA's aerospace engineering program sits in an unusual position: it outperforms most programs nationally but trails Virginia Tech by a slim margin within the state. With $77,922 in first-year earnings, graduates earn about $5,700 more than the national median—placing them in the 85th percentile nationally. However, at the 60th percentile in Virginia, they're essentially tied with the state median and marginally behind Tech's $76,856. For practical purposes, these earnings differences are negligible, and selectivity rather than outcome quality likely drives the distinction.

The real story here is the debt picture. At just $14,214, UVA graduates carry roughly half the typical aerospace engineering debt and far less than Virginia Tech students. This creates a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.18—one of the strongest you'll find in engineering. Graduates can realistically pay off their loans within months rather than years, preserving their strong six-figure earning potential.

The significant caveat: this data comes from fewer than 30 graduates, making it less reliable than programs with larger cohorts. That said, the combination of UVA's engineering reputation, highly selective admissions (17% acceptance rate), and demonstrably low debt creates a compelling package. If your child is academically competitive enough to gain admission, this program offers aerospace credentials with minimal financial burden.