Compare 21 Astronautical Engineering. programs in the South. Average earnings: $80,245.
With top graduates earning $95,516, Astronautical Engineering stands out as a field where program choice matters more than school name. The gap between the best and median programs exceeds $15K—proof that evaluating programs individually beats relying on institutional prestige.
University of Maryland-College Park's Astronautical Engineering program leads with graduates earning $95,516, well above the $80,531 regional average. Georgia Tech follows at $90,670, while Virginia Tech delivers $87,572—demonstrating that program-level factors, not overall school rankings, drive outcomes in this specialized field.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. University of Florida graduates borrow $15,000 and face just a 3.3% payment burden, landing in the 'Excellent' category. For families, UT Arlington leads with a 7.7% family burden, proving that the best choice depends on who's paying.
Highest program earnings: $95,516
Strong outcomes ($87,572) with 57% acceptance
3.3% payment burden | Excellent
7.7% family burden | Excellent
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | $95,516 | 145 | $19,000 | Excellent | $35,200 | Good | |
| #2 | $90,670 | 197 | $21,672 | Excellent | $32,216 | Good | |
| #3 | $87,572 | 138 | $21,500 | Excellent | $35,325 | Manageable | |
| #4 | Auburn UniversityPublic | $87,182 | 75 | $21,000 | Excellent | $43,605 | Manageable |
| #5 | $86,315 | 168 | $20,500 | Excellent | $26,632 | Good | |
| #6 | $86,250 | 71 | $27,000 | Excellent | $29,276 | Manageable | |
| #7 | $85,253 | 140 | $17,804 | Excellent | $32,258 | Manageable | |
| #8 | West Virginia UniversityPublic | $85,251 | 69 | $22,500 | Excellent | $32,980 | Manageable |
| #9 | University Of FloridaPublic | $84,855 | 133 | $15,000 | Excellent | $18,837 | Good |
| #10 | $82,932 | 44 | $22,142 | Excellent | $25,567 | Good | |
| #11 | $81,589 | 73 | $20,121 | Excellent | $23,000 | Good | |
| #12 | $80,428 | 88 | $22,750 | Excellent | $48,666 | Challenging | |
| #13 | $78,990 | 64 | $17,527 | Excellent | $12,313 | Excellent | |
| #14 | $77,520 | 38 | $20,654 | Excellent | $31,890 | Manageable | |
| #15 | $74,576 | 36 | $17,500 | Excellent | $28,903 | Manageable | |
| #16 | $74,173 | 184 | $18,190 | Excellent | $16,036 | Good | |
| #17 | $72,121 | 28 | $20,500 | Excellent | $30,610 | Manageable | |
| #18 | University Of MiamiPrivate | $71,015 | 8 | $17,500 | Excellent | $37,267 | Manageable |
| #19 | $70,383 | 79 | $20,705 | Excellent | $20,297 | Manageable | |
| #20 | $68,226 | 82 | $20,500 | Excellent | $38,513 | Challenging | |
| #21 | Tuskegee UniversityPrivate | $64,335 | 25 | $27,000 | Good | $53,000 | High |
Our program rankings answer: "Which schools have the best outcomes for graduates of this specific major?"
Unlike traditional rankings that measure overall school quality, these rankings focus on program-level outcomes. A school that's #200 overall might have a top-10 nursing program — and that matters if you're studying nursing.
Data based on 2024-2025 Dept of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
