Best Value Aerospace Colleges in California

California State University-Long Beach delivers the state's most affordable aerospace engineering education at just $8,931 net cost, while graduates earn $60,839 annually. This represents strong value in a state where SpaceX, Boeing, and Lockheed Martin actively recruit engineering talent. The Golden State's 11 aerospace programs span from ultra-selective Stanford (3.68% acceptance) to accessible San Jose State (76.71% acceptance). Cal Poly San Luis Obispo graduates command the highest salaries at $76,460, nearly $22,000 more than UC Irvine's $54,974 median. California's aerospace industry employs over 500,000 workers, creating steady demand for new engineers across commercial space, defense, and aircraft manufacturing sectors.

Programs

$8,931 – $31,927

Net Price Range

$64,622

Avg. Program Earnings

81.9%

Avg. Graduation Rate

11 Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering Programs

Program rankings
#	School	Net Price	Program Earnings	In-State Tuition	Graduation Rate	Acceptance Rate
1	California State University-Long Beach Long Beach, California	$8,931	$60,839	$7,008	69.9%	40.0%
2	California State Polytechnic University-Pomona Pomona, California	$11,580	$64,087	$7,439	66.7%	55.4%
3	University of California-San Diego La Jolla, California	$11,750	$61,218	$15,265	87.6%	23.7%
4	San Jose State University San Jose, California	$13,741	$68,219	$7,992	64.7%	76.7%
5	California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo, California	$15,624	$76,460	$11,075	85.2%	30.4%
6	University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles, California	$14,013	$60,072	$13,747	92.7%	8.6%
7	University of California-Irvine Irvine, California	$12,840	$54,974	$14,237	86.0%	21.2%
8	University of California-Davis Davis, California	$15,288	$61,516	$15,247	85.1%	37.3%
9	San Diego State University San Diego, California	$16,174	$63,005	$8,290	78.3%	39.3%
10	University of Southern California Los Angeles, California	$31,927	$75,832	$68,237	92.0%	12.0%
11	Stanford University Stanford, California	$12,136		$62,484	92.8%	3.7%

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes Cal Poly San Luis Obispo worth its $15,624 cost?

Cal Poly SLO graduates earn $76,460 annually, the highest among California's aerospace programs. The school maintains an 85.20% graduation rate with strong industry connections in Central California's growing aerospace sector.

How do UC schools compare for aerospace engineering value?

UC San Diego offers the best UC value at $11,750 net cost with 87.60% graduation rates. UCLA costs slightly more at $14,013 but boasts a 92.70% graduation rate, while UC Irvine provides the lowest cost at $12,840 despite having the lowest graduate earnings at $54,974.

Does USC justify its $31,927 premium over public options?

USC graduates earn $75,832 annually, second only to Cal Poly SLO, but cost nearly three times more than most public alternatives. The 92% graduation rate and extensive alumni network in aerospace may offset the higher investment for some students.

Where do most California aerospace engineering graduates find work?

Southern California hosts major employers like SpaceX, Boeing, Northrop Grumman, and Lockheed Martin. The Bay Area offers opportunities with NASA Ames, while the Central Coast benefits from Vandenberg Space Force Base operations.

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Net price reflects the average cost after grants and scholarships for first-time, full-time students. See our methodology for details.