by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying General Aeronautics/Aviation/Aerospace Science & Technology covers Aeronautics/aviation/aerospace Science And Technology, General. A Program That Focuses On The General Study Of Aviation And The Aviation Industry, Including In-Flight And Ground Support Operations. Includes Instruction In The Technical, Business, And General Aspects Of Air Transportation Systems. Read on to learn the important information every general aeronautics/aviation/aerospace science & technology student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering general aeronautics/aviation/aerospace science & technology programs.
Across the country, general aeronautics/aviation/aerospace science & technology draws strong interest, with 6,327 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best General Aeronautics/Aviation/Aerospace Science & Technology Schools ranking analyzes these 81 schools to determine the best overall colleges for general aeronautics/aviation/aerospace science & technology students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of general aeronautics/aviation/aerospace science & technology programs later in this article.
Programs in General Aeronautics/Aviation/Aerospace Science & Technology develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations general aeronautics/aviation/aerospace science & technology graduates commonly enter.
The skill set developed in a general aeronautics/aviation/aerospace science & technology program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a general aeronautics/aviation/aerospace science & technology major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several general aeronautics/aviation/aerospace science & technology degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 15 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 437 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 4,986 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 864 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 24 |
People currently working in careers related to general aeronautics/aviation/aerospace science & technology tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 66.7% |
| Master’s degree | 19.1% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 9.5% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 4.8% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in general aeronautics/aviation/aerospace science & technology careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in general aeronautics/aviation/aerospace science & technology opens doors to many career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to general aeronautics/aviation/aerospace science & technology.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to general aeronautics/aviation/aerospace science & technology.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Supply Chain Managers | 421,849 | 12.7% |
| Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers | 227,314 | 11.6% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of general aeronautics/aviation/aerospace science & technology graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $54,735 |
| 4 years | $69,369 |
| 5 years | $80,156 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for general aeronautics/aviation/aerospace science & technology graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers general aeronautics/aviation/aerospace science & technology grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Supply Chain Managers | $138,103 |
| Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers | $76,615 |
With 81 different general aeronautics/aviation/aerospace science & technology programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased general aeronautics/aviation/aerospace science & technology school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in general aeronautics/aviation/aerospace science & technology, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Airline/Commercial/Professional Pilot and Flight Crew | 2,249 |
| Aviation/Airway Management and Operations | 1,786 |
| Air Transportation, Other | 315 |
| Air Traffic Controller | 189 |
| Remote Aircraft Pilot | 127 |
| Airline Flight Attendant | 47 |
| Flight Instructor | 30 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
