Air Transportation

Salary data, best schools, and honest ROI assessment

Avg Earnings (4yr)

$48,502

Median Earnings

$83,243

Schools Offering

ROI Grade

Earnings Range (4 Years After Graduation)

25th: $75,314Median: $83,24375th: $90,495

Best Schools for Air Transportation by Earnings

#	School	ROI	4yr Earnings	Net Price	Major Debt	Grade
1	University of North Dakota ND · Public	77	$104,472	$18,551	$22,769	C+
2	Minnesota State University-Mankato MN · Public	62	$103,858	$19,139	$20,500	C+
3	Eastern New Mexico University-Main Campus NM · Public	34	$103,617	$4,904	$17,108	A
4	Liberty University VA · Private	28	$102,096	$29,357	$24,874	C+
5	Ohio University-Eastern Campus OH · Public	62	$99,701	$3,925	$25,000	B+
6	Ohio University-Chillicothe Campus OH · Public	60	$99,701	$5,755	$25,000	B+
7	Ohio University-Main Campus OH · Public	48	$99,701	$21,637	$25,000	B+
8	Ohio University-Zanesville Campus OH · Public	60	$99,701	$5,746	$25,000	B+
9	Middle Georgia State University GA · Public	21	$93,627	$12,361	$22,700	C
10	Eastern Michigan University MI · Public	42	$91,648	$15,407	$29,750	D
11	University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus OK · Public	83	$91,081	$15,300	$25,250	C
12	Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott AZ · Private	76	$90,495	$40,287	$22,000	B
13	Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach FL · Private	74	$90,495	$41,272	$22,000	B
14	Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Worldwide FL · Private	75	$90,495	$18,725	$22,000	B
15	Western Michigan University MI · Public	50	$89,564	$15,273	$27,000	D
16	Lewis University IL · Private	77	$87,197	$17,028	$24,873	C
17	Everglades University FL · Private	24	$86,730	$27,371	$42,750	D
18	Purdue University-Main Campus IN · Public	91	$86,161	$14,600	$21,250	C+
19	University of Dubuque IA · Private	33	$86,081	$23,386	$26,250	D
20	Kansas State University KS · Public	69	$85,147	$19,406	$21,500	B
21	Saint Louis University MO · Private	80	$83,903	$24,398	$27,000	C
22	Westminster University UT · Private	70	$83,574	$27,094	N/A	-
23	Louisiana Tech University LA · Public	64	$83,323	$11,864	$20,375	C
24	Florida Institute of Technology FL · Private	36	$83,243	$35,639	$27,000	C
25	Southern Illinois University-Carbondale IL · Public	60	$81,394	$13,297	$20,500	C+
26	University of Alaska Anchorage AK · Public	54	$80,981	$15,301	$25,000	C
27	Middle Tennessee State University TN · Public	46	$80,424	$13,359	$21,992	C+
28	Arizona State University Campus Immersion AZ · Public	77	$79,821	$14,967	$22,421	C+
29	LeTourneau University TX · Private	50	$79,277	$28,185	$27,000	D
30	Ohio State University-Main Campus OH · Public	77	$79,114	$17,339	$24,842	C
31	University of North Texas TX · Public	67	$78,166	$15,649	$23,573	B
32	Rocky Mountain College MT · Private	35	$77,374	$19,751	$27,000	C
33	Kent State University at Kent OH · Public	30	$76,501	$20,787	$24,730	C
34	Bowling Green State University-Main Campus OH · Public	32	$75,845	$24,022	$25,000	D
35	Oklahoma State University-Main Campus OK · Public	70	$75,469	$17,447	$19,924	B
36	University of Nebraska at Omaha NE · Public	64	$75,314	$13,441	$21,000	C+
37	Central Washington University WA · Public	68	$74,997	$18,476	$19,500	C+
38	Metropolitan State University of Denver CO · Public	46	$72,846	$15,327	$24,356	C
39	California Baptist University CA · Private	53	$72,629	$26,285	N/A	-
40	Farmingdale State College NY · Public	83	$72,195	$10,867	$22,500	C+
41	Indiana State University IN · Public	45	$71,254	$10,873	$24,500	C
42	California State University-Los Angeles CA · Public	80	$70,508	$3,967	$15,132	B+
43	Bridgewater State University MA · Public	59	$70,215	$16,383	$26,939	C
44	Eastern Kentucky University KY · Public	39	$66,943	$11,040	$23,781	C
45	University of Maryland Eastern Shore MD · Public	28	$62,080	$13,338	$27,000	D
46	CUNY York College NY · Public	72	$57,665	$4,456	N/A	-
47	Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Bayamon PR · Private	20	$49,222	$9,284	$10,000	B+

School-by-school analysis: Air Transportation

Editorial breakdowns of how air transportation graduates fare at the top-earning programs in our dataset.

University of North Dakota

ND · Public · $104,472 4yr earnings · $22,769 median debt

Air Transportation is UND's largest program by graduate count (337 graduates) and tells a delayed-return story: $46,193 year-one earnings climb to $104,472 at year four, with a C+ ROI grade and debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.493. Median debt is $22,769. The year-one figure reflects entry-level regional airline wages; the year-four jump to $104,000 reflects career progression once pilots accumulate hours and move to major carriers. Students who understand the aviation career trajectory -- low initial earnings, high long-run ceiling -- will find this program's four-year figure compelling. It requires patience and path conviction.

Minnesota State University-Mankato

MN · Public · $103,858 4yr earnings · $20,500 median debt

Aviation is a notable outlier at Mankato: 105 graduates per year with $45,193 year-one earnings -- modest for a STEM track -- but $103,858 by year four (debt-to-earnings 0.454, C+ grade). The trajectory reflects the FAA-required hours-building phase that pilots work through before reaching regional and major-carrier captain seats. Mankato is one of a small number of universities with a structured collegiate aviation pipeline; the four-year earnings number makes the financial math work even though early-career pay is constrained by the regulatory timeline. Students should plan for the cash-flow gap in years one through three.

Liberty University

VA · Private · $102,096 4yr earnings · $24,874 median debt

Air Transportation is Liberty's strongest four-year earner at $102,096 year-four, with 484 graduates and $50,629 at year one. Debt-to-earnings of 0.491 (ROI grade C+). The four-year trajectory reflects pilots achieving ATP certification and captain upgrades. Median debt of $24,874 is manageable against aviation career trajectories. Liberty's aviation program has real industry credibility and a defined career ladder that the Scorecard data validates.

Ohio University-Main Campus

OH · Public · $99,701 4yr earnings · $25,000 median debt

Aviation (53 graduates) earns a B+ ROI grade with $99,701 four-year earnings against $25,000 median debt (0.251 ratio). The high earnings reflect commercial pilot pipelines where wage growth has been strong post-COVID. First-year earnings aren't reported but typically lag the four-year figure significantly given the hours-building phase. Strong long-run ROI for committed students.

Middle Georgia State University

GA · Public · $93,627 4yr earnings · $22,700 median debt

Aviation (99 graduates) earns $41,028 year one and $93,627 year four with a C-grade debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.553 and $22,700 median debt. The year-four figure of $93,627 is striking — aviation careers have steep earnings growth once pilots advance to commercial certifications. The year-one figure reflects early-career regional flying wages; the four-year figure reflects advancement into higher-pay positions. Aviation is a legitimate growth track at Middle Georgia State given the regional aviation infrastructure.

Fair Value

Is Air Transportation Worth It?

Worth It - With the Right School

Air Transportation offers moderate financial returns. Average earnings of $48,502 four years after graduation are close to the national median for all bachelor's degree holders. The financial case works at affordable schools but gets shakier as tuition rises. Choose your school carefully.

This is a more specialized field, offered at 53 schools in our dataset. Fewer options means less room to optimize on cost, so pay close attention to the financial aid packages you receive.

The top school for this major by earnings is Ohio University-Eastern Campus, where graduates earn $99,701 four years out. But averages hide a wide range - where you attend and what you do with the degree matter as much as the major itself.

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