Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Worldwide
Daytona Beach, Florida · Private Nonprofit · 57.9% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 75/100 · Strong Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Worldwide is a distance-education campus that serves primarily working adults and military personnel. The ROI score of 75 (Strong Value) is driven by exceptional earnings-premium and payback metrics: earnings are 65.6% above the college wage baseline, and payback is 4.4 years - a figure that reflects the aviation and aerospace employment pipeline. But there is a critical asterisk: the completion rate is 20.6%. Only about 1 in 5 enrolled students completes a degree through this campus. That figure is influenced by the stop-out behavior of working adults and military students who transfer credits, take breaks, or complete through other ERAU campuses. Air Transportation (889 graduates) is the largest program, earning $54,827 at year one and $90,495 at year four. Business Administration (401 graduates) earns $66,999 starting with a B+ grade. Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies (101 graduates) earns $81,436 starting with an A grade. This is a specialized institution whose value is tightly coupled to aviation and aerospace careers.
How Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Worldwide scores under our methodology
These are the College Scorecard measures that pull this school's CampusROI score down. They describe the published figures, not the quality of the education, and they are our reading of the data. Check them against your own aid offer and intended major.
- 6-year graduation rate20.5% - The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our score, since a degree that is not finished rarely pays back.
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Worldwide
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $12,097/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $12,097/yr |
| Average net price | $18,725/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $74,900 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $84,131 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $51,400 |
| Median debt at graduation | $23,666 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $251 |
| Estimated payback period | 4.4 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 20.5% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 9,139 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $12,097/year, which covers tuition and fees only. The net price counts books, supplies, and average living costs on top of tuition and fees, then subtracts grants and scholarships. For the average student here it comes to $18,725/year, or roughly $74,900 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $18,216/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay N/A/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $23,666, which works out to about $251 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($51,400) and comes to 0.46, which in our view is comfortably manageable.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $18,216 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $18,777 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $19,002 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $21,057 |
| $110,001+ | N/A |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 pay $18,216 per year - nearly identical to the overall average net price. For military-affiliated students with tuition assistance benefits, the effective cost can be substantially lower than the reported net price.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 30,001-48,000 bracket pays $18,777 and the 48,001-75,000 bracket rises to $19,002. Cost is virtually flat across the lower and middle income range - the school charges everyone roughly the same amount. The 75,001-110,000 bracket reaches $21,057. The compressed cost range suggests ERAU Worldwide relies on flat-tuition pricing rather than income-based discounting.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Data unavailable for the 110,000+ bracket. The flat cost structure observed across lower income brackets suggests high-income students pay similar amounts. For students using employer tuition reimbursement (common in the airline and defense sectors), the actual out-of-pocket cost is often lower regardless of family income.
Earnings by Major
Top 7 most popular majors at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Worldwide with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Air Transportation | $90,495 | B |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $83,749 | B+ |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | $87,797 | A |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering | $95,552 | B |
| Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, General | $41,524 | D |
| Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians | $93,433 | - |
| Homeland Security | $71,014 | B |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Air Transportation
Air Transportation is the flagship program with 889 graduates per year - the largest volume at the school. Starting pay of $54,827 growing to $90,495 at four years reflects the typical pilot and airline operations career arc: entry-level regional airline pay is modest, but captain and senior operations roles generate substantially higher compensation. Debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.401 earns a B grade. The aviation industry has faced persistent pilot shortages, which has pushed regional and major airline starting salaries upward in recent years. ERAU Worldwide graduates enter this demand-side labor market with recognized credentials.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration (401 graduates) earns $66,999 starting and $83,749 at four years, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.306 (B+ grade). At ERAU Worldwide, business graduates typically have aviation or aerospace management contexts - supply chain, operations, or contract management roles within the defense and aviation sectors. Median debt of $20,508 is moderate.
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians
This program targets aviation maintenance technician credentialing, with 101 graduates per year earning $81,436 starting and $87,797 at four years. The A-grade debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.202 reflects median debt of $16,452 relative to strong earnings. Aviation maintenance technicians (AMTs) are FAA-certified professionals with persistent demand from commercial airlines, charter operators, and MRO (maintenance, repair, overhaul) facilities. The combination of low debt and strong starting pay makes this the single strongest ROI program at ERAU Worldwide.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 71.0% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 76.9% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 74.1% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 77.7% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Worldwide’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 57.9% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 520-610 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 520-630 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 18-28 |
| Enrollment | 9,139 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 25.5% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $9,064 |
ERAU Worldwide accepts 57.9% of applicants. The moderate acceptance rate is somewhat misleading given the nontraditional student population - many applicants are adults with prior credentials seeking specific aviation-related bachelor completions.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Its payback period is 4.4 years, and its earnings premium is 65.6% above baseline.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Worldwide (this school) | 75 | $18,725 | $84,131 |
| Fordham University | 79 | $44,338 | $85,569 |
| American University | 74 | $41,943 | $77,370 |
| Bellevue University | 65 | $17,550 | $61,289 |
| Barry University | 42 | $22,613 | $55,966 |
| Baptist University of Florida | 31 | $10,372 | $42,836 |
Who Thrives Here
Working adults, active-duty military, and veterans pursuing aviation, aerospace, or defense-related careers. Net price of $18,725 is accessible. Pell rate of 25.5% reflects the economic diversity of the military and working-adult population. SAT and ACT scores span a wide range (ACT 18-28), reflecting the nontraditional student profile. Students enrolled for career advancement in aviation maintenance, flight operations management, or aerospace business tend to see strong outcomes; students without clear aviation industry context have fewer placement advantages.
Transfer Pathways
This campus is specifically designed for transfer students, military credit, and working adults.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
For most students, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Worldwide pays off. You'd pay about $18,725 a year after aid ($74,900 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $84,131 ten years after enrollment. That puts the payback - the time it takes for the earnings bump to cover what you spent - at roughly 4.4 years, a solid return.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates, manageable debt relative to earnings. What to keep an eye on: its 20.5% graduation rate.
Median debt of $23,666 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $51,400 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.46, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Worldwide: Common Questions
Is Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Worldwide worth it?
In our view, yes - for most students Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Worldwide pays off. It scores 75/100 on our ROI scale. You'd pay about $18,725 a year after aid ($74,900 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $84,131 ten years after enrollment, so the cost takes roughly 4.4 years to earn back.
How much does Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Worldwide cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $18,725 a year, or roughly $74,900 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Worldwide graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $84,131 ten years after enrolling, roughly $42,331 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Worldwide?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 4.4 years for Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Worldwide. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Worldwide graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $23,666, against average earnings of $51,400 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.46. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Worldwide?
The six-year graduation rate is 20.5%. The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.