Best colleges for Air Transportation in California
Ranked by graduate earnings
California Aeronautical University, California Baptist University and California State University - Los Angeles are the top bachelor's Air Transportation programs in California by graduate earnings. California Aeronautical University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $52,656, College Scorecard. Cypress College, San Jose State University and Mt San Antonio College award the most Air Transportation degrees in California: 94, 70 and 67 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 17 California colleges offer Air Transportation and award 532 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Air Transportation program focuses on the various aspects of transportation and materials moving, preparing students for careers in the aviation industry. This program is ideal for individuals interested in aeronautics, airline…
Top 3 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California Aeronautical University Bakersfield Private for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $52,656 | 65 | 30% | $38,309 | $30,024 |
| 2 | California Baptist University Riverside Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $48,989 | 23 | 62% | $26,940 | — |
| 3 | California State University - Los Angeles Los Angeles Public · Bachelor's degree | $46,267 | 27 | 53% | — | $15,132 |
Colleges awarding the most Air Transportation degrees in California
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cypress College Cypress Public | 94 | Not reported |
| 2 | San Jose State University San Jose Public | 70 | Not reported |
| 3 | Mt San Antonio College Walnut Public | 67 | Not reported |
| 4 | California Aeronautical University Bakersfield Private for-profit | 65 | $52,656 |
| 5 | Orange Coast College Costa Mesa Public | 57 | Not reported |
| 6 | San Diego Miramar College San Diego Public | 39 | Not reported |
| 7 | Sacramento City College Sacramento Public | 31 | Not reported |
| 8 | California State University - Los Angeles Los Angeles Public | 27 | $46,267 |
| 9 | Glendale Community College Glendale Public | 25 | Not reported |
| 10 | California Baptist University Riverside Private not-for-profit | 23 | $48,989 |
ShowHide the other 7 California colleges offering Air Transportation
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fullerton College | Fullerton | Public | 15 |
| Southwestern College | Chula Vista | Public | 10 |
| Pacific Union College | Angwin | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| San Bernardino Valley College | San Bernardino | Public | 3 |
| San Diego Christian College | Santee | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Reedley College | Reedley | Public | 1 |
| William Jessup University | Rocklin | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers (SOC 11-3071).
Top skills
What Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers earn in California
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Air Transportation programs in California.
Which California colleges award the most Air Transportation degrees?+
Cypress College (94 graduates a year), San Jose State University (70 graduates a year) and Mt San Antonio College (67 graduates a year) award the most Air Transportation degrees in California, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 17 California colleges offer Air Transportation.
What is the best college for Air Transportation in California?+
By graduate earnings, California Aeronautical University leads among bachelor's Air Transportation programs in California, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $52,656, College Scorecard. California Baptist University and California State University - Los Angeles follow. By degrees awarded, Cypress College is the largest, with 94 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Air Transportation program in California has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, California Aeronautical University tops the list at $52,656. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers earn in California?+
The average annual wage for Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers in California is $133,520 (median $123,780), across about 30,540 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Air Transportation program?+
The Air Transportation program focuses on the various aspects of transportation and materials moving, preparing students for careers in the aviation industry. This program is ideal for individuals interested in aeronautics, airline…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop reading comprehension, active listening, monitoring, critical thinking, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers?+
The national job outlook is about +6.1% growth with around 18,500 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A High school diploma or equivalent is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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