Best colleges for Air Transportation
Ranked by graduate earnings
The top bachelor's colleges for Air Transportation by graduate earnings are Eastern New Mexico University ($88,085), Utah Valley University ($56,402) and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Prescott ($54,827), based on median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, among programs with at least 20 graduates a year, excluding online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools and those with a graduation rate under 30%.
- Eastern New Mexico University (Portales, NM): $88,085, 33 graduates a year
- Utah Valley University (Orem, UT): $56,402, 433 graduates a year
- Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Prescott (Prescott, AZ): $54,827, 218 graduates a year
- Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Daytona Beach (Daytona Beach, FL): $54,827, 754 graduates a year
- Everglades University (Boca Raton, FL): $53,331, 78 graduates a year
Compare 214 U.S. colleges offering Air Transportation by graduate earnings, cost, and outcomes. Federal data across 48 states.
Air Transportation programs report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $42,837 (College Scorecard, 2019), and map to CIP 49.01 and the Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers occupation (BLS SOC).
About Air Transportation programs
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 operations, and flight crew roles, providing a comprehensive understanding of the field.
Students in the Air Transportation program gain essential skills in areas such as transportation logistics, administration, customer service, and safety management. Coursework covers a range of specializations, including aeronautics, air traffic control, and flight instruction.
Top 25 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, predominant credential. 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 | Eastern New Mexico University Portales, NM Public · Bachelor's degree | $88,085 | 33 | 45% | — | $17,108 |
| 2 | Utah Valley University Orem, UT Public · Bachelor's degree | $56,402 | 433 | 45% | — | $23,500 |
| 3 | Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Prescott Prescott, AZ Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $54,827 | 218 | 68% | $38,461 | $22,000 |
| 4 | Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Daytona Beach Daytona Beach, FL Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $54,827 | 754 | 67% | $38,899 | $22,000 |
| 5 | Everglades University Boca Raton, FL Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $53,331 | 78 | 61% | $29,513 | $42,750 |
| 6 | California Aeronautical University Bakersfield, CA Private for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $52,656 | 65 | 30% | $38,309 | $30,024 |
| 7 | Kansas State University Manhattan, KS Public · Bachelor's degree | $51,198 | 107 | 71% | — | $21,500 |
| 8 | Liberty University Lynchburg, VA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $50,629 | 633 | 65% | $28,911 | $24,874 |
| 9 | Polk State College Winter Haven, FL Public · Bachelor's degree | $50,499 | 26 | 35% | — | $11,197 |
| 10 | California Baptist University Riverside, CA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $48,989 | 23 | 62% | $26,940 | — |
| 11 | Florida Institute of Technology Melbourne, FL Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $47,019 | 188 | 64% | $33,585 | $27,000 |
| 12 | California State University - Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA Public · Bachelor's degree | $46,267 | 27 | 53% | — | $15,132 |
| 13 | University of North Dakota Grand Forks, ND Public · Bachelor's degree | $46,193 | 410 | 60% | — | $22,769 |
| 14 | Jacksonville University Jacksonville, FL Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $45,875 | 33 | 51% | $25,813 | $25,125 |
| 15 | Oklahoma State University Stillwater, OK Public · Bachelor's degree | $45,682 | 175 | 68% | — | $19,924 |
| 16 | Minnesota State University - Mankato Mankato, MN Public · Bachelor's degree | $45,193 | 126 | 54% | — | $20,500 |
| 17 | Purdue University West Lafayette, IN Public · Bachelor's degree | $45,190 | 293 | 83% | — | $21,250 |
| 18 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion Tempe, AZ Public · Bachelor's degree | $44,481 | 129 | 68% | — | $22,421 |
| 19 | Saint Louis University Saint Louis, MO Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $44,459 | 46 | 80% | $24,886 | $27,000 |
| 20 | Southern Illinois University - Carbondale Carbondale, IL Public · Bachelor's degree | $44,063 | 224 | 62% | — | $20,500 |
| 21 | Metropolitan State University of Denver Denver, CO Public · Bachelor's degree | $43,922 | 127 | 32% | — | $24,356 |
| 22 | Middle Tennessee State University Murfreesboro, TN Public · Bachelor's degree | $43,909 | 240 | 54% | — | $21,992 |
| 23 | Bridgewater State University Bridgewater, MA Public · Bachelor's degree | $43,171 | 46 | 53% | — | $26,939 |
| 24 | University of Nebraska at Omaha Omaha, NE Public · Bachelor's degree | $42,837 | 43 | 47% | — | $21,000 |
| 25 | Farmingdale State College Farmingdale, NY Public · Bachelor's degree | $41,960 | 64 | 53% | — | $22,500 |
Top 5 certificate and associate programs
Shorter credentials, ranked separately so they are not compared with four-year degrees. Ranked by median earnings one year after completion (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology Tulsa, OK Private for-profit · Associate degree | $35,377 | 161 | 51% | $33,187 | $19,186 |
| 2 | Central Oregon Community College Bend, OR Public · Associate degree | $48,594 | 48 | 25% | — | $13,416 |
| 3 | Community College of Beaver County Monaca, PA Public · Associate degree | $45,028 | 24 | 12% | — | $13,000 |
| 4 | Northwestern Michigan College Traverse City, MI Public · Associate degree | $37,988 | 39 | 25% | — | $14,803 |
| 5 | Texas State Technical College Waco, TX Public · Associate degree Small program | $35,008 | 11 | 46% | — | $12,054 |
Specializations within Air Transportation
8 of the 8 6-digit CIP codes under CIP 49.01 have U.S. graduates (NCES CIP 2020, IPEDS 2024–25). Each links to its own page, ranked by graduates.
- Aeronautics/CIP 49.0101
Aviation/ Aerospace Science and Technology 6,507 graduates / yr89 institutions41 states - Airline/CIP 49.0102
Commercial/ Professional Pilot and Flight Crew 2,557 graduates / yr105 institutions37 states - Aviation/CIP 49.0104
Airway Management and Operations 2,098 graduates / yr72 institutions33 states - Air Traffic ControllerCIP 49.0105232 graduates / yr19 institutions15 states
- Air TransportationCIP 49.0199218 graduates / yr10 institutions8 states
- Remote Aircraft PilotCIP 49.0109New in CIP 2020177 graduates / yr26 institutions17 states
- Airline Flight AttendantCIP 49.0106partial data70 graduates / yr4 institutions2 states
- Flight InstructorCIP 49.0108partial data36 graduates / yr5 institutions5 states
Offered across 48 states & territories
The same program, compared state by state. Pick a state for in-state earnings and institutions.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 11-3071, Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers, and its national outlook.
The career outlook for graduates in Air Transportation is promising, with a projected growth rate of 6.1% and approximately 18,500 annual job openings. The median wage for professionals in this field is $102,010, typically requiring a high school diploma or equivalent.
Top-paying metros
Related careers
CIP-to-SOC crosswalk for Air Transportation
The SOC occupations NCES officially maps to CIP 49.01.
Under the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk, CIP 49.01 (Air Transportation) maps to 7 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) occupations, the jobs the U.S. Department of Labor links to this field of study.
| SOC code | Occupation |
|---|---|
| 11-3071 | Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managersprimary |
| 53-1044 | First-Line Supervisors of Passenger Attendants |
| 53-2011 | Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers |
| 53-2012 | Commercial Pilots |
| 53-2021 | Air Traffic Controllers |
| 53-2022 | Airfield Operations Specialists |
| 53-2031 | Flight Attendants |
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk.
Skills & knowledge in Air Transportation programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this program most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
What graduates do on the job
- Supervise the activities of workers engaged in receiving, storing, testing, and shipping products or materials.
- Plan, develop, or implement warehouse safety and security programs and activities.
- Inspect physical conditions of warehouses, vehicle fleets, or equipment and order testing, maintenance, repairs, or replacements.
- Plan, organize, or manage the work of subordinate staff to ensure that the work is accomplished in a manner consistent with organizational requirements.
- Collaborate with other departments to integrate logistics with business systems or processes, such as customer sales, order management, accounting, or shipping.
- Analyze all aspects of corporate logistics to determine the most cost-effective or efficient means of transporting products or supplies.
Common questions
What careers can I pursue with an Air Transportation degree?+
Graduates can work as airline pilots, air traffic controllers, flight attendants, and more.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in critical thinking, active listening, and logistics management.
What is the job outlook for Air Transportation graduates?+
The job outlook is faster than average, with a growth rate of 6.1%.
What level of education do I need to enter this field?+
A high school diploma or equivalent is typically required for entry-level positions.
How much do Air Transportation graduates earn?+
Air Transportation graduates report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $42,837, College Scorecard (2019); the Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers occupation pays about $121,600 on average nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).
What is the CIP code for Air Transportation?+
Air Transportation maps to CIP 49.01 in the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP), the U.S. Department of Education taxonomy used for College Scorecard Field of Study earnings and IPEDS completions.
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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