Best institutions to study Airline/Commercial/Professional Pilot and Flight Crew
A program that prepares individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills to the flying and/or navigation of commercial passenger and cargo, agricultural, public service, corporate and rescue fixed wing aircraft.
105 U.S. institutions graduated 2,557 Airline/Commercial/Professional Pilot and Flight Crew students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 49.0102, a specialization of Air Transportation (CIP 49.01), and leads most directly to the Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers occupation (BLS SOC 53-2011).
About Airline/Commercial/Professional Pilot and Flight Crew programs
A program that prepares individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills to the flying and/or navigation of commercial passenger and cargo, agricultural, public service, corporate and rescue fixed wing aircraft. Includes instruction in principles of aircraft design and performance, aircraft flight systems and controls, flight crew operations and procedures, radio communications, navigation procedures and systems, airways safety and traffic regulations, and governmental rules and regulations pertaining to piloting aircraft. Programs may qualify individuals to sit for the FAA commercial and airline aircrew examinations.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Airline/Commercial/Professional Pilot and Flight Crew program prepares individuals for careers in the aviation industry, focusing on the flying and navigation of various aircraft, including commercial passenger and cargo planes. This program is ideal for those aspiring to become airline pilots, copilots, or flight engineers, providing the necessary technical knowledge and skills for a successful career in air transportation.
Learn more about Airline/Commercial/Professional Pilot and Flight Crew →
Students in this program study a range of subjects, including aircraft design and performance, flight systems and controls, navigation procedures, and air traffic regulations. Core skills developed include critical thinking, active listening, and mathematics, ensuring graduates are well-equipped for the demands of the aviation industry.
Credentials awarded
What Airline/Commercial/Professional Pilot and Flight Crew graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Associate's degree1,036 graduates / yr · 68 institutions41%
- Bachelor's degree730 graduates / yr · 33 institutions29%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year470 graduates / yr · 32 institutions18%
- Award of less than 12 weeks166 graduates / yr · 8 institutions6.5%
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years137 graduates / yr · 17 institutions5.4%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate18 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.7%
Graduates over time
Airline/Commercial/Professional Pilot and Flight Crew completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 3,050 |
| 2013 | 1,668 |
| 2014 | 1,741 |
| 2015 | 1,747 |
| 2016 | 1,984 |
| 2017 | 2,028 |
| 2018 | 1,912 |
| 2019 | 2,008 |
| 2020 | 2,074 |
| 2021 | 2,217 |
| 2022 | 2,260 |
| 2023 | 2,027 |
| 2024 | 2,248 |
| 2025 | 2,557 |
Top 50 institutions for Airline/Commercial/Professional Pilot and Flight Crew, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field earnings* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Utah Valley University Orem, UTPublicAssociate'sBachelor'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 374 | 45% | — | $56,402 |
| 2 | Purdue University - Main Campus West Lafayette, INPublicBachelor'sPost-degree cert. | 129 | 83% | — | $45,190 |
| 3 | Parkland College Champaign, ILPublicAward of less than 12 weeks | 79 | 32% | — | — |
| 4 | Auburn University Auburn, ALPublicBachelor's | 70 | 82% | — | $35,856 |
| 5 | Madisonville Community College Madisonville, KYPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of less than 12 weeksAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 68 | 49% | — | — |
| 6 | Aims Community College Greeley, COPublicAward of less than 12 weeksAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 59 | 40% | — | — |
| 7 | Ozarka College Melbourne, ARPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 57 | 47% | — | — |
| 8 | California Aeronautical University Bakersfield, CAPrivate for-profitBachelor'sAssociate's | 56 | 30% | $38,309 | $52,656 |
| 9 | Treasure Valley Community College Ontario, ORPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 55 | 37% | — | — |
| 10 | Guilford Technical Community College Jamestown, NCPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 53 | 31% | — | — |
| 11 | Tarrant County College District Fort Worth, TXPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 51 | 34% | — | — |
| 12 | Cypress College Cypress, CAPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 50 | 37% | — | — |
| 13 | Mt San Antonio College Walnut, CAPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 48 | 45% | — | — |
| 14 | Broward College Fort Lauderdale, FLPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 48 | 39% | — | — |
| 15 | University of Dubuque Dubuque, IAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 48 | 40% | $21,324 | $37,362 |
| 16 | Ozarks Technical Community College Springfield, MOPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 48 | 33% | — | — |
| 17 | Central Oregon Community College Bend, ORPublicAssociate's | 48 | 25% | — | $48,594 |
| 18 | Southern Illinois University - Carbondale Carbondale, ILPublicAssociate's | 47 | 62% | — | $44,063 |
| 19 | Asheville - Buncombe Technical Community College Asheville, NCPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 45 | 40% | — | — |
| 20 | Colorado Northwestern Community College Rangely, COPublicAward of less than 12 weeksAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 42 | 34% | — | — |
| 21 | Orange Coast College Costa Mesa, CAPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 34 | 48% | — | — |
| 22 | Northwestern Michigan College Traverse City, MIPublicAssociate's | 34 | 25% | — | $37,988 |
| 23 | Mercer County Community College West Windsor, NJPublicAssociate's | 34 | 25% | — | — |
| 24 | University of Central Missouri Warrensburg, MOPublicBachelor'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 33 | 54% | — | $38,283 |
| 25 | Miami Dade College Miami, FLPublicAssociate's | 31 | 46% | — | — |
| 26 | Aviator College of Aeronautical Science and Technology Fort Pierce, FLPrivate for-profitAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 31 | — | $41,582 | $32,339 |
| 27 | Sinclair Community College Dayton, OHPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearBachelor'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 30 | 41% | — | — |
| 28 | Baylor University Waco, TXPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 30 | 80% | $35,682 | — |
| 29 | Lone Star College System The Woodlands, TXPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 29 | 21% | — | — |
| 30 | Rocky Mountain College Billings, MTPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 28 | 48% | $17,369 | $41,588 |
| 31 | Mauna Loa Helicopters Kailua Kona, HIPrivate for-profitAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 28 | 92% | $112,070 | — |
| 32 | Central Washington University Ellensburg, WAPublicBachelor's | 27 | 54% | — | $40,025 |
| 33 | Big Bend Community College Moses Lake, WAPublicAssociate's | 26 | 42% | — | — |
| 34 | Texas A&M University - Central Texas Killeen, TXPublicBachelor's | 25 | — | — | — |
| 35 | San Diego Miramar College San Diego, CAPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 24 | 48% | — | — |
| 36 | Lane Community College Eugene, ORPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 22 | 20% | — | — |
| 37 | Jacksonville University Jacksonville, FLPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 21 | 51% | $25,813 | $45,875 |
| 38 | Kansas State University Manhattan, KSPublicAssociate's | 20 | 71% | — | $51,198 |
| 39 | Community College of Baltimore County Baltimore, MDPublicAssociate's | 20 | 19% | — | — |
| 40 | George C Wallace State Community College - Hanceville Hanceville, ALPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 19 | 51% | — | — |
| 41 | Indiana State University Terre Haute, INPublicBachelor's | 19 | 43% | — | $40,112 |
| 42 | Southern Utah University Cedar City, UTPublicAssociate's | 19 | 61% | — | — |
| 43 | California Baptist University Riverside, CAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 18 | 62% | $26,940 | $48,989 |
| 44 | Sacramento City College Sacramento, CAPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 18 | 33% | — | — |
| 45 | College of Southern Nevada Las Vegas, NVPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 18 | 19% | — | — |
| 46 | Chandler - Gilbert Community College Chandler, AZPublicAssociate's | 18 | 30% | — | — |
| 47 | Louisiana Tech University Ruston, LAPublicBachelor's | 17 | 64% | — | $35,669 |
| 48 | Vincennes University Vincennes, INPublicAssociate's | 16 | 39% | — | — |
| 49 | Lake Superior College Duluth, MNPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 16 | 42% | — | — |
| 50 | Clover Park Technical College Lakewood, WAPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of less than 12 weeks | 16 | 43% | — | — |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Air Transportation field (CIP 49.01) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 37 states
Where Airline/Commercial/Professional Pilot and Flight Crew graduates come from. Each state links to all Air Transportation programs offered there.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 53-2011, Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Airline/Commercial/Professional Pilot and Flight Crew program can pursue careers as airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers. The job outlook is promising, with an expected growth rate of 3.9% and approximately 11,700 annual openings. The median wage for these positions is around $226,600, typically requiring a bachelor's degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 49.0102
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineersprimary SOC 53-2011 | $232,140 | +3.9% About as fast as average | ~11,700 | Bachelor's degree |
Commercial Pilots SOC 53-2012 | $123,220 | +5.1% Faster than average | ~6,600 | Postsecondary nondegree award |
Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
- Experience
- A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Airline/Commercial/Professional Pilot and Flight Crew programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
What graduates do on the job
- Use instrumentation to guide flights when visibility is poor.
- Start engines, operate controls, and pilot airplanes to transport passengers, mail, or freight, adhering to flight plans, regulations, and procedures.
- Work as part of a flight team with other crew members, especially during takeoffs and landings.
- Respond to and report in-flight emergencies and malfunctions.
- Inspect aircraft for defects and malfunctions, according to pre-flight checklists.
- Contact control towers for takeoff clearances, arrival instructions, and other information, using radio equipment.
Tools and technology used
Other Air Transportation specializations
The 7 other 6-digit CIP codes under Air Transportation (CIP 49.01).
- Aeronautics/CIP 49.0101
Aviation/ Aerospace Science and Technology 6,507 graduates / yr89 institutions - Aviation/CIP 49.0104
Airway Management and Operations 2,098 graduates / yr72 institutions - Air Traffic ControllerCIP 49.0105232 graduates / yr19 institutions
- Air TransportationCIP 49.0199218 graduates / yr10 institutions
- Remote Aircraft PilotCIP 49.0109177 graduates / yr26 institutions
- Airline Flight AttendantCIP 49.0106partial data70 graduates / yr4 institutions
- Flight InstructorCIP 49.0108partial data36 graduates / yr5 institutions
Common questions
What degrees can I earn in this program?+
You can earn an associate's degree, bachelor's degree, or shorter awards depending on your training.
What skills will I develop?+
You will develop skills in critical thinking, active listening, and mathematics, among others.
What is the job outlook for pilots?+
The job outlook for pilots is about as fast as average, with 11,700 annual openings.
What types of aircraft will I learn to fly?+
You will learn to fly commercial passenger and cargo aircraft, as well as other types like agricultural and rescue planes.
What is the CIP code for Airline/Commercial/Professional Pilot and Flight Crew?+
Airline/Commercial/Professional Pilot and Flight Crew is CIP 49.0102 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Air Transportation (CIP 49.01). NCES defines it as: A program that prepares individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills to the flying and/or navigation of commercial passenger and cargo, agricultural, public service, corporate and rescue fixed wing aircraft. Includes instruction in principles of aircraft design and performance, aircraft flight systems and controls, flight crew operations and procedures, radio communications, navigation procedures and systems, airways safety and traffic regulations, and governmental rules and regulations pertaining to piloting aircraft. Programs may qualify individuals to sit for the FAA commercial and airline aircrew examinations.
How many institutions offer Airline/Commercial/Professional Pilot and Flight Crew programs?+
105 U.S. institutions reported Airline/Commercial/Professional Pilot and Flight Crew graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 37 states, awarding 2,557 credentials in the year. That is 21.5% of all Air Transportation graduates.
How much do Airline/Commercial/Professional Pilot and Flight Crew graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers occupation, which Airline/Commercial/Professional Pilot and Flight Crew most directly leads to, pays a median of $232,140 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Air Transportation field report median earnings of $40,846 one year after graduation (College Scorecard).
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.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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