Best institutions to study Airline Flight Attendant
A program that prepares individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills to the performance of a variety of personal services conducive to the safety and comfort of airline passengers during flight, including verifying tickets, explaining the use of safety equipment, providing passenger services, and responding to in-flight emergencies.
4 U.S. institutions graduated 70 Airline Flight Attendant students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 49.0106, a specialization of Air Transportation (CIP 49.01), and leads most directly to the Flight Attendants occupation (BLS SOC 53-2031).
About Airline Flight Attendant programs
A program that prepares individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills to the performance of a variety of personal services conducive to the safety and comfort of airline passengers during flight, including verifying tickets, explaining the use of safety equipment, providing passenger services, and responding to in-flight emergencies.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Airline Flight Attendant program, part of the Air Transportation field, prepares individuals to ensure the safety and comfort of airline passengers during flights. This program equips students with the technical knowledge and skills needed for various personal services, including ticket verification, safety equipment instruction, and emergency response.
Students will develop essential skills such as speaking, active listening, and critical thinking. They will gain knowledge in customer service, public safety, and emergency procedures, preparing them for the dynamic environment of airline travel.
Credentials awarded
What Airline Flight Attendant graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year43 graduates / yr · 3 institutions61%
- Associate's degree19 graduates / yr · 2 institutions27%
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years8 graduates / yr · 1 institution11%
Graduates over time
Airline Flight Attendant completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 404 |
| 2013 | 493 |
| 2014 | 1,053 |
| 2015 | 64 |
| 2016 | 54 |
| 2017 | 57 |
| 2018 | 58 |
| 2019 | 71 |
| 2020 | 73 |
| 2021 | 44 |
| 2022 | 81 |
| 2023 | 53 |
| 2024 | 47 |
| 2025 | 70 |
Top 4 institutions for Airline Flight Attendant, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cypress College Cypress, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 30 | 37% | — |
| 2 | Sinclair Community College Dayton, OHPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 19 | 41% | — |
| 3 | Glendale Community College Glendale, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 12 | 37% | — |
| 4 | Orange Coast College Costa Mesa, CAPublicAssociate's | 9 | 48% | — |
Offered in 2 states
Where Airline Flight Attendant graduates come from. Each state links to all Air Transportation programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 3 | 51 | Cypress College30 / yr |
| Ohio | 1 | 19 | Sinclair Community College19 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 53-2031, Flight Attendants, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Airline Flight Attendant program typically pursue careers as flight attendants. The job outlook is promising, with a growth rate of 9.2% and approximately 19,800 annual openings. The median wage for flight attendants is $67,130, and a high school diploma or equivalent is typically required.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 49.0106
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Flight Attendantsprimary SOC 53-2031 | $63,580 | +9.2% Much faster than average | ~19,800 | High school diploma or equivalent |
SOC 53-1044 | — | — | — | — |
Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- Training
- Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Airline Flight Attendant 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
- Verify that first aid kits and other emergency equipment, including fire extinguishers and oxygen bottles, are in working order.
- Announce and demonstrate safety and emergency procedures, such as the use of oxygen masks, seat belts, and life jackets.
- Monitor passenger behavior to identify threats to the safety of the crew and other passengers.
- Walk aisles of planes to verify that passengers have complied with federal regulations prior to takeoffs and landings.
- Direct and assist passengers in emergency procedures, such as evacuating a plane following an emergency landing.
- Prepare passengers and aircraft for landing, following procedures.
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 - Airline/CIP 49.0102
Commercial/ Professional Pilot and Flight Crew 2,557 graduates / yr105 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
- Flight InstructorCIP 49.0108partial data36 graduates / yr5 institutions
Common questions
What is the duration of the program?+
The program typically awards credentials for at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year.
What skills will I learn?+
You will learn skills such as active listening, critical thinking, and customer service.
What is the job outlook for flight attendants?+
The job outlook is much faster than average, with a growth rate of 9.2%.
What education is required to become a flight attendant?+
Typically, a high school diploma or equivalent is required.
What is the CIP code for Airline Flight Attendant?+
Airline Flight Attendant is CIP 49.0106 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 performance of a variety of personal services conducive to the safety and comfort of airline passengers during flight, including verifying tickets, explaining the use of safety equipment, providing passenger services, and responding to in-flight emergencies.
How many institutions offer Airline Flight Attendant programs?+
4 U.S. institutions reported Airline Flight Attendant graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 2 states, awarding 70 credentials in the year. That is 0.6% of all Air Transportation graduates.
How much do Airline Flight Attendant graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Flight Attendants occupation, which Airline Flight Attendant most directly leads to, pays a median of $63,580 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).
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.
Explore every U.S. college in one conversation
Clema turns plain-language questions into sourced answers across every U.S. institution — earnings, aid, acceptance, graduation, safety, and athletics from IPEDS, College Scorecard, and 10+ federal datasets, built in.
Free for teams up to 3 · No credit card