Air Transportation programs
CIP 4901 · Transportation & Materials Moving · ranked by median earnings four years after completion
66 institutions report graduate earnings for Air Transportation programs (College Scorecard, 2024-25). Across them the median is $83,323 four years after completion, with a typical debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.26× and 89% of graduates earning above the federal earnings threshold. Indicatively, all 77 programs with a benchmark clear the earnings-premium benchmark used by the 2025 federal test (effective July 1, 2026).
| # | Institution | Earn 4yr | % > threshold | Median debt | Debt/earn | Earnings premium | 2 of 3 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of North DakotaND · Master's | $124,835 n=20 | 100% 1yr | $54,742 | 0.44× | Above +115% | – |
| 2 | Purdue University-Main CampusIN · Master's | $120,421 n=33 | 87% 1yr | $23,822 | 0.20× | Above +107% | – |
| 3 | Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona BeachFL · Master's | $113,161 n=375 | 50% | $37,674 | 0.33× | Above +104% | Clears 2/2 |
| 4 | Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-PrescottAZ · Master's | $113,161 n=375 | 50% | $37,674 | 0.33× | Above +84% | Clears 2/2 |
| 5 | Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-WorldwideFL · Master's | $113,161 n=375 | 50% | $37,674 | 0.33× | Above +104% | Clears 2/2 |
| 6 | Northwestern Michigan CollegeMI · Associate | $109,489 n=23 | 57% 1yr | $11,737 | 0.11× | Above +212% | – |
| 7 | Lewis UniversityIL · Master's | $108,264 n=22 | – | – | – | Above +58% | – |
| 8 | Utah Valley UniversityUT · Bachelor's | $106,001 n=204 | 93% | $21,504 | 0.20× | Above +166% | Clears 2/2 |
| 9 | University of North DakotaND · Bachelor's | $104,472 n=272 | 96% 5yr | $21,500 | 0.21× | Above +155% | Clears 2/2 |
| 10 | Utah State UniversityUT · Bachelor's | $103,989 n=35 | 51% 1yr | $25,000 | 0.24× | Above +161% | – |
| 11 | Minnesota State University-MankatoMN · Bachelor's | $103,858 n=57 | 89% 5yr | $19,500 | 0.19× | Above +160% | Clears 2/2 |
| 12 | Eastern New Mexico University-Main CampusNM · Bachelor's | $103,617 n=21 | 86% 1yr | $17,000 | 0.16× | Above +218% | Clears 2/2 |
| 13 | Southern Illinois University-CarbondaleIL · Associate | $103,606 n=50 | 100% 5yr | $20,500 | 0.20× | Above +175% | Clears 2/2 |
| 14 | Liberty UniversityVA · Bachelor's | $102,096 n=236 | 97% 5yr | $22,420 | 0.22× | Above +168% | Clears 2/2 |
| 15 | Ohio University-Chillicothe CampusOH · Bachelor's | $99,701 n=29 | 100% 5yr | $22,067 | 0.22× | Above +171% | Clears 2/2 |
| 16 | Ohio University-Eastern CampusOH · Bachelor's | $99,701 n=29 | 100% 5yr | $22,067 | 0.22× | Above +171% | Clears 2/2 |
| 17 | Ohio University-Lancaster CampusOH · Bachelor's | $99,701 n=29 | 100% 5yr | $22,067 | 0.22× | Above +171% | Clears 2/2 |
| 18 | Ohio University-Main CampusOH · Bachelor's | $99,701 n=29 | 100% 5yr | $22,067 | 0.22× | Above +171% | Clears 2/2 |
| 19 | Ohio University-Southern CampusOH · Bachelor's | $99,701 n=29 | 100% 5yr | $22,067 | 0.22× | Above +171% | Clears 2/2 |
| 20 | Ohio University-Zanesville CampusOH · Bachelor's | $99,701 n=29 | 100% 5yr | $22,067 | 0.22× | Above +171% | Clears 2/2 |
| 21 | Middle Georgia State UniversityGA · Bachelor's | $93,627 n=83 | 95% 5yr | $19,500 | 0.21× | Above +165% | Clears 2/2 |
| 22 | Eastern Michigan UniversityMI · Bachelor's | $91,648 n=25 | 76% 1yr | $29,591 | 0.32× | Above +161% | – |
| 23 | University of Oklahoma-Norman CampusOK · Bachelor's | $91,081 n=31 | 64% 1yr | $20,500 | 0.23× | Above +157% | – |
| 24 | Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona BeachFL · Bachelor's | $90,495 n=1,152 | 49% | $23,250 | 0.26× | Above +168% | Clears 2/2 |
| 25 | Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-PrescottAZ · Bachelor's | $90,495 n=1,152 | 49% | $23,250 | 0.26× | Above +146% | Clears 2/2 |
| 26 | Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-WorldwideFL · Bachelor's | $90,495 n=1,152 | 49% | $23,250 | 0.26× | Above +168% | Clears 2/2 |
| 27 | Western Michigan UniversityMI · Bachelor's | $89,564 n=138 | 98% 5yr | $25,500 | 0.28× | Above +156% | Clears 2/2 |
| 28 | Southern Utah UniversityUT · Associate | $87,845 n=20 | – | $14,178 | 0.16× | Above +121% | – |
| 29 | Lewis UniversityIL · Bachelor's | $87,197 n=135 | 92% 5yr | $25,000 | 0.29× | Above +131% | Clears 2/2 |
| 30 | Everglades UniversityFL · Bachelor's | $86,730 n=74 | 86% 5yr | $34,329 | 0.40× | Above +157% | Clears 2/2 |
| 31 | Purdue University-Main CampusIN · Bachelor's | $86,161 n=102 | 91% 5yr | $19,500 | 0.23× | Above +130% | Clears 2/2 |
| 32 | University of DubuqueIA · Bachelor's | $86,081 n=43 | 100% 5yr | $25,375 | 0.29× | Above +123% | Clears 2/2 |
| 33 | Kansas State UniversityKS · Bachelor's | $85,147 n=58 | 84% 1yr | $20,500 | 0.24× | Above +134% | Clears 2/2 |
| 34 | Saint Louis UniversityMO · Bachelor's | $83,903 n=22 | 76% 1yr | $27,000 | 0.32× | Above +135% | – |
| 35 | Polk State CollegeFL · Associate | $83,657 n=28 | – | $8,750 | 0.10× | Above +148% | – |
| 36 | Westminster UniversityUT · Bachelor's | $83,574 n=25 | 89% 5yr | $26,798 | 0.32× | Above +110% | Clears 2/2 |
| 37 | Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona BeachFL · Associate | $83,343 n=208 | 97% 5yr | $18,750 | 0.23× | Above +147% | Clears 2/2 |
| 38 | Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-WorldwideFL · Associate | $83,343 n=208 | 97% 5yr | $18,750 | 0.23× | Above +147% | Clears 2/2 |
| 39 | Louisiana Tech UniversityLA · Bachelor's | $83,323 n=39 | 100% 5yr | $20,385 | 0.24× | Above +139% | Clears 2/2 |
| 40 | Florida Institute of TechnologyFL · Bachelor's | $83,243 n=86 | 95% 5yr | $27,000 | 0.32× | Above +146% | Clears 2/2 |
| 41 | Florida Institute of Technology-OnlineFL · Bachelor's | $83,243 n=86 | 95% 5yr | $27,000 | 0.32× | Above +146% | Clears 2/2 |
| 42 | Southern Illinois University-CarbondaleIL · Bachelor's | $81,394 n=150 | 94% 5yr | $18,750 | 0.23× | Above +116% | Clears 2/2 |
| 43 | University of Alaska AnchorageAK · Bachelor's | $80,981 n=43 | 93% 5yr | $25,142 | 0.31× | Above +96% | Clears 2/2 |
| 44 | Middle Tennessee State UniversityTN · Bachelor's | $80,424 n=157 | 59% | $20,500 | 0.26× | Above +130% | Clears 2/2 |
| 45 | Arizona State University Campus ImmersionAZ · Bachelor's | $79,821 n=115 | 96% 5yr | $21,375 | 0.27× | Above +117% | Clears 2/2 |
| 46 | LeTourneau UniversityTX · Bachelor's | $79,277 n=43 | 94% 5yr | $26,000 | 0.33× | Above +122% | Clears 2/2 |
| 47 | Ohio State University-Main CampusOH · Bachelor's | $79,114 n=71 | 88% 5yr | $21,731 | 0.28× | Above +115% | Clears 2/2 |
| 48 | Miami Dade CollegeFL · Associate | $78,726 n=23 | – | – | – | Above +133% | – |
| 49 | University of North TexasTX · Bachelor's | $78,166 n=22 | 89% 5yr | $23,573 | 0.30× | Above +119% | Clears 2/2 |
| 50 | Rocky Mountain CollegeMT · Bachelor's | $77,374 n=24 | 84% 1yr | $25,798 | 0.33× | Above +124% | – |
| 51 | Vaughn College of Aeronautics and TechnologyNY · Bachelor's | $76,979 n=95 | 82% 5yr | $23,500 | 0.30× | Above +102% | Clears 2/2 |
| 52 | Kent State University at KentOH · Bachelor's | $76,501 n=117 | 92% 5yr | $23,711 | 0.31× | Above +108% | Clears 2/2 |
| 53 | Bowling Green State University-Main CampusOH · Bachelor's | $75,845 n=47 | 59% 1yr | $21,500 | 0.28× | Above +106% | – |
| 54 | Broward CollegeFL · Associate | $75,637 n=24 | 94% 5yr | $6,500 | 0.09× | Above +124% | – |
| 55 | Oklahoma State University-Main CampusOK · Bachelor's | $75,469 n=75 | 69% 1yr | $18,625 | 0.25× | Above +113% | – |
| 56 | University of Nebraska at OmahaNE · Bachelor's | $75,314 n=28 | 86% 5yr | $21,000 | 0.28× | Above +102% | Clears 2/2 |
| 57 | Central Washington UniversityWA · Bachelor's | $74,997 n=41 | 92% 5yr | $20,000 | 0.27× | Above +76% | Clears 2/2 |
| 58 | Montana State UniversityMT · Associate | $74,026 n=22 | – | – | – | Above +114% | – |
| 59 | Metropolitan State University of DenverCO · Bachelor's | $72,846 n=57 | 90% 5yr | $23,556 | 0.32× | Above +75% | Clears 2/2 |
| 60 | California Baptist UniversityCA · Bachelor's | $72,629 n=17 | – | – | – | Above +89% | – |
| 61 | Farmingdale State CollegeNY · Bachelor's | $72,195 n=66 | 79% 5yr | $18,000 | 0.25× | Above +90% | Clears 2/2 |
| 62 | Indiana State UniversityIN · Bachelor's | $71,254 n=65 | 89% 5yr | $23,480 | 0.33× | Above +90% | Clears 2/2 |
| 63 | California State University-Los AngelesCA · Bachelor's | $70,508 n=24 | 68% 1yr | $14,914 | 0.21× | Above +83% | Clears 2/2 |
| 64 | Bridgewater State UniversityMA · Bachelor's | $70,215 n=67 | 88% 5yr | $25,000 | 0.36× | Above +61% | Clears 2/2 |
| 65 | Texas A&M University-Central TexasTX · Bachelor's | $70,147 n=16 | – | – | – | Above +96% | – |
| 66 | Vaughn College of Aeronautics and TechnologyNY · Associate | $69,808 n=37 | – | $15,250 | 0.22× | Above +84% | Clears 2/2 |
| 67 | Everglades UniversityFL · Master's | $69,589 n=26 | 80% 5yr | $46,629 | 0.67× | Above +25% | Below 1/2 |
| 68 | Eastern Kentucky UniversityKY · Bachelor's | $66,943 n=18 | 96% 5yr | $23,781 | 0.35× | Above +93% | Clears 2/2 |
| 69 | University of Maryland Eastern ShoreMD · Bachelor's | $62,080 n=17 | – | $26,500 | 0.43× | Above +48% | – |
| 70 | Green River CollegeWA · Associate | $60,031 n=17 | – | – | – | Above +41% | – |
| 71 | Community College of Baltimore CountyMD · Associate | $59,093 n=19 | 86% 5yr | $20,000 | 0.34× | Above +41% | Clears 2/2 |
| 72 | Mt San Antonio CollegeCA · Associate | $59,078 n=29 | 76% 5yr | – | – | Above +54% | Clears 2/2 |
| 73 | CUNY York CollegeNY · Bachelor's | $57,665 n=44 | 54% 1yr | – | – | Above +52% | – |
| 74 | Texas State Technical CollegeTX · Associate | $54,585 n=46 | 87% 5yr | $10,917 | 0.20× | Above +53% | Clears 2/2 |
| 75 | Aims Community CollegeCO · Associate | $50,507 n=22 | 100% 5yr | – | – | Above +21% | Clears 2/2 |
| 76 | Inter American University of Puerto Rico-BayamonPR · Bachelor's | $49,222 n=37 | 94% 5yr | $10,000 | 0.20× | Above +199% | Clears 2/2 |
| 77 | Guilford Technical Community CollegeNC · UG cert | $41,061 n=18 | – | – | – | Above +20% | – |
% > threshold is ED's own share of graduates earning above the federal earnings threshold, taken from the best available measurement window (4-, 5- or 1-year) pooled across all nine College Scorecard Field-of-Study releases; a chip marks any figure not on the 4-year window. Earnings premium compares median earnings four years out to the U.S. Census ACS median for a high-school graduate (undergraduate credentials) or bachelor's-degree holder (graduate credentials) in the institution's state. 2 of 3 yrs flags programs below that benchmark in two of the latest three reported cohort-years, the statutory trigger under the 2025 federal earnings-premium test (effective July 1, 2026). Indicative estimates; the Department of Education's official determination may differ. Figures lag the current year by 2–3 years.
| State | Median earn 4yr | Programs |
|---|---|---|
| Ohio | $99,701 | 9 |
| Utah | $95,917 | 4 |
| Illinois | $95,402 | 4 |
| Michigan | $91,648 | 3 |
| Arizona | $90,495 | 3 |
| Indiana | $86,161 | 3 |
| Florida | $83,343 | 13 |
| Texas | $74,157 | 4 |
| New York | $71,002 | 4 |
| California | $70,508 | 3 |
States with at least 3 reporting Air Transportation programs, by median graduate earnings.
Which colleges have the highest-paying Air Transportation programs?
By median earnings four years after completion, the highest-paying Air Transportation programs in this dataset are University of North Dakota ($124,835), Purdue University-Main Campus ($120,421), Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach ($113,161). Earnings reflect College Scorecard field-of-study data (2024-25) and vary by credential level and location.
Are Air Transportation programs at risk under the federal earnings-premium test?
Indicatively, 0 of the 77 Air Transportation programs with both earnings and a state/national benchmark have median graduate earnings below the earnings-premium benchmark used by the 2025 federal test (effective July 1, 2026), under which a program can lose Title IV eligibility if its graduates earn less than a typical worker without the credential for 2 of 3 years. This estimate uses College Scorecard earnings vs U.S. Census ACS medians; the Department of Education's official determination uses its own cohort definition and may differ.
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Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard Field of Study, 2014–15 through 2022–23 cohorts plus the most-recent snapshot (2024-25); threshold pass-rates pooled across all nine releases. Earnings-premium benchmarks from the U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS). Compiled by Ibex Insights. See the methodology.