by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 19 U.S. colleges awarded 235 degrees and certificates in Air Traffic Controller. Associate degrees are the most popular award, at 50% of graduates. College Factual ranks 9 schools in its 2027 Best Air Traffic Controller Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $54,735 one year after completing, rising to $88,771 after four years.
A degree in Air Traffic Controller involves the study of Air Traffic Controller. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Apply Technical Knowledge And Skills To Air-Traffic Management And Control, Usually With Additional Training At The Faa Flight Control Center In A Cooperative Education Program. Includes Instruction In Flight Control, The Use Of Radar And Electronic Scanning Devices, Plotting Of Flights, Radio Communication, Interpretation Of Weather Conditions Affecting Flights, Flight Instrumentation Used By Pilots, And Maintenance Of Flight-Control Center Or Control-Tower Log Books.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, air traffic controller draws strong interest, with 235 degrees awarded annually. 19 colleges award air traffic controller degrees, an average of 12 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 35.
By level, the 235 awards include 117 associate degrees, 75 bachelor’s degrees and 43 master’s degrees.
Women earned 33% of air traffic controller degrees and certificates in the latest year (78 of 235). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (133) and Hispanic or Latino (44), and international students earned 14.
College Factual ranks 9 schools in its 2027 Best Air Traffic Controller Schools ranking, including 5 for associate degrees and 5 for bachelor’s degrees. It also ranks air traffic controller schools within 6 states. In all, 19 colleges offer air traffic controller programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Air Traffic Controller Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common air traffic controller credential is the associate degree: 117 of the 235 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to air traffic controller call most for Active Listening, Monitoring and Speaking, and for knowledge of Public Safety and Security, Transportation and English Language, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Problem Sensitivity, Deductive Reasoning and Oral Expression.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long an air traffic controller degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 117 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 75 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 43 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to air traffic controller, at 41.3%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 41.3% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 34.5% |
| Some college courses | 11.9% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 6.4% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 4.8% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.6% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.4% |
Source: O*NET Online.
2 occupations are related to Air Traffic Controller, with an average median salary of $50,536; the strongest outlook belongs to Airfield Operations Specialists, at 12.9% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Airline Dispatcher, Airport Operations Crew Member, Operations Specialist and Operations Officer.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to air traffic controller, at 1,262,439.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Airfield Operations Specialists | 1,262,439 | 12.9% |
| Air Traffic Controllers | 512,501 | 1.9% |
Air Traffic Controller graduates earn a median $54,735 one year after completing their program, $88,771 after four years and $80,211 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $54,735 |
| 4 years | $88,771 |
| 5 years | $80,211 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to air traffic controller, with a median salary of $54,884.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Airfield Operations Specialists | $54,884 |
| Air Traffic Controllers | $46,187 |
Air Traffic Controller has 7 similar majors in the Transportation & Materials Moving field, which together award 11,765 degrees a year; the largest are Aeronautics/Aviation/Aerospace Science and Technology, General (6,536), Airline/Commercial/Professional Pilot and Flight Crew (2,560) and Aviation/Airway Management and Operations (2,152). Browse all Transportation & Materials Moving majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Aeronautics/Aviation/Aerospace Science and Technology, General | 6,536 |
| Airline/Commercial/Professional Pilot and Flight Crew | 2,560 |
| Aviation/Airway Management and Operations | 2,152 |
| Air Transportation, Other | 219 |
| Remote Aircraft Pilot | 192 |
| Airline Flight Attendant | 70 |
| Flight Instructor | 36 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
