2026 Best Value Air Traffic Controller Schools in the Far Western Region

[Air Traffic Controller](/majors/transportation-materials-handling/air-transportation/air-traffic-controller/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 4 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value air traffic controller schools.
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Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
2026 Best Value Air Traffic Controller Schools in the Far Western Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in air traffic controller, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Air Traffic Controller Schools
Leading the list is Mt San Antonio College, our #1 best value for air traffic controller in the Far Western Region. Set in the suburb of Walnut, Mt San Antonio College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,364 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,464 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for air traffic controller graduates is $9,384. Air Traffic Controller graduates of Mt San Antonio College earn a median of $44,391 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in air traffic controller will find it at Green River Community College, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Auburn, Green River Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,711 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $5,263. Graduates go on to earn a median of $50,712 ten years after entry.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Alaska Anchorage earned it the #3 place for air traffic controller. University Of Alaska Anchorage is a large public school located in the city of Anchorage. Students from in state pay about $7,738 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $21,322. Typical student debt for air traffic controller graduates is $25,000. Soon after graduation, air traffic controller degree recipients from University Of Alaska Anchorage generally make around $40,796. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 4 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.