2027 Best Value Air Traffic Controller Schools in the Great Lakes Region

[Air Traffic Controller](/majors/transportation-materials-handling/air-transportation/air-traffic-controller/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 3 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for air traffic controller students.
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2027 Best Value Air Traffic Controller Schools in the Great Lakes 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 Sinclair Community College, our #1 best value for air traffic controller in the Great Lakes Region. Sinclair Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Dayton. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,675, while out-of-state students pay about $8,556. Air Traffic Controller graduates carry a median of $12,525 in student loans. Early-career air traffic controller graduates make about $35,348. 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 Lewis University, which ranked #2. Located in the suburb of Romeoville, Lewis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $39,200. Students borrow a median of $24,873 to complete the air traffic controller program here. Air Traffic Controller graduates of Lewis University earn a median of $39,228 early in their careers. Set against $24,873 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 71% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Kent State University At Kent earned it the #3 place for air traffic controller. Located in the suburb of Kent, Kent State University At Kent is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,220, with out-of-state students paying around $21,575. Typical student debt for air traffic controller graduates is $24,730. Air Traffic Controller graduates of Kent State University At Kent earn a median of $44,776 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,730 median debt. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 3 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 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.