2027 Best Value Air Traffic Controller Schools in the Southwest 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. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong air traffic controller education at a price that pays off.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 4 schools to find the best return on investment for air traffic controller students.
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2027 Best Value Air Traffic Controller Schools in the Southwest Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the air traffic controller degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Air Traffic Controller Schools
Tulsa Community College tops our 2027 list of the best value air traffic controller schools in the Southwest Region. Tulsa Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Tulsa. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,792, while out-of-state students pay about $9,720. Typical student debt for air traffic controller graduates is $15,789. Air Traffic Controller graduates of Tulsa Community College earn a median of $41,718 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #2 makes Tulsa Technology Center one of the best values for air traffic controller. Located in the city of Tulsa, Tulsa Technology Center is a mid-sized public university. Students borrow a median of $11,384 to complete the air traffic controller program here. Early-career air traffic controller graduates make about $32,406. That is a strong return on a $11,384 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in air traffic controller will find it at Letourneau University, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Longview, Letourneau University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $37,160. Air Traffic Controller graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Air Traffic Controller graduates of Letourneau University earn a median of $53,569 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Letourneau University admits about 38% of applicants.
Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Prescott came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value air traffic controller schools. Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Prescott is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Prescott. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $43,974. Students borrow a median of $22,000 to complete the air traffic controller program here. Early-career air traffic controller graduates make about $73,296. That is a strong return on a $22,000 median debt. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 4 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.