by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 105 U.S. colleges awarded 2,560 degrees and certificates in Airline/Commercial/Professional Pilot & Flight Crew. Associate degrees are the most popular award, at 40% of graduates. College Factual ranks 61 schools in its 2027 Best Airline/Commercial/Professional Pilot & Flight Crew 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 major in Airline/Commercial/Professional Pilot & Flight Crew involves the study of Airline/commercial/professional Pilot And Flight Crew. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Apply Technical Knowledge And Skills To The Flying And/or Navigation Of Commercial Passenger And Cargo, Agricultural, Public Service, Corporate And Rescue Fixed Wing Aircraft. Includes Instruction In Principles Of Aircraft Design And Performance, Aircraft Flight Systems And Controls, Flight Crew Operations And Procedures, Radio Communications, Navigation Procedures And Systems, Airways Safety And Traffic Regulations, And Governmental Rules And Regulations Pertaining To Piloting Aircraft. Programs May Qualify Individuals To Sit For The Faa Commercial And Airline Aircrew Examinations.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew is a widely-pursued major, with 2,560 degrees awarded annually. 105 colleges award airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew degrees, an average of 24 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 374.
By level, the 2,560 awards include 137 certificates, 1,036 associate degrees, 733 bachelor’s degrees and 488 master’s degrees.
Women earned 17% of airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew degrees and certificates in the latest year (437 of 2,560). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (1,647) and Hispanic or Latino (320), and international students earned 139.
College Factual ranks 61 schools in its 2027 Best Airline/Commercial/Professional Pilot & Flight Crew Schools ranking, including 34 for associate degrees and 23 for bachelor’s degrees. It also ranks airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew schools within 20 states. In all, 105 colleges offer airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Airline/Commercial/Professional Pilot & Flight Crew Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew credential is the associate degree: 1,036 of the 2,560 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew call most for Operation and Control, Operations Monitoring and Monitoring, and for knowledge of Transportation, English Language and Public Safety and Security, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Response Orientation, Problem Sensitivity and Control Precision.
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How long an airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 137 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 1,036 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 733 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 488 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew, at 45.8%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 45.8% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 20.8% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 13.0% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 9.8% |
| Some college courses | 5.3% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 5.0% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.3% |
Source: O*NET Online.
2 occupations are related to Airline/Commercial/Professional Pilot & Flight Crew, with an average median salary of $51,180. Typical job titles include Helicopter Pilot, Captain, Pilot and Check Airman.
The occupation related to airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew with the most projected jobs is Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers, at 1,094,880.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers | 1,094,880 | -1.9% |
| Commercial Pilots | 368,702 | -1.8% |
Airline/Commercial/Professional Pilot & Flight Crew 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 airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew, with a median salary of $58,648.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers | $58,648 |
| Commercial Pilots | $43,713 |
Airline/Commercial/Professional Pilot & Flight Crew has 7 similar majors in the Transportation & Materials Moving field, which together award 9,440 degrees a year; the largest are Aeronautics/Aviation/Aerospace Science and Technology, General (6,536), Aviation/Airway Management and Operations (2,152) and Air Traffic Controller (235). 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 |
| Aviation/Airway Management and Operations | 2,152 |
| Air Traffic Controller | 235 |
| Air Transportation, Other | 219 |
| Remote Aircraft Pilot | 192 |
| Airline Flight Attendant | 70 |
| Flight Instructor | 36 |
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