2027 Best Value Airline/Commercial/Professional Pilot & Flight Crew Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Airline/Commercial/Professional Pilot & Flight Crew](/majors/transportation-materials-handling/air-transportation/airline-commercial-professional-pilot-and-flight-crew/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 14 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew students.
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2027 Best Value Airline/Commercial/Professional Pilot & Flight Crew Schools in the Great Lakes Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Airline/Commercial/Professional Pilot & Flight Crew Schools
Northwestern Michigan College tops our 2027 list of the best value airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew schools in the Great Lakes Region. Located in the city of Traverse City, Northwestern Michigan College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $5,860 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $13,476. Students borrow a median of $14,803 to complete the airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew program here. Soon after graduation, airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew degree recipients from Northwestern Michigan College generally make around $37,988. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Sinclair Community College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew schools. Sinclair Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Dayton. In-state tuition and fees average $3,675, with out-of-state students paying around $8,556. Typical student debt for airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew graduates is $12,525. Soon after graduation, airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew degree recipients from Sinclair Community College generally make around $35,348. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Ivy Tech Community College earned it the #3 place for airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew. Set in the city of Indianapolis, Ivy Tech Community College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,154, while out-of-state students pay about $9,935. Typical student debt for airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew graduates is $11,889. Soon after graduation, airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew degree recipients from Ivy Tech Community College generally make around $40,734. Set against $11,889 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew will find it at Parkland College, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Champaign, Parkland College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $4,284 in tuition and fees, compared with $13,266 for out-of-state students. Airline/commercial/professional Pilot & Flight Crew graduates carry a median of $10,168 in student loans. Early-career airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew graduates make about $40,409. That is a strong return on a $10,168 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Purdue University Global earned it the #5 place for airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew. Set in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Global is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,101, compared with $14,412 for out-of-state students. Airline/commercial/professional Pilot & Flight Crew graduates carry a median of $36,778 in student loans. Early-career airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew graduates make about $54,278. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Southwestern Illinois College earned the #6 position for value in airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew this year. Set in the suburb of Belleville, Southwestern Illinois College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,230, while out-of-state students pay about $6,720. Airline/commercial/professional Pilot & Flight Crew graduates carry a median of $10,388 in student loans. Early-career airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew graduates make about $44,345. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Vincennes University placed #7 among the best values for airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew. Vincennes University is a very large public school located in the town of Vincennes. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,126, while out-of-state students pay about $16,858. Airline/commercial/professional Pilot & Flight Crew graduates carry a median of $14,506 in student loans. Early-career airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew graduates make about $45,976. That is a strong return on a $14,506 median debt.
Indiana State University landed the #8 spot for airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew value this year. Indiana State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Terre Haute. Students from in state pay about $10,258 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $22,322. Typical student debt for airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew graduates is $24,500. Early-career airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew graduates make about $40,112. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 81%.
Purdue University Main Campus landed the #9 spot for airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew value this year. Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of West Lafayette. Students from in state pay about $9,992 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $28,794. Typical student debt for airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew graduates is $21,250. Airline/commercial/professional Pilot & Flight Crew graduates of Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of $57,583 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Purdue University Main Campus admits about 50% of applicants.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale came in at #10 for value in airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew this year. Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public school located in the town of Carbondale. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,334. Typical student debt for airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew graduates is $20,750. Airline/commercial/professional Pilot & Flight Crew graduates of Southern Illinois University Carbondale earn a median of $42,010 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,750 median debt. Southern Illinois University Carbondale admits about 87% of applicants.
Western Michigan University placed #11 among the best values for airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew. Set in the city of Kalamazoo, Western Michigan University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $15,987, while out-of-state students pay about $19,952. Airline/commercial/professional Pilot & Flight Crew graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Airline/commercial/professional Pilot & Flight Crew graduates of Western Michigan University earn a median of $48,966 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Eastern Michigan University placed #12 among the best values for airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew. Set in the suburb of Ypsilanti, Eastern Michigan University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $16,990. Airline/commercial/professional Pilot & Flight Crew graduates carry a median of $29,750 in student loans. Soon after graduation, airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew degree recipients from Eastern Michigan University generally make around $40,846. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
Lewis University came in at #13 for value in airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew this year. Lewis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Romeoville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $39,200. Students borrow a median of $24,873 to complete the airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew program here. Early-career airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew graduates make about $55,718. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 71%.
Kent State University At Kent earned the #14 position for value in airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew this year. Located in the suburb of Kent, Kent State University At Kent is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,220, compared with $21,575 for out-of-state students. Airline/commercial/professional Pilot & Flight Crew graduates carry a median of $24,730 in student loans. Airline/commercial/professional Pilot & Flight Crew 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. The acceptance rate is 86%.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 14 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 14 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.
