2027 Best Value Airline/Commercial/Professional Pilot & Flight Crew Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region

[Airline/Commercial/Professional Pilot & Flight Crew](/majors/transportation-materials-handling/air-transportation/airline-commercial-professional-pilot-and-flight-crew/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 6 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew schools.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Airline/Commercial/Professional Pilot & Flight Crew Schools in the Rocky Mountains 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
For return on investment in airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew, no school beat Utah Valley University this year. Utah Valley University is a very large public school located in the city of Orem. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,507, while out-of-state students pay about $18,489. Students borrow a median of $23,500 to complete the airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew program here. Airline/commercial/professional Pilot & Flight Crew graduates of Utah Valley University earn a median of $56,402 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,500 median debt.
Southern Utah University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the town of Cedar City, Southern Utah University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,962 in tuition and fees, compared with $21,192 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew graduates is $12,886. Early-career airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew graduates make about $44,998. Set against $12,886 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
Aims Community College came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew schools. Aims Community College is a large public school located in the city of Greeley. In-state tuition and fees average $2,258, compared with $11,786 for out-of-state students. Airline/commercial/professional Pilot & Flight Crew graduates carry a median of $11,199 in student loans. Soon after graduation, airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew degree recipients from Aims Community College generally make around $45,909. That is a strong return on a $11,199 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Colorado Northwestern Community College earned it the #4 place for airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew. Colorado Northwestern Community College is a small public school located in the rural area of Rangely. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,594, while out-of-state students pay about $7,304. Typical student debt for airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew graduates is $18,127. Airline/commercial/professional Pilot & Flight Crew graduates of Colorado Northwestern Community College earn a median of $56,978 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew will find it at Mesa State College, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Grand Junction, Mesa State College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $9,927 in tuition and fees, compared with $25,124 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,310 to complete the airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew program here. Airline/commercial/professional Pilot & Flight Crew graduates of Mesa State College earn a median of $43,617 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 82%.
Rocky Mountain College earned the #6 position for value in airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew this year. Located in the city of Billings, Rocky Mountain College is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $35,582. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew program here. Airline/commercial/professional Pilot & Flight Crew graduates of Rocky Mountain College earn a median of $41,588 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 70%.
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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 · 6 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 6 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.