2027 Best Value Airline/Commercial/Professional Pilot & Flight Crew Schools in the Southeast 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. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 17 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 Southeast Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Airline/Commercial/Professional Pilot & Flight Crew Schools
For return on investment in airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew, no school beat Florida State College At Jacksonville this year. Set in the city of Jacksonville, Florida State College At Jacksonville is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,657, while out-of-state students pay about $9,631. Typical student debt for airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew graduates is $19,139. Early-career airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew graduates make about $46,748. That is a strong return on a $19,139 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Ozarka College earned it the #2 place for airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew. Ozarka College is a small public school located in the rural area of Melbourne. Students from in state pay about $3,820 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,820. Typical student debt for airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew graduates is $11,778. Airline/commercial/professional Pilot & Flight Crew graduates of Ozarka College earn a median of $48,116 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,778 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew will find it at Miami Dade College, which ranked #3. Miami Dade College is a very large public school located in the city of Miami. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,838, while out-of-state students pay about $9,661. Airline/commercial/professional Pilot & Flight Crew graduates carry a median of $11,967 in student loans. Airline/commercial/professional Pilot & Flight Crew graduates of Miami Dade College earn a median of $40,267 early in their careers. Set against $11,967 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Madisonville Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the town of Madisonville, Madisonville Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,728 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,432 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,985 to complete the airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew program here. Soon after graduation, airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew degree recipients from Madisonville Community College generally make around $41,084. Set against $10,985 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew will find it at Polk State College, which ranked #5. Set in the city of Winter Haven, Polk State College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,694, with out-of-state students paying around $9,818. Typical student debt for airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew graduates is $11,197. Soon after graduation, airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew degree recipients from Polk State College generally make around $50,499. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Louisiana Tech University placed #6 among the best values for airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew. Louisiana Tech University is a large public school located in the town of Ruston. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,125, while out-of-state students pay about $16,866. Students borrow a median of $20,375 to complete the airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew program here. Early-career airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew graduates make about $35,669. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew schools. Located in the city of Asheville, Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,882, while out-of-state students pay about $9,026. Typical student debt for airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew graduates is $18,883. Airline/commercial/professional Pilot & Flight Crew graduates of Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College earn a median of $37,459 early in their careers. Set against $18,883 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
George C Wallace State Community College Hanceville landed the #8 spot for airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew value this year. George C Wallace State Community College Hanceville is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Hanceville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,220, while out-of-state students pay about $9,090. Airline/commercial/professional Pilot & Flight Crew graduates carry a median of $13,146 in student loans. Airline/commercial/professional Pilot & Flight Crew graduates of George C Wallace State Community College Hanceville earn a median of $40,017 early in their careers. Set against $13,146 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Delta State University earned the #9 position for value in airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew this year. Delta State University is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Cleveland. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,605. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete the airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew program here. Early-career airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew graduates make about $51,585. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 100%.
Broward College ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew schools. Broward College is a very large public school located in the city of Fort Lauderdale. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,830, compared with $8,952 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew graduates is $13,110. Soon after graduation, airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew degree recipients from Broward College generally make around $51,328. That is a strong return on a $13,110 median debt.
Guilford Technical Community College came in at #11 for value in airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew this year. Guilford Technical Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Jamestown. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,320, with out-of-state students paying around $7,696. Typical student debt for airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew graduates is $20,501. Airline/commercial/professional Pilot & Flight Crew graduates of Guilford Technical Community College earn a median of $36,124 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide landed the #12 spot for airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew value this year. Set in the city of Daytona Beach, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,097. Typical student debt for airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew graduates is $20,375. Airline/commercial/professional Pilot & Flight Crew graduates of Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide earn a median of $71,183 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 58%.
Charleston Southern University ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew schools. Charleston Southern University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Charleston. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $32,520. Typical student debt for airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew graduates is $27,569. Airline/commercial/professional Pilot & Flight Crew graduates of Charleston Southern University earn a median of $46,288 early in their careers. Set against $27,569 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
Henderson State University came in at #14 for value in airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew this year. Henderson State University is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Arkadelphia. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,244, while out-of-state students pay about $10,620. Typical student debt for airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew graduates is $23,234. Airline/commercial/professional Pilot & Flight Crew graduates of Henderson State University earn a median of $40,131 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,234 median debt.
Auburn University ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew schools. Located in the city of Auburn, Auburn University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,890, with out-of-state students paying around $34,922. Airline/commercial/professional Pilot & Flight Crew graduates carry a median of $21,875 in student loans. Early-career airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew graduates make about $35,856. Set against $21,875 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Auburn University admits about 46% of applicants.
Jacksonville University ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best value airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew schools. Located in the city of Jacksonville, Jacksonville University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $48,150. Students borrow a median of $25,125 to complete the airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew program here. Soon after graduation, airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew degree recipients from Jacksonville University generally make around $45,875. Set against $25,125 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 57%.
Aviator College Of Aeronautical Science And Technology came in at #17 for value in airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew this year. Aviator College Of Aeronautical Science And Technology is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Fort Pierce. Students from in state pay about $40,031 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $16,000 to complete the airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew program here. Early-career airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew graduates make about $32,339. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 17 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 17 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.