by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 72 U.S. colleges awarded 2,152 degrees and certificates in Aviation/Airway Management & Operations. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 53% of graduates. College Factual ranks 39 schools in its 2027 Best Aviation/Airway Management & Operations 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 degree in Aviation/Airway Management & Operations covers Aviation/airway Management And Operations. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Apply Technical Knowledge And Skills To The Management Of Aviation Industry Operations And Services. Includes Instruction In Airport Operations, Ground Traffic Direction, Ground Support And Flightline Operations, Passenger And Cargo Operations, Flight Safety And Security Operations, Aviation Industry Regulation, And Related Business Aspects Of Managing Aviation Enterprises.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, aviation/airway management & operations is a popular field of study, with 2,152 degrees awarded annually. 72 colleges award aviation/airway management & operations degrees, an average of 30 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 472.
By level, the 2,152 awards include 20 certificates, 160 associate degrees, 1,132 bachelor’s degrees, 836 master’s degrees and 3 doctorates.
Women earned 20% of aviation/airway management & operations degrees and certificates in the latest year (434 of 2,152). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (999) and Hispanic or Latino (483), and international students earned 119.
College Factual ranks 39 schools in its 2027 Best Aviation/Airway Management & Operations Schools ranking, including 9 for associate degrees, 30 for bachelor’s degrees and 9 for master’s degrees. It also ranks aviation/airway management & operations schools within 18 states. In all, 72 colleges offer aviation/airway management & operations programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Aviation/Airway Management & Operations Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common aviation/airway management & operations credential is the bachelor’s degree: 1,132 of the 2,152 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to aviation/airway management & operations call most for Reading Comprehension, Active Listening and Monitoring, and for knowledge of Transportation, Administration and Management and English Language, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Written Expression, Written Comprehension and Oral Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long an aviation/airway management & operations degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 20 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 160 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 1,132 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 836 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 3 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to aviation/airway management & operations, at 66.7%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 66.7% |
| Master’s degree | 19.1% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 9.5% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 4.8% |
Source: O*NET Online.
2 occupations are related to Aviation/Airway Management & Operations, with an average median salary of $107,359; the strongest outlook belongs to Supply Chain Managers, at 12.7% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Logistics Supervisor, Supply Chain Logistics Manager, Parts Manager and Global Supply Chain Director.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to aviation/airway management & operations, at 421,849.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Supply Chain Managers | 421,849 | 12.7% |
| Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers | 227,314 | 11.6% |
Aviation/Airway Management & Operations 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 aviation/airway management & operations, with a median salary of $138,103.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Supply Chain Managers | $138,103 |
| Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers | $76,615 |
Aviation/Airway Management & Operations has 7 similar majors in the Transportation & Materials Moving field, which together award 9,848 degrees a year; the largest are Aeronautics/Aviation/Aerospace Science and Technology, General (6,536), Airline/Commercial/Professional Pilot and Flight Crew (2,560) 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 |
| Airline/Commercial/Professional Pilot and Flight Crew | 2,560 |
| Air Traffic Controller | 235 |
| Air Transportation, Other | 219 |
| Remote Aircraft Pilot | 192 |
| Airline Flight Attendant | 70 |
| Flight Instructor | 36 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
