2027 Best Value Aviation/Airway Management & Operations Schools in Illinois
[Aviation/Airway Management & Operations](/majors/transportation-materials-handling/air-transportation/aviation-airway-management-and-operations/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 3 schools to find the best return on investment for aviation/airway management & operations students.
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2027 Best Value Aviation/Airway Management & Operations Schools in Illinois
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the aviation/airway management & operations degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Aviation/Airway Management & Operations Schools
Leading the list is Southwestern Illinois College, our #1 best value for aviation/airway management & operations in Illinois. Southwestern Illinois College is a large public school located in the suburb of Belleville. Students from in state pay about $4,230 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,720. Students borrow a median of $10,388 to complete the aviation/airway management & operations program here. Early-career aviation/airway management & operations graduates make about $44,345. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #2 makes Southern Illinois University Carbondale one of the best values for aviation/airway management & operations. Set in the town of Carbondale, Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $13,334. Aviation/airway Management & Operations graduates carry a median of $20,750 in student loans. Aviation/airway Management & Operations 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. The acceptance rate is 87%.
Students looking for strong value in aviation/airway management & operations will find it at Lewis University, which ranked #3. Set in the suburb of Romeoville, Lewis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $39,200. Students borrow a median of $24,873 to complete the aviation/airway management & operations program here. Soon after graduation, aviation/airway management & operations degree recipients from Lewis University generally make around $39,228. Set against $24,873 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 71%.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 3 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 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.
