2027 Best Value Aviation/Airway Management & Operations Master’s Degree Schools
[Aviation/Airway Management & Operations](/majors/transportation-materials-handling/air-transportation/aviation-airway-management-and-operations/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong aviation/airway management & operations education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 12 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for aviation/airway management & operations students.
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2027 Best Value Aviation/Airway Management & Operations Schools in the United States
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
Southeastern Oklahoma State University tops our 2027 list of the best value aviation/airway management & operations schools in the United States. Set in the town of Durant, Southeastern Oklahoma State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,200, compared with $16,410 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for aviation/airway management & operations graduates is $18,660. Soon after graduation, aviation/airway management & operations degree recipients from Southeastern Oklahoma State University generally make around $51,797. That is a strong return on a $18,660 median debt. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a great value for students pursuing a degree in aviation/airway management & operations, landing the #2 spot this year. Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public school located in the town of Carbondale. In-state tuition and fees average $13,334. Typical student debt for aviation/airway management & operations graduates is $20,750. Aviation/airway Management & Operations graduates of Southern Illinois University Carbondale earn a median of $42,010 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Southern Illinois University Carbondale admits about 87% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in aviation/airway management & operations will find it at Middle Tennessee State University, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Murfreesboro, Middle Tennessee State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,266, compared with $31,574 for out-of-state students. Aviation/airway Management & Operations graduates carry a median of $21,992 in student loans. Early-career aviation/airway management & operations graduates make about $43,909. That is a strong return on a $21,992 median debt. The acceptance rate is 69%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Purdue University Main Campus earned it the #4 place for aviation/airway management & operations. Located in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $9,992 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $28,794. Typical student debt for aviation/airway management & operations graduates is $21,250. Soon after graduation, aviation/airway management & operations degree recipients from Purdue University Main Campus generally make around $63,111. That is a strong return on a $21,250 median debt. Roughly 50% of applicants are accepted.
Delta State University came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value aviation/airway management & operations schools. Set in the town of Cleveland, Delta State University is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,605 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for aviation/airway management & operations graduates is $21,500. Aviation/airway Management & Operations graduates of Delta State University earn a median of $70,632 early in their careers. Set against $21,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Delta State University admits about 100% of applicants.
University Of Central Missouri earned the #6 position for value in aviation/airway management & operations this year. University Of Central Missouri is a large public school located in the town of Warrensburg. In-state tuition and fees average $10,050, compared with $18,600 for out-of-state students. Aviation/airway Management & Operations graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans. Early-career aviation/airway management & operations graduates make about $79,222. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 64%.
Lewis University earned the #7 position for value in aviation/airway management & operations this year. Located in the suburb of Romeoville, Lewis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $39,200. Aviation/airway Management & Operations graduates carry a median of $24,873 in student loans. 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. Lewis University admits about 71% of applicants.
Oklahoma State University Main Campus placed #8 among the best values for aviation/airway management & operations. Set in the town of Stillwater, Oklahoma State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,110 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $25,630. Aviation/airway Management & Operations graduates carry a median of $19,924 in student loans. Soon after graduation, aviation/airway management & operations degree recipients from Oklahoma State University Main Campus generally make around $50,993. Set against $19,924 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
University Of North Dakota landed the #9 spot for aviation/airway management & operations value this year. Set in the city of Grand Forks, University Of North Dakota is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,951, with out-of-state students paying around $15,570. Typical student debt for aviation/airway management & operations graduates is $22,769. Aviation/airway Management & Operations graduates of University Of North Dakota earn a median of $104,007 early in their careers. Set against $22,769 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide placed #10 among the best values for aviation/airway management & operations. Set in the city of Daytona Beach, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,097. Aviation/airway Management & Operations graduates carry a median of $20,375 in student loans. Early-career aviation/airway management & operations graduates make about $91,764. That is a strong return on a $20,375 median debt. Roughly 58% of applicants are accepted.
Liberty University landed the #11 spot for aviation/airway management & operations value this year. Liberty University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Lynchburg. In-state tuition and fees average $16,173. Aviation/airway Management & Operations graduates carry a median of $24,874 in student loans. Aviation/airway Management & Operations graduates of Liberty University earn a median of $50,629 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Liberty University admits about 99% of applicants.
Florida Institute Of Technology came in at #12 for value in aviation/airway management & operations this year. Located in the city of Melbourne, Florida Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $45,900. Aviation/airway Management & Operations graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career aviation/airway management & operations graduates make about $47,019. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 58%.
Other Aviation/Airway Management & Operations Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Aviation/Airway Management & Operations rankings across degree levels:
View All Aviation/Airway Management & Operations Rankings >
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 · 12 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 12 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.
