2026 Best Value Aviation/Airway Management & Operations Schools in the The Plains States Region
[Aviation/Airway Management & Operations](/majors/transportation-materials-handling/air-transportation/aviation-airway-management-and-operations/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 6 schools to find the best return on investment for aviation/airway management & operations students.
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2026 Best Value Aviation/Airway Management & Operations Schools in the The Plains States Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in aviation/airway management & operations, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Aviation/Airway Management & Operations Schools
Our analysis ranked University Of Central Missouri the best value for a degree in aviation/airway management & operations in the The Plains States Region. Located in the town of Warrensburg, University Of Central Missouri is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,050, with out-of-state students paying around $18,600. Aviation/airway Management & Operations graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, aviation/airway management & operations degree recipients from University Of Central Missouri generally make around $58,753. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 64%.
University Of North Dakota is a great value for students pursuing a degree in aviation/airway management & operations, landing the #2 spot 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, compared with $15,570 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for aviation/airway management & operations graduates is $22,769. Early-career aviation/airway management & operations graduates make about $75,100. That is a strong return on a $22,769 median debt. University Of North Dakota admits about 77% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in aviation/airway management & operations will find it at National American University Rapid City, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Rapid City, National American University Rapid City is a small private for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $16,065. Typical student debt for aviation/airway management & operations graduates is $38,264. Early-career aviation/airway management & operations graduates make about $47,873. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Dubuque is a great value for students pursuing a degree in aviation/airway management & operations, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Dubuque, University Of Dubuque is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $42,095. Aviation/airway Management & Operations graduates carry a median of $26,250 in student loans. Aviation/airway Management & Operations graduates of University Of Dubuque earn a median of $37,362 early in their careers. Set against $26,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 6 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.
