by our College Data Analytics Team
[Flight Instructor](/majors/transportation-materials-handling/air-transportation/flight-instructor/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong flight instructor education at a price that pays off.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 6 schools to find the best return on investment for flight instructor students.
What’s on this page:
The flight instructor program you select can have a big impact on your finances and your future. That is why we built our Best Value Flight Instructor Schools ranking. We score each school on the balance of tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the best value.
Learn more about our methodology
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we offer several rankings, including this Best Value Flight Instructor Schools list, to help you choose. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
Read more about College Factual’s methodology
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in flight instructor, balancing cost against outcomes.
Dodge City Community College tops our 2027 list of the best value flight instructor schools in the United States. Dodge City Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Dodge City. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,650, with out-of-state students paying around $5,850. Median earnings reach $45,427 ten years out.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Madisonville Community College earned it the #2 place for flight instructor. Set in the town of Madisonville, Madisonville Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,728, with out-of-state students paying around $6,432. Flight Instructor graduates carry a median of $10,985 in student loans. Soon after graduation, flight instructor degree recipients from Madisonville Community College generally make around $41,084. Set against $10,985 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #3 makes Tulsa Community College one of the best values for flight instructor. Set in the city of Tulsa, Tulsa Community College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,792, while out-of-state students pay about $9,720. Flight Instructor graduates carry a median of $15,789 in student loans. Early-career flight instructor graduates make about $41,718. That is a strong return on a $15,789 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in flight instructor will find it at Chandler Gilbert Community College, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Chandler, Chandler Gilbert Community College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,358, with out-of-state students paying around $8,959. Students borrow a median of $10,447 to complete the flight instructor program here. Soon after graduation, flight instructor degree recipients from Chandler Gilbert Community College generally make around $46,943. That is a strong return on a $10,447 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in flight instructor will find it at University Of North Dakota, which ranked #5. Set in the city of Grand Forks, University Of North Dakota is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,951, while out-of-state students pay about $15,570. Students borrow a median of $22,769 to complete the flight instructor program here. Early-career flight instructor 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.
Henderson State University landed the #6 spot for flight instructor value this year. Set in the town of Arkadelphia, Henderson State University is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,244, while out-of-state students pay about $10,620. Students borrow a median of $23,234 to complete the flight instructor program here. Flight Instructor 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.
Explore other best-value rankings in majors related to Flight Instructor. Browse the parent area of study.
This ranking is produced 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 · 6 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 6 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.