[Air Transportation](/majors/transportation-materials-handling/air-transportation/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong air transportation education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 253 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value air transportation schools.
Finding the Best Value Air Transportation School for You
Where you study air transportation affects both what you pay and what you earn. To help, we created our Best Value Air Transportation Schools ranking. It weighs the cost of a degree against the outcomes graduates go on to achieve, so you can find the strongest return on your investment.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we offer several rankings, including this Best Value Air Transportation Schools list, to help you choose. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the 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.
For return on investment in air transportation, no school beat Texas A And M University Central Texas this year. Texas A And M University Central Texas is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Killeen. In-state tuition and fees average $7,363, while out-of-state students pay about $17,155. Air Transportation graduates carry a median of $23,160 in student loans. Soon after graduation, air transportation degree recipients from Texas A And M University Central Texas generally make around $50,370. The acceptance rate is 100%.
San Diego Miramar College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in air transportation, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of San Diego, San Diego Miramar College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,146 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,002 for out-of-state students. Air Transportation graduates carry a median of $8,098 in student loans. Soon after graduation, air transportation degree recipients from San Diego Miramar College generally make around $41,038. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
California State University Los Angeles is a great value for students pursuing a degree in air transportation, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Los Angeles, California State University Los Angeles is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,164, while out-of-state students pay about $19,764. Air Transportation graduates carry a median of $15,132 in student loans. Air Transportation graduates of California State University Los Angeles earn a median of $46,267 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
Cypress College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value air transportation schools. Cypress College is a very large public school located in the city of Cypress. Students from in state pay about $1,150 in tuition and fees, compared with $12,379 for out-of-state students. Median earnings reach $43,533 ten years out.
Students looking for strong value in air transportation will find it at Mt San Antonio College, which ranked #5. Mt San Antonio College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Walnut. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,364, while out-of-state students pay about $10,464. Typical student debt for air transportation graduates is $9,384. Early-career air transportation graduates make about $44,391. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Orange Coast College landed the #6 spot for air transportation value this year. Located in the city of Costa Mesa, Orange Coast College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,392 in tuition and fees, compared with $11,640 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for air transportation graduates is $8,978. Soon after graduation, air transportation degree recipients from Orange Coast College generally make around $46,306. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus landed the #7 spot for air transportation value this year. Located in the town of Portales, Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,074, compared with $9,054 for out-of-state students. Air Transportation graduates carry a median of $17,108 in student loans. Early-career air transportation graduates make about $88,085. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus admits about 92% of applicants.
Central New Mexico Community College earned the #8 position for value in air transportation this year. Set in the city of Albuquerque, Central New Mexico Community College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,060 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,684. Typical student debt for air transportation graduates is $10,112. Soon after graduation, air transportation degree recipients from Central New Mexico Community College generally make around $34,751. Set against $10,112 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Florida State College At Jacksonville earned the #9 position for value in air transportation this year. Set in the city of Jacksonville, Florida State College At Jacksonville is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,657, with out-of-state students paying around $9,631. Air Transportation graduates carry a median of $19,139 in student loans. Air Transportation graduates of Florida State College At Jacksonville earn a median of $46,748 early in their careers. Set against $19,139 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Northwestern Michigan College landed the #10 spot for air transportation value this year. Located in the city of Traverse City, Northwestern Michigan College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,860, compared with $13,476 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for air transportation graduates is $14,803. Early-career air transportation graduates make about $37,988. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Miami Dade College earned the #11 position for value in air transportation this year. Miami Dade College is a very large public school located in the city of Miami. In-state tuition and fees average $2,838, while out-of-state students pay about $9,661. Students borrow a median of $11,967 to complete the air transportation program here. Soon after graduation, air transportation degree recipients from Miami Dade College generally make around $40,267. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cuny York College placed #12 among the best values for air transportation. Set in the city of Jamaica, Cuny York College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,358, compared with $15,308 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for air transportation graduates is $12,573. Air Transportation graduates of Cuny York College earn a median of $30,349 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,573 median debt. Cuny York College admits about 64% of applicants.
Warren County Community College earned the #13 position for value in air transportation this year. Warren County Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Washington. In-state tuition and fees average $5,460, with out-of-state students paying around $6,360. Typical student debt for air transportation graduates is $8,875. Air Transportation graduates of Warren County Community College earn a median of $22,140 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $8,875 median debt.
Sinclair Community College came in at #14 for value in air transportation this year. Sinclair Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Dayton. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,675, with out-of-state students paying around $8,556. Air Transportation graduates carry a median of $12,525 in student loans. Early-career air transportation graduates make about $35,348. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Mercer County Community College came in at #15 for value in air transportation this year. Located in the rural area of West Windsor, Mercer County Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,310, with out-of-state students paying around $9,174. Students borrow a median of $12,250 to complete the air transportation program here. Early-career air transportation graduates make about $45,389. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Hinds Community College landed the #16 spot for air transportation value this year. Hinds Community College is a large public school located in the rural area of Raymond. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,250, with out-of-state students paying around $7,300. Typical student debt for air transportation graduates is $16,385. Air Transportation graduates of Hinds Community College earn a median of $34,003 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Craven Community College landed the #17 spot for air transportation value this year. Located in the town of New Bern, Craven Community College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,022, compared with $6,630 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $8,924 to complete the air transportation program here. Air Transportation graduates of Craven Community College earn a median of $30,235 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Tarrant County College District ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best value air transportation schools. Tarrant County College District is a very large public school located in the city of Fort Worth. In-state tuition and fees average $1,863, while out-of-state students pay about $8,370. Typical student debt for air transportation graduates is $15,148. Soon after graduation, air transportation degree recipients from Tarrant County College District generally make around $45,158. That is a strong return on a $15,148 median debt.
Southern Crescent Technical College landed the #19 spot for air transportation value this year. Located in the town of Griffin, Southern Crescent Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,516, with out-of-state students paying around $6,084. Students borrow a median of $17,619 to complete the air transportation program here. Early-career air transportation graduates make about $45,062. Set against $17,619 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Ozarka College came in at #20 for value in air transportation this year. Set in the rural area of Melbourne, Ozarka College is a small public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,820, compared with $6,820 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,778 to complete the air transportation program here. Early-career air transportation graduates make about $48,116. That is a strong return on a $11,778 median debt.
Tulsa Community College landed the #21 spot for air transportation value this year. Located in the city of Tulsa, Tulsa Community College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,792, while out-of-state students pay about $9,720. Air Transportation graduates carry a median of $15,789 in student loans. Air Transportation graduates of Tulsa Community College earn a median of $41,718 early in their careers. Set against $15,789 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Dodge City Community College came in at #22 for value in air transportation this year. Dodge City Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Dodge City. Students from in state pay about $4,650 in tuition and fees, compared with $5,850 for out-of-state students. Median earnings reach $45,427 ten years out.
Madisonville Community College placed #23 among the best values for air transportation. Madisonville Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Madisonville. Students from in state pay about $4,728 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,432. Students borrow a median of $10,985 to complete the air transportation program here. Early-career air transportation graduates make about $41,084. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Southeastern Oklahoma State University earned the #24 position for value in air transportation this year. Southeastern Oklahoma State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Durant. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,200, with out-of-state students paying around $16,410. Air Transportation graduates carry a median of $18,660 in student loans. Soon after graduation, air transportation degree recipients from Southeastern Oklahoma State University generally make around $51,797. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Ivy Tech Community College came in at #25 for value in air transportation this year. Ivy Tech Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Indianapolis. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,154, compared with $9,935 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,889 to complete the air transportation program here. Soon after graduation, air transportation degree recipients from Ivy Tech Community College generally make around $40,734. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Air Transportation Schools
These schools also delivered strong value for air transportation this year:
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 253 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 62 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).
[Air Transportation](/majors/transportation-materials-handling/air-transportation/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong air transportation education at a price that pays off.
