by our College Data Analytics Team
[Air Transportation](/majors/transportation-materials-handling/air-transportation/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong air transportation education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 3 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value air transportation schools.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the air transportation degrees they offer, see the list below.
For return on investment in air transportation, no school beat Dodge City Community College this year. Set in the town of Dodge City, Dodge City Community College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,650, while out-of-state students pay about $5,850. Median earnings reach $45,427 ten years out.
Wichita Area Technical College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in air transportation, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Wichita, Wichita Area Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,237 in tuition and fees. Air Transportation graduates carry a median of $11,828 in student loans. Early-career air transportation graduates make about $35,358. Set against $11,828 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in air transportation will find it at Kansas State University, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Manhattan, Kansas State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $11,221 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $28,568. Typical student debt for air transportation graduates is $21,500. Early-career air transportation graduates make about $51,198. That is a strong return on a $21,500 median debt. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
The ranking above is published 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 · 3 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.