by our College Data Analytics Team
[Air Transportation](/majors/transportation-materials-handling/air-transportation/) graduates earn very different salaries depending on where they study. A top-earning program sends graduates into careers with strong starting pay.
College Factual analyzed 9 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the highest-paying air transportation schools.
What’s on this page:
Where you study air transportation affects what graduates go on to earn. To help, we created our Highest Paid Air Transportation Graduates ranking. We rank each school on the early-career earnings of its air transportation graduates to surface the highest-paying programs.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we offer several rankings, including this Highest Paid Air Transportation Graduates list, to help you choose. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
Learn more about our methodology
Below are the schools whose air transportation graduates go on to earn the most.
Leading the list is Florida Institute Of Technology, our #1 for air transportation graduate salaries in the United States. Located in the city of Melbourne, Florida Institute Of Technology is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the air transportation program here go on to a median salary of roughly $101,156.
A rank of #2 makes Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach one of the highest-paying schools for air transportation. Set in the city of Daytona Beach, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, air transportation degree recipients from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach typically earn about $105,418 annually.
Strong graduate earnings at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Prescott earned it the #3 place for air transportation. Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Prescott is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Prescott. Students who complete the air transportation program here go on to a median salary of roughly $105,418.
Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying air transportation schools. Located in the city of Daytona Beach, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career air transportation graduates from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide make a median of around $105,418 per year.
Strong graduate earnings at University Of North Dakota earned it the #5 place for air transportation. University Of North Dakota is a public school located in the city of Grand Forks. After graduating, air transportation degree recipients from University Of North Dakota typically earn about $81,030 annually.
University Of Central Missouri ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying air transportation schools. Located in the town of Warrensburg, University Of Central Missouri is a public institution. Early-career air transportation graduates from University Of Central Missouri make a median of around $79,222 per year.
Delta State University placed #7 among the highest-paying schools for air transportation. Located in the town of Cleveland, Delta State University is a public institution. Students who complete the air transportation program here go on to a median salary of roughly $70,632.
Everglades University earned the #8 position for air transportation graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Boca Raton, Everglades University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career air transportation graduates from Everglades University make a median of around $95,520 per year.
Purdue University Main Campus placed #9 among the highest-paying schools for air transportation. Located in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a public institution. Students who complete the air transportation program here go on to a median salary of roughly $69,976.
The ranking above is published by College Factual, 2026 edition. Schools are ranked on the median early-career earnings of their air transportation graduates, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 9 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.