by our College Data Analytics Team
[Air Transportation](/majors/transportation-materials-handling/air-transportation/) is a field where your choice of school can shape what you earn after graduation. The highest-paying schools turn a air transportation degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 17 schools on the early-career earnings of their air transportation graduates.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools send air transportation graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
For graduate earnings in air transportation, no school beat Utah Valley University this year. Located in the city of Orem, Utah Valley University is a public institution. After graduating, air transportation degree recipients from Utah Valley University typically earn about $84,773 annually.
University Of Alaska Anchorage produces some of the highest-paid graduates in air transportation, landing the #2 spot this year. University Of Alaska Anchorage is a public school located in the city of Anchorage. Early-career air transportation graduates from University Of Alaska Anchorage make a median of around $82,532 per year.
A rank of #3 makes Aims Community College one of the highest-paying schools for air transportation. Located in the city of Greeley, Aims Community College is a public institution. Air Transportation graduates of Aims Community College earn a median of about $81,031 a year early in their careers.
A rank of #4 makes Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach one of the highest-paying schools for air transportation. Located in the city of Daytona Beach, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach is a private not-for-profit institution. Air Transportation graduates of Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach earn a median of about $84,472 a year early in their careers.
Strong graduate earnings at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide earned it the #5 place for air transportation. Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Daytona Beach. Air Transportation graduates of Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide earn a median of about $84,472 a year early in their careers.
Yavapai College came in at #6 for air transportation graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Prescott, Yavapai College is a public institution. After graduating, air transportation degree recipients from Yavapai College typically earn about $72,552 annually.
The Community College Of Baltimore County earned the #7 position for air transportation graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Baltimore, The Community College Of Baltimore County is a public institution. After graduating, air transportation degree recipients from The Community College Of Baltimore County typically earn about $70,318 annually.
Community College Of Beaver County earned the #8 position for air transportation graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Monaca, Community College Of Beaver County is a public institution. After graduating, air transportation degree recipients from Community College Of Beaver County typically earn about $91,170 annually.
Broward College came in at #9 for air transportation graduate earnings this year. Broward College is a public school located in the city of Fort Lauderdale. Early-career air transportation graduates from Broward College make a median of around $61,594 per year.
Mt San Antonio College came in at #10 for air transportation graduate earnings this year. Mt San Antonio College is a public school located in the suburb of Walnut. After graduating, air transportation degree recipients from Mt San Antonio College typically earn about $58,229 annually.
Florida State College At Jacksonville ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying air transportation schools. Located in the city of Jacksonville, Florida State College At Jacksonville is a public institution. Air Transportation graduates of Florida State College At Jacksonville earn a median of about $57,284 a year early in their careers.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying air transportation schools. Located in the town of Carbondale, Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a public institution. Early-career air transportation graduates from Southern Illinois University Carbondale make a median of around $82,555 per year.
Spartan College Of Aeronautics And Technology ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying air transportation schools. Located in the city of Tulsa, Spartan College Of Aeronautics And Technology is a private for-profit institution. Air Transportation graduates of Spartan College Of Aeronautics And Technology earn a median of about $72,870 a year early in their careers.
Central Oregon Community College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying air transportation schools. Central Oregon Community College is a public school located in the city of Bend. Early-career air transportation graduates from Central Oregon Community College make a median of around $48,594 per year.
Texas State Technical College landed the #15 spot for air transportation salaries this year. Texas State Technical College is a public school located in the city of Waco. After graduating, air transportation degree recipients from Texas State Technical College typically earn about $60,824 annually.
Northwestern Michigan College landed the #16 spot for air transportation salaries this year. Northwestern Michigan College is a public school located in the city of Traverse City. Students who complete the air transportation program here go on to a median salary of roughly $37,988.
Vaughn College Of Aeronautics And Technology earned the #17 position for air transportation graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Flushing, Vaughn College Of Aeronautics And Technology is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, air transportation degree recipients from Vaughn College Of Aeronautics And Technology typically earn about $35,525 annually.
Explore the highest-paying air transportation schools at other degree levels:
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 · 17 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.