by our College Data Analytics Team
[Air Transportation](/majors/transportation-materials-handling/air-transportation/) graduates earn very different salaries depending on where they study. The highest-paying schools turn a air transportation degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 57 schools on the early-career earnings of their air transportation graduates.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose air transportation graduates go on to earn the most.
Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus earned the #1 spot for highest-paid air transportation graduates in the United States. Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus is a public school located in the town of Portales. Students who complete the air transportation program here go on to a median salary of roughly $88,085.
Students chasing top earnings in air transportation will find them at San Jose State University, which ranked #2. Set in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a public institution. After graduating, air transportation degree recipients from San Jose State University typically earn about $80,195 annually.
A rank of #3 makes Hallmark College Of Technology Hallmark College Of Aeronautics one of the highest-paying schools for air transportation. Located in the city of San Antonio, Hallmark College Of Technology Hallmark College Of Aeronautics is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, air transportation degree recipients from Hallmark College Of Technology Hallmark College Of Aeronautics typically earn about $79,086 annually.
Students chasing top earnings in air transportation will find them at Ohio University Main Campus, which ranked #4. Ohio University Main Campus is a public school located in the town of Athens. Air Transportation graduates of Ohio University Main Campus earn a median of about $75,280 a year early in their careers.
A rank of #5 makes Utah Valley University one of the highest-paying schools for air transportation. Set in the city of Orem, Utah Valley University is a public institution. Early-career air transportation graduates from Utah Valley University make a median of around $85,204 per year.
Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach earned the #6 position for air transportation graduate earnings this year. 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 $83,811 a year early in their careers.
Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Prescott earned the #7 position for air transportation graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Prescott, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Prescott is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, air transportation degree recipients from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Prescott typically earn about $83,811 annually.
Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide landed the #8 spot for air transportation salaries this year. 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 $83,811 a year early in their careers.
University Of Nebraska At Omaha earned the #9 position for air transportation graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Omaha, University Of Nebraska At Omaha is a public institution. Early-career air transportation graduates from University Of Nebraska At Omaha make a median of around $96,648 per year.
University Of North Dakota ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying air transportation schools. University Of North Dakota is a public school located in the city of Grand Forks. Early-career air transportation graduates from University Of North Dakota make a median of around $91,399 per year.
University Of North Texas placed #11 among the highest-paying schools for air transportation. Set in the city of Denton, University Of North Texas is a public institution. After graduating, air transportation degree recipients from University Of North Texas typically earn about $73,497 annually.
Liberty University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying air transportation schools. Located in the city of Lynchburg, Liberty University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career air transportation graduates from Liberty University make a median of around $82,092 per year.
Everglades University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying air transportation schools. Located in the city of Boca Raton, Everglades University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the air transportation program here go on to a median salary of roughly $73,957.
Minnesota State University Mankato came in at #14 for air transportation graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Mankato, Minnesota State University Mankato is a public institution. Students who complete the air transportation program here go on to a median salary of roughly $84,367.
Purdue University Main Campus landed the #15 spot for air transportation salaries this year. Set in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a public institution. Early-career air transportation graduates from Purdue University Main Campus make a median of around $81,095 per year.
Florida Institute Of Technology placed #16 among the highest-paying schools for air transportation. Set in the city of Melbourne, Florida Institute Of Technology is a private not-for-profit institution. Air Transportation graduates of Florida Institute Of Technology earn a median of about $78,035 a year early in their careers.
Florida Institute Of Technology Online ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying air transportation schools. Florida Institute Of Technology Online is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Melbourne. Air Transportation graduates of Florida Institute Of Technology Online earn a median of about $78,035 a year early in their careers.
Central Washington University came in at #18 for air transportation graduate earnings this year. Located in the town of Ellensburg, Central Washington University is a public institution. Students who complete the air transportation program here go on to a median salary of roughly $86,851.
Jacksonville University earned the #19 position for air transportation graduate earnings this year. Jacksonville University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Jacksonville. After graduating, air transportation degree recipients from Jacksonville University typically earn about $72,813 annually.
Arizona State University placed #20 among the highest-paying schools for air transportation. Located in the city of Tempe, Arizona State University is a public institution. Students who complete the air transportation program here go on to a median salary of roughly $74,848.
Kent State University At Kent landed the #21 spot for air transportation salaries this year. Located in the suburb of Kent, Kent State University At Kent is a public institution. Air Transportation graduates of Kent State University At Kent earn a median of about $78,760 a year early in their careers.
Louisiana Tech University came in at #22 for air transportation graduate earnings this year. Set in the town of Ruston, Louisiana Tech University is a public institution. Early-career air transportation graduates from Louisiana Tech University make a median of around $86,441 per year.
Ohio State University Main Campus landed the #23 spot for air transportation salaries this year. Ohio State University Main Campus is a public school located in the city of Columbus. Early-career air transportation graduates from Ohio State University Main Campus make a median of around $79,569 per year.
University Of Alaska Anchorage earned the #24 position for air transportation graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Anchorage, University Of Alaska Anchorage is a public institution. After graduating, air transportation degree recipients from University Of Alaska Anchorage typically earn about $77,189 annually.
Lewis University landed the #25 spot for air transportation salaries this year. Set in the suburb of Romeoville, Lewis University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, air transportation degree recipients from Lewis University typically earn about $78,785 annually.
These schools also send air transportation graduates into strong-paying careers this year:
Explore the highest-paying air transportation schools at other degree levels:
The ranking above is published by College Factual, 2026 edition. The methodology measures the salaries air transportation graduates go on to earn early in their careers, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 57 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.