by our College Data Analytics Team
[Air Transportation](/majors/transportation-materials-handling/air-transportation/) programs reward a close look at where graduates go on to earn the most. A top-earning program sends graduates into careers with strong starting pay.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 8 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.
For graduate earnings in air transportation, no school beat San Jose State University this year. Set in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a public institution. Air Transportation graduates of San Jose State University earn a median of about $80,195 a year early in their careers.
Strong graduate earnings at Central Washington University earned it the #2 place for air transportation. Located in the town of Ellensburg, Central Washington University is a public institution. Air Transportation graduates of Central Washington University earn a median of about $86,851 a year early in their careers.
University Of Alaska Anchorage came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying air transportation schools. Set in the city of Anchorage, University Of Alaska Anchorage is a public institution. Early-career air transportation graduates from University Of Alaska Anchorage make a median of around $78,143 per year.
Mt San Antonio College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying air transportation schools. Set in the suburb of Walnut, Mt San Antonio College is a public institution. Students who complete the air transportation program here go on to a median salary of roughly $58,229.
Strong graduate earnings at California State University Los Angeles earned it the #5 place for air transportation. Located in the city of Los Angeles, California State University Los Angeles is a public institution. Air Transportation graduates of California State University Los Angeles earn a median of about $63,042 a year early in their careers.
Santa Barbara Business College Ventura earned the #6 position for air transportation graduate earnings this year. Santa Barbara Business College Ventura is a private for-profit school located in the suburb of Bakersfield. Early-career air transportation graduates from Santa Barbara Business College Ventura make a median of around $52,656 per year.
California Baptist University landed the #7 spot for air transportation salaries this year. Set in the city of Riverside, California Baptist University is a private not-for-profit institution. Air Transportation graduates of California Baptist University earn a median of about $48,989 a year early in their careers.
Central Oregon Community College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying air transportation schools. Located in the city of Bend, Central Oregon Community College is a public institution. Students who complete the air transportation program here go on to a median salary of roughly $48,594.
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 · 8 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.