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 5 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 San Jose State University this year. Set in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a public institution. Students who complete the air transportation program here go on to a median salary of roughly $80,195.
A rank of #2 makes Mt San Antonio College one of the highest-paying schools for air transportation. Set in the suburb of Walnut, Mt San Antonio College is a public institution. After graduating, air transportation degree recipients from Mt San Antonio College typically earn about $58,229 annually.
Strong graduate earnings at California State University Los Angeles earned it the #3 place for air transportation. California State University Los Angeles is a public school located in the city of Los Angeles. Early-career air transportation graduates from California State University Los Angeles make a median of around $63,042 per year.
Students chasing top earnings in air transportation will find them at Santa Barbara Business College Ventura, which ranked #4. Located in the suburb of Bakersfield, Santa Barbara Business College Ventura is a private for-profit institution. Students who complete the air transportation program here go on to a median salary of roughly $52,656.
California Baptist University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in air transportation, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Riverside, California Baptist University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career air transportation graduates from California Baptist University make a median of around $48,989 per year.
This ranking is produced 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 · 5 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.