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. The highest-paying schools turn a air transportation degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
College Factual analyzed 3 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the highest-paying air transportation schools.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose air transportation graduates go on to earn the most.
Western Michigan University earned the #1 spot for highest-paid air transportation graduates in Michigan. Western Michigan University is a public school located in the city of Kalamazoo. Students who complete the air transportation program here go on to a median salary of roughly $77,215.
Eastern Michigan University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying air transportation schools. Set in the suburb of Ypsilanti, Eastern Michigan University is a public institution. Early-career air transportation graduates from Eastern Michigan University make a median of around $40,846 per year.
Students chasing top earnings in air transportation will find them at Northwestern Michigan College, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Traverse City, Northwestern Michigan College is a public institution. After graduating, air transportation degree recipients from Northwestern Michigan College typically earn about $37,988 annually.
This list is compiled 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 · 3 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.