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 9 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 Florida Institute Of Technology this year. Florida Institute Of Technology is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Melbourne. After graduating, air transportation degree recipients from Florida Institute Of Technology typically earn about $101,156 annually.
A rank of #2 makes Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach one of the highest-paying schools for air transportation. Set in the city of Daytona Beach, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, air transportation degree recipients from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach typically earn about $105,418 annually.
Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Prescott came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying air transportation schools. 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 $105,418 annually.
Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying air transportation schools. Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Daytona Beach. Students who complete the air transportation program here go on to a median salary of roughly $105,418.
University Of North Dakota produces some of the highest-paid graduates in air transportation, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Grand Forks, University Of North Dakota is a public institution. After graduating, air transportation degree recipients from University Of North Dakota typically earn about $81,030 annually.
University Of Central Missouri earned the #6 position for air transportation graduate earnings this year. University Of Central Missouri is a public school located in the town of Warrensburg. Air Transportation graduates of University Of Central Missouri earn a median of about $79,222 a year early in their careers.
Delta State University landed the #7 spot for air transportation salaries this year. Delta State University is a public school located in the town of Cleveland. Early-career air transportation graduates from Delta State University make a median of around $70,632 per year.
Everglades University came in at #8 for air transportation graduate earnings this year. Everglades University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boca Raton. After graduating, air transportation degree recipients from Everglades University typically earn about $95,520 annually.
Purdue University Main Campus ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying air transportation schools. Set in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a public institution. Air Transportation graduates of Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of about $69,976 a year early in their careers.
Looking for a different degree level? Compare highest-paid Air Transportation rankings across degree levels:
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 · 9 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.