by our College Data Analytics Team
[Air Transportation](/majors/transportation-materials-handling/air-transportation/) is a field where your choice of school can shape what you earn after graduation. A top-earning program sends graduates into careers with strong starting pay.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 3 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.
Our analysis ranked Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Prescott the top school for air transportation graduate earnings in Arizona. Located in the city of Prescott, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Prescott is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the air transportation program here go on to a median salary of roughly $83,811.
Yavapai College produces some of the highest-paid graduates in air transportation, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Prescott, Yavapai College is a public institution. Early-career air transportation graduates from Yavapai College make a median of around $72,552 per year.
Arizona State University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in air transportation, landing the #3 spot this year. Arizona State University is a public school located in the city of Tempe. Early-career air transportation graduates from Arizona State University make a median of around $74,848 per year.
This list is compiled 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 · 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.