Air Transportation is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their air transportation programs.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 128 schools to find the best for air transportation students.
The air transportation program you select can have a big impact on your future. To help, we created our Best Air Transportation Schools rankings. For our Best Overall Air Transportation School ranking, we roll up the results of our degree-level rankings, weighted by the number of degrees awarded at that level.
To find the best fit, you can narrow this list to a specific degree level below.
We offer several rankings, including this Best Air Transportation Schools list, to help you decide. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
Best Schools for Air Transportation in the United States
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the air transportation degrees they offer, see the list below.
Purdue University Main Campus is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in air transportation. Set in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Purdue University Main Campus graduates 83% of students within six years. Purdue University Main Campus awarded about 293 air transportation degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their air transportation degree from Purdue University Main Campus earn around $57,583 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $21,250 to complete this degree.
Get the full air transportation details for Purdue University Main Campus
A rank of #2 makes Baylor University one of the top schools for air transportation. Baylor University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Waco. About 80% of students finish within six years. About 40 air transportation degrees were awarded at Baylor University in the most recent year. Students who receive their air transportation degree from Baylor University earn around $49,888 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,928 to complete this degree.
Get the full air transportation details for Baylor University
A rank of #3 makes Southern Utah University one of the top schools for air transportation. Southern Utah University is a very large public school located in the town of Cedar City. The six-year graduation rate is 50%. There were roughly 85 air transportation students who graduated with this degree at Southern Utah University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, air transportation degree recipients from Southern Utah University generally make around $44,998. Students borrow a median of $12,886 to complete this degree.
Read more about the air transportation program at Southern Utah University
San Jose State University came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best air transportation schools. Located in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public university. About 69% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 70 air transportation students who graduated with this degree at San Jose State University in the most recent data year.
Read more about the air transportation program at San Jose State University
Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in air transportation, ranking #5. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Portales. The six-year graduation rate is 39%. There were roughly 33 air transportation students who graduated with this degree at Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Graduates of the air transportation program make about $88,085 in their early career. Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $17,108 in student loans.
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Minnesota State University Mankato earned the #6 position for air transportation this year. This large public university is located in the city of Mankato. Minnesota State University Mankato graduates 54% of students within six years. About 126 air transportation degrees were awarded at Minnesota State University Mankato in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, air transportation degree recipients from Minnesota State University Mankato generally make around $45,193. Typical student debt for the program is $20,500.
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Arizona State University placed #7 among the best air transportation schools. Arizona State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tempe. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 129 air transportation degrees were awarded at Arizona State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their air transportation degree from Arizona State University earn around $44,481 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,421 to complete this degree.
See the full air transportation program report for Arizona State University
South Dakota State University earned the #8 position for air transportation this year. Set in the town of Brookings, South Dakota State University is a large public institution. Roughly 62% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 25 air transportation degrees were awarded at South Dakota State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, air transportation degree recipients from South Dakota State University generally make around $51,260. Typical student debt for the program is $24,989.
See the full air transportation program report for South Dakota State University
University Of North Dakota came in at #9 for air transportation this year. Located in the city of Grand Forks, University Of North Dakota is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 60%. University Of North Dakota awarded about 410 air transportation degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the air transportation program make about $75,100 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,769.
See the full air transportation program report for University Of North Dakota
Utah Valley University ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best air transportation schools. Utah Valley University is a very large public school located in the city of Orem. About 40% of students finish within six years. About 433 air transportation degrees were awarded at Utah Valley University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, air transportation degree recipients from Utah Valley University generally make around $56,402. Students borrow a median of $23,500 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in air transportation from Utah Valley University
Kansas State University earned the #11 position for air transportation this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Manhattan. The six-year graduation rate is 71%. There were roughly 107 air transportation students who graduated with this degree at Kansas State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their air transportation degree from Kansas State University earn around $51,198 in the first couple years of their career. Kansas State University graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans.
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Liberty University landed the #12 spot for air transportation this year. Located in the city of Lynchburg, Liberty University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Liberty University graduates 67% of students within six years. There were roughly 633 air transportation students who graduated with this degree at Liberty University in the most recent data year. Air Transportation graduates of Liberty University earn a median of $50,629 early in their careers. Liberty University graduates carry a median of $24,874 in student loans.
More information about a degree in air transportation from Liberty University
Auburn University placed #13 among the best air transportation schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Auburn. The six-year graduation rate is 82%. There were roughly 191 air transportation students who graduated with this degree at Auburn University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the air transportation program make about $35,856 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,875 to complete this degree.
Read more about the air transportation program at Auburn University
Polk State College landed the #14 spot for air transportation this year. Located in the city of Winter Haven, Polk State College is a large public university. Polk State College awarded about 26 air transportation degrees in the most recent data year. Air Transportation graduates of Polk State College earn a median of $50,499 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $11,197 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in air transportation from Polk State College
Louisiana Tech University earned the #15 position for air transportation this year. This large public university is located in the town of Ruston. Roughly 62% of students complete a degree within six years here. Louisiana Tech University awarded about 40 air transportation degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their air transportation degree from Louisiana Tech University earn around $35,669 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,375.
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Harper College ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best air transportation schools. Located in the suburb of Palatine, Harper College is a very large public university. Harper College awarded about 20 air transportation degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the air transportation program make about $44,523 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $10,963 to complete this degree.
See the full air transportation program report for Harper College
Marywood University landed the #17 spot for air transportation this year. Set in the city of Scranton, Marywood University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Marywood University graduates 72% of students within six years. There were roughly 19 air transportation students who graduated with this degree at Marywood University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their air transportation degree from Marywood University earn around $53,292 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,744 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in air transportation from Marywood University
University Of Nebraska At Omaha came in at #18 for air transportation this year. Located in the city of Omaha, University Of Nebraska At Omaha is a large public university. University Of Nebraska At Omaha graduates 49% of students within six years. About 43 air transportation degrees were awarded at University Of Nebraska At Omaha in the most recent year. Students who receive their air transportation degree from University Of Nebraska At Omaha earn around $42,837 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,000.
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Oklahoma State University Main Campus ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best air transportation schools. Set in the town of Stillwater, Oklahoma State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 175 air transportation students who graduated with this degree at Oklahoma State University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Students who receive their air transportation degree from Oklahoma State University Main Campus earn around $45,682 in the first couple years of their career. Oklahoma State University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $19,924 in student loans.
More information about a degree in air transportation from Oklahoma State University Main Campus
Ohio State University Main Campus placed #20 among the best air transportation schools. Set in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 81 air transportation students who graduated with this degree at Ohio State University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Students who receive their air transportation degree from Ohio State University Main Campus earn around $40,102 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $24,842 to complete this degree.
See the full air transportation program report for Ohio State University Main Campus
Utah State University came in at #21 for air transportation this year. Located in the city of Logan, Utah State University is a very large public university. About 57% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 96 air transportation students who graduated with this degree at Utah State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the air transportation program make about $33,142 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,500 to complete this degree.
See the full air transportation program report for Utah State University
Ohio University Main Campus came in at #22 for air transportation this year. Set in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 65%. Ohio University Main Campus awarded about 28 air transportation degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their air transportation degree from Ohio University Main Campus earn around $49,736 in the first couple years of their career. Ohio University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
Read more about the air transportation program at Ohio University Main Campus
Montana State University landed the #23 spot for air transportation this year. Set in the city of Bozeman, Montana State University is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. About 20 air transportation degrees were awarded at Montana State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the air transportation program make about $47,703 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,635 to complete this degree.
Get the full air transportation details for Montana State University
California State University Los Angeles landed the #24 spot for air transportation this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Los Angeles. About 53% of students finish within six years. California State University Los Angeles awarded about 27 air transportation degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the air transportation program make about $46,267 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $15,132 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in air transportation from California State University Los Angeles
Lewis University placed #25 among the best air transportation schools. Lewis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Romeoville. The six-year graduation rate is 67%. About 151 air transportation degrees were awarded at Lewis University in the most recent year. Students who receive their air transportation degree from Lewis University earn around $39,228 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $24,873 to complete this degree.
Read more about the air transportation program at Lewis University
Rest of the Top 50 Air Transportation Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s air transportation ranking:
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 128 schools evaluated.
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
