2026 Best Value Airline/Commercial/Professional Pilot & Flight Crew Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Airline/Commercial/Professional Pilot & Flight Crew](/majors/transportation-materials-handling/air-transportation/airline-commercial-professional-pilot-and-flight-crew/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 21 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew schools.
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2026 Best Value Airline/Commercial/Professional Pilot & Flight Crew Schools in the Great Lakes Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Airline/Commercial/Professional Pilot & Flight Crew Schools
For return on investment in airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew, no school beat Northwestern Michigan College this year. Located in the city of Traverse City, Northwestern Michigan College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,860, with out-of-state students paying around $13,476. Typical student debt for airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew graduates is $14,803. Early-career airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew graduates make about $37,988. That is a strong return on a $14,803 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew will find it at Sinclair Community College, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Dayton, Sinclair Community College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,675, while out-of-state students pay about $8,556. Students borrow a median of $12,525 to complete the airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew program here. Soon after graduation, airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew degree recipients from Sinclair Community College generally make around $35,348. That is a strong return on a $12,525 median debt.
Ivy Tech Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Indianapolis, Ivy Tech Community College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,154, while out-of-state students pay about $9,935. Airline/commercial/professional Pilot & Flight Crew graduates carry a median of $11,889 in student loans. Airline/commercial/professional Pilot & Flight Crew graduates of Ivy Tech Community College earn a median of $40,734 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Southwestern Illinois College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew schools. Southwestern Illinois College is a large public school located in the suburb of Belleville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,230, with out-of-state students paying around $6,720. Typical student debt for airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew graduates is $10,388. Airline/commercial/professional Pilot & Flight Crew graduates of Southwestern Illinois College earn a median of $44,345 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #5 makes Parkland College one of the best values for airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew. Parkland College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Champaign. Students from in state pay about $4,284 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $13,266. Students borrow a median of $10,168 to complete the airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew program here. Early-career airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew graduates make about $40,409. Set against $10,168 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Vincennes University landed the #6 spot for airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew value this year. Vincennes University is a very large public school located in the town of Vincennes. Students from in state pay about $7,126 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $16,858. Students borrow a median of $14,506 to complete the airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew program here. Soon after graduation, airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew degree recipients from Vincennes University generally make around $45,976. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Purdue University Main Campus came in at #7 for value in airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew this year. Located in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $9,992 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $28,794. Students borrow a median of $21,250 to complete the airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew program here. Airline/commercial/professional Pilot & Flight Crew graduates of Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of $57,583 early in their careers. Set against $21,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 50%.
Indiana State University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew schools. Indiana State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Terre Haute. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,258, while out-of-state students pay about $22,322. Typical student debt for airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew graduates is $24,500. Early-career airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew graduates make about $40,112. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 81%.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale came in at #9 for value in airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew this year. Located in the town of Carbondale, Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,334. Airline/commercial/professional Pilot & Flight Crew graduates carry a median of $20,750 in student loans. Airline/commercial/professional Pilot & Flight Crew graduates of Southern Illinois University Carbondale earn a median of $42,010 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 87%.
Eastern Michigan University placed #10 among the best values for airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew. Eastern Michigan University is a large public school located in the suburb of Ypsilanti. Students from in state pay about $16,990 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew graduates is $29,750. Airline/commercial/professional Pilot & Flight Crew graduates of Eastern Michigan University earn a median of $40,846 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $29,750 median debt. Eastern Michigan University admits about 80% of applicants.
Lewis University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew schools. Set in the suburb of Romeoville, Lewis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $39,200 in tuition and fees. Airline/commercial/professional Pilot & Flight Crew graduates carry a median of $24,873 in student loans. Airline/commercial/professional Pilot & Flight Crew graduates of Lewis University earn a median of $55,718 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,873 median debt. The acceptance rate is 71%.
Western Michigan University came in at #12 for value in airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew this year. Located in the city of Kalamazoo, Western Michigan University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $15,987, with out-of-state students paying around $19,952. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew program here. Airline/commercial/professional Pilot & Flight Crew graduates of Western Michigan University earn a median of $48,966 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Kent State University At Kent came in at #13 for value in airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew this year. Set in the suburb of Kent, Kent State University At Kent is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,220 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $21,575. Students borrow a median of $24,730 to complete the airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew program here. Early-career airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew graduates make about $44,776. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 21 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 6 ranked schools only.
- 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
