2026 Best Value Aviation/Airway Management & Operations Schools in Illinois
[Aviation/Airway Management & Operations](/majors/transportation-materials-handling/air-transportation/aviation-airway-management-and-operations/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 5 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value aviation/airway management & operations schools.
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2026 Best Value Aviation/Airway Management & Operations Schools in Illinois
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in aviation/airway management & operations, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Aviation/Airway Management & Operations Schools
Our analysis ranked Southwestern Illinois College the best value for a degree in aviation/airway management & operations in Illinois. Set in the suburb of Belleville, Southwestern Illinois College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,230, with out-of-state students paying around $6,720. Students borrow a median of $10,388 to complete the aviation/airway management & operations program here. Aviation/airway Management & Operations graduates of Southwestern Illinois College earn a median of $44,345 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,388 median debt.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a great value for students pursuing a degree in aviation/airway management & operations, landing the #2 spot this year. Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public school located in the town of Carbondale. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,334. Aviation/airway Management & Operations graduates carry a median of $20,750 in student loans. Aviation/airway Management & Operations graduates of Southern Illinois University Carbondale earn a median of $42,010 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,750 median debt. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in aviation/airway management & operations will find it at Lewis University, which ranked #3. Set in the suburb of Romeoville, Lewis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $39,200. Students borrow a median of $24,873 to complete the aviation/airway management & operations program here. Early-career aviation/airway management & operations graduates make about $39,228. Set against $24,873 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Lewis University admits about 71% of applicants.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 5 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.
