2026 Best Value Aviation/Airway Management & Operations Schools in the Southwest Region
[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. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 13 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for aviation/airway management & operations students.
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2026 Best Value Aviation/Airway Management & Operations Schools in the Southwest Region
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
Leading the list is Texas A And M University Central Texas, our #1 best value for aviation/airway management & operations in the Southwest Region. Set in the rural area of Killeen, Texas A And M University Central Texas is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,363 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $17,155. Students borrow a median of $23,160 to complete the aviation/airway management & operations program here. Early-career aviation/airway management & operations graduates make about $50,370. Texas A And M University Central Texas admits about 100% of applicants.
Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus is a great value for students pursuing a degree in aviation/airway management & operations, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the town of Portales, Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,074, compared with $9,054 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for aviation/airway management & operations graduates is $17,108. Aviation/airway Management & Operations graduates of Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus earn a median of $88,085 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,108 median debt. The acceptance rate is 92%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Southeastern Oklahoma State University earned it the #3 place for aviation/airway management & operations. Set in the town of Durant, Southeastern Oklahoma State University is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,200, with out-of-state students paying around $16,410. Aviation/airway Management & Operations graduates carry a median of $18,660 in student loans. Aviation/airway Management & Operations graduates of Southeastern Oklahoma State University earn a median of $51,797 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Texas State Technical College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value aviation/airway management & operations schools. Located in the city of Waco, Texas State Technical College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,212 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $11,812. Typical student debt for aviation/airway management & operations graduates is $12,054. Soon after graduation, aviation/airway management & operations degree recipients from Texas State Technical College generally make around $40,747. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in aviation/airway management & operations will find it at Oklahoma State University Main Campus, which ranked #5. Oklahoma State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the town of Stillwater. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,110, with out-of-state students paying around $25,630. Typical student debt for aviation/airway management & operations graduates is $19,924. Early-career aviation/airway management & operations graduates make about $50,993. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Oklahoma State University Main Campus admits about 75% of applicants.
Hallmark College Of Technology Hallmark College Of Aeronautics earned the #6 position for value in aviation/airway management & operations this year. Located in the city of San Antonio, Hallmark College Of Technology Hallmark College Of Aeronautics is a small private not-for-profit university. Typical student debt for aviation/airway management & operations graduates is $31,457. Aviation/airway Management & Operations graduates of Hallmark College Of Technology Hallmark College Of Aeronautics earn a median of $79,086 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $31,457 median debt. Roughly 51% of applicants are accepted.
Texas Southern University placed #7 among the best values for aviation/airway management & operations. Located in the city of Houston, Texas Southern University is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,637, with out-of-state students paying around $21,473. Aviation/airway Management & Operations graduates carry a median of $35,330 in student loans. Soon after graduation, aviation/airway management & operations degree recipients from Texas Southern University generally make around $41,890. That is a strong return on a $35,330 median debt. The acceptance rate is 97%.
Letourneau University placed #8 among the best values for aviation/airway management & operations. Located in the city of Longview, Letourneau University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $37,160. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the aviation/airway management & operations program here. Early-career aviation/airway management & operations graduates make about $38,205. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Letourneau University admits about 38% of applicants.
Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Prescott came in at #9 for value in aviation/airway management & operations this year. Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Prescott is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Prescott. Students from in state pay about $43,974 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $22,000 to complete the aviation/airway management & operations program here. Early-career aviation/airway management & operations graduates make about $73,296. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Baylor University came in at #10 for value in aviation/airway management & operations this year. Located in the city of Waco, Baylor University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $58,100. Typical student debt for aviation/airway management & operations graduates is $23,928. Aviation/airway Management & Operations graduates of Baylor University earn a median of $49,888 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Baylor University admits about 51% of applicants.
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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 · 13 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.
