Air Transportation programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their air transportation programs.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 253 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for air transportation students pursuing a degree.
The air transportation program you select can have a big impact on your future. That is why we developed our collection of Best Schools for Air Transportation 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.
In order to find the schools that are the best fit for you, you may want to filter to one of the degree levels below.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we have developed a number of rankings, including this Best Air Transportation Schools list, to help you choose. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh 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.
No school ranked higher than Purdue University Main Campus this year for air transportation. Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of West Lafayette. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. About 274 air transportation degrees were awarded at Purdue University Main Campus in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, air transportation degree recipients from Purdue University Main Campus generally make around $57,583. 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 San Jose State University one of the top schools for air transportation. 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. About 54 air transportation degrees were awarded at San Jose State University in the most recent year.
See the full air transportation program report for San Jose State University
A rank of #3 makes Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus one of the top schools for air transportation. Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Portales. Roughly 39% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 33 air transportation degrees were awarded at Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, air transportation degree recipients from Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus generally make around $88,085. Typical student debt for the program is $17,108.
Read more about the air transportation program at Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus
Students looking for a strong air transportation program will find one at Baylor University, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Waco, Baylor University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. Baylor University awarded about 20 air transportation degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, air transportation degree recipients from Baylor University generally make around $49,888. Baylor University graduates carry a median of $23,928 in student loans.
More information about a degree in air transportation from Baylor University
A rank of #5 makes Minnesota State University Mankato one of the top schools for air transportation. Located in the city of Mankato, Minnesota State University Mankato is a large public university. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. Minnesota State University Mankato awarded about 93 air transportation degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their air transportation degree from Minnesota State University Mankato earn around $45,193 in the first couple years of their career. Minnesota State University Mankato graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans.
See the full air transportation program report for Minnesota State University Mankato
South Dakota State University placed #6 among the best air transportation schools. Located in the town of Brookings, South Dakota State University is a large public university. Roughly 62% of students complete a degree within six years here. South Dakota State University awarded about 33 air transportation degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their air transportation degree from South Dakota State University earn around $51,260 in the first couple years of their career. South Dakota State University graduates carry a median of $24,989 in student loans.
Get the full air transportation details for South Dakota State University
Utah Valley University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best air transportation schools. Located in the city of Orem, Utah Valley University is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 40%. Utah Valley University awarded about 414 air transportation degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, air transportation degree recipients from Utah Valley University generally make around $56,402. Utah Valley University graduates carry a median of $23,500 in student loans.
See the full air transportation program report for Utah Valley University
Montana State University placed #8 among the best air transportation schools. Set in the city of Bozeman, Montana State University is a large public institution. About 57% of students finish within six years. Montana State University awarded about 32 air transportation degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their air transportation degree from Montana State University earn around $47,703 in the first couple years of their career. Montana State University graduates carry a median of $23,635 in student loans.
More information about a degree in air transportation from Montana State University
Southern Utah University earned the #9 position for air transportation this year. Set in the town of Cedar City, Southern Utah University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 50%. Southern Utah University awarded about 74 air transportation degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the air transportation program make about $44,998 in their early career. Southern Utah University graduates carry a median of $12,886 in student loans.
More information about a degree in air transportation from Southern Utah University
California Baptist University came in at #10 for air transportation this year. California Baptist University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Riverside. California Baptist University graduates 62% of students within six years. About 25 air transportation degrees were awarded at California Baptist University in the most recent year. Air Transportation graduates of California Baptist University earn a median of $48,989 early in their careers. California Baptist University graduates carry a median of $28,169 in student loans.
More information about a degree in air transportation from California Baptist University
Aims Community College placed #11 among the best air transportation schools. Aims Community College is a large public school located in the city of Greeley. There were roughly 69 air transportation students who graduated with this degree at Aims Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their air transportation degree from Aims Community College earn around $45,909 in the first couple years of their career. Aims Community College graduates carry a median of $11,199 in student loans.
More information about a degree in air transportation from Aims Community College
University Of Nebraska At Omaha came in at #12 for air transportation this year. Set in the city of Omaha, University Of Nebraska At Omaha is a large public institution. University Of Nebraska At Omaha graduates 49% of students within six years. About 38 air transportation degrees were awarded at University Of Nebraska At Omaha in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, air transportation degree recipients from University Of Nebraska At Omaha generally make around $42,837. Students borrow a median of $21,000 to complete this degree.
Get the full air transportation details for University Of Nebraska At Omaha
Louisiana Tech University landed the #13 spot 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. There were roughly 60 air transportation students who graduated with this degree at Louisiana Tech University in the most recent data year. Air Transportation graduates of Louisiana Tech University earn a median of $35,669 early in their careers. Louisiana Tech University graduates carry a median of $20,375 in student loans.
Get the full air transportation details for Louisiana Tech University
Arizona State University landed the #14 spot for air transportation this year. Arizona State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tempe. About 68% of students finish within six years. About 88 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. Arizona State University graduates carry a median of $22,421 in student loans.
Get the full air transportation details for Arizona State University
University Of North Dakota landed the #15 spot for air transportation this year. This large public university is located in the city of Grand Forks. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 407 air transportation students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Dakota in the most recent data year. Graduates of the air transportation program make about $75,100 in their early career. University Of North Dakota graduates carry a median of $22,769 in student loans.
See the full air transportation program report for University Of North Dakota
Oklahoma State University Main Campus placed #16 among the best air transportation schools. Located in the town of Stillwater, Oklahoma State University Main Campus is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. There were roughly 128 air transportation students who graduated with this degree at Oklahoma State University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Graduates of the air transportation program make about $45,682 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $19,924 to complete this degree.
Get the full air transportation details for Oklahoma State University Main Campus
Auburn University landed the #17 spot for air transportation this year. Located in the city of Auburn, Auburn University is a very large public university. About 82% of students finish within six years. About 161 air transportation degrees were awarded at Auburn University in the most recent year. Students who receive their air transportation degree from Auburn University earn around $35,856 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $21,875 to complete this degree.
See the full air transportation program report for Auburn University
Liberty University earned the #18 position for air transportation this year. Located in the city of Lynchburg, Liberty University is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 67% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 592 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. Typical student debt for the program is $24,874.
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Kansas State University placed #19 among the best air transportation schools. Located in the city of Manhattan, Kansas State University is a very large public university. Kansas State University graduates 71% of students within six years. There were roughly 119 air transportation students who graduated with this degree at Kansas State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the air transportation program make about $51,198 in their early career. Kansas State University graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans.
More information about a degree in air transportation from Kansas State University
Polk State College earned the #20 position for air transportation this year. Located in the city of Winter Haven, Polk State College is a large public university. There were roughly 41 air transportation students who graduated with this degree at Polk State College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the air transportation program make about $50,499 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $11,197 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in air transportation from Polk State College
California State University Los Angeles ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best air transportation schools. Set in the city of Los Angeles, California State University Los Angeles is a very large public institution. About 53% of students finish within six years. About 34 air transportation degrees were awarded at California State University Los Angeles in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, air transportation degree recipients from California State University Los Angeles generally make around $46,267. 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
Green River Community College came in at #22 for air transportation this year. Located in the city of Auburn, Green River Community College is a large public university. There were roughly 67 air transportation students who graduated with this degree at Green River Community College in the most recent data year.
Get the full air transportation details for Green River Community College
Ohio State University Main Campus came in at #23 for air transportation this year. Located in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public university. Ohio State University Main Campus graduates 88% of students within six years. About 97 air transportation degrees were awarded at Ohio State University Main Campus in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, air transportation degree recipients from Ohio State University Main Campus generally make around $40,102. Ohio State University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $24,842 in student loans.
Read more about the air transportation program at Ohio State University Main Campus
Central Washington University earned the #24 position for air transportation this year. Located in the town of Ellensburg, Central Washington University is a very large public university. About 54% of students finish within six years. About 67 air transportation degrees were awarded at Central Washington University in the most recent year. Students who receive their air transportation degree from Central Washington University earn around $40,025 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete this degree.
Get the full air transportation details for Central Washington University
Middle Tennessee State University landed the #25 spot for air transportation this year. Located in the city of Murfreesboro, Middle Tennessee State University is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. Middle Tennessee State University awarded about 420 air transportation degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the air transportation program make about $43,909 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,992 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in air transportation from Middle Tennessee State University
Rest of the Top 50 Air Transportation Schools
These schools also placed among the best for air transportation this year:
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 253 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).
