Air Transportation: degree ROI, salary & best colleges
Air Transportation graduates earn a median $85,825 four years after finishing — $37,465/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline. At a typical $16,906/yr net price ($67,624 over four years), that pays back in about 1.8 years. Federal data pools 103 bachelor's programs graduating roughly 5,969 students a year. (Scorecard field-of-study, 2026 · our math.)
Air Transportation ranks #35 of 202 bachelor's fields by earnings — pays more than 83% of majors.
| # | College | State | Grad earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Utah Valley University | UT | $106,001 |
| 2 | University of North Dakota | ND | $104,472 |
| 3 | Utah State University | UT | $103,989 |
| 4 | Minnesota State University-Mankato | MN | $103,858 |
| 5 | Eastern New Mexico University-Main Campus | NM | $103,617 |
| 6 | Liberty University | VA | $102,096 |
| 7 | Ohio University-Main Campus | OH | $99,701 |
| 8 | Middle Georgia State University | GA | $93,627 |
| 9 | Eastern Michigan University | MI | $91,648 |
| 10 | University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus | OK | $91,081 |
| 11 | Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Worldwide | FL | $90,495 |
| 12 | Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach | FL | $90,495 |
College Scorecard field-of-study (2026), program-level median earnings for this CIP · our ranking.
How we compute this. Earnings are the national median for graduates of this field measured 1 and 4 years after completion (Scorecard field-of-study, bachelor's). Premium = 4-year earnings − the $48,360 high-school baseline. Payback = a representative 4-year net cost (median college net price × 4) ÷ premium. Field medians blend every school — a specific program can pay far more or less. Full method on the methodology page; the field ranking is on ROI by major.