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2026 Best Air Transportation Schools
Looking for the best Air Transportation programs programs in the United States? We have ranked 253 colleges by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Each school below is scored on factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
To arm you with the information you need, Grad Degree analyzed schools to build this 2026 ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Air Transportation Schools in the United States
Here are the top-ranked schools:
Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide tops our 2026 ranking of the best Air Transportation programs schools in the United States. Based in Daytona Beach, FL, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 23%. In-state tuition and fees average $12,097. Typical Air Transportation student debt is $20,375. Read the full report on Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide
The strong Air Transportation programs at Purdue University Main Campus earned it the #2 place in the United States. Located in West Lafayette, IN, Purdue University Main Campus is a public institution. Purdue University Main Campus graduates 83% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $9,992, while out-of-state students pay about $28,794. Typical Air Transportation student debt is $21,250. Read the full report on Purdue University Main Campus
A rank of #3 makes Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach one of the top choices in the United States. Set in Daytona Beach, FL, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 66% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $44,074. The median Air Transportation program debt is $20,375. See the full Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach profile
Out of the 253 schools in the United States in this year's ranking, University Of North Dakota landed the #4 spot. Located in Grand Forks, ND, University Of North Dakota is a public institution. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,951, compared with $15,570 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $22,769 in student loans. See the full University Of North Dakota profile
A rank of #5 makes Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Prescott one of the top choices in the United States. Based in Prescott, AZ, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Prescott is a private not-for-profit institution. About 68% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $43,974. Students borrow a median of $22,000 to complete their Air Transportation program here. Read more about Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Prescott
Saint Louis University Main Campus ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best Air Transportation schools. Located in Saint Louis, MO, Saint Louis University Main Campus is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $55,760. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete their Air Transportation program here. More on Saint Louis University Main Campus
Lewis University did well this year, earning the #7 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Romeoville, IL. Lewis University posts a six-year graduation rate of 67%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $39,200. Students borrow a median of $24,873 to complete their Air Transportation program here. More on Lewis University
Florida Institute Of Technology ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best Air Transportation schools. Florida Institute Of Technology is a private not-for-profit school based in Melbourne, FL. About 62% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $45,900 in tuition and fees. Graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. More on Florida Institute Of Technology
University Of Central Missouri placed #9 among Air Transportation schools in the United States. This public school is set in Warrensburg, MO. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,050, with out-of-state students paying around $18,600. Typical Air Transportation student debt is $21,500. More on University Of Central Missouri
Oklahoma State University Main Campus placed #10 among Air Transportation schools in the United States. Oklahoma State University Main Campus is a public school based in Stillwater, OK. About 68% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $10,110 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $25,630. Typical Air Transportation student debt is $19,924. Read more about Oklahoma State University Main Campus
Middle Tennessee State University landed the #11 spot in the United States this year. Located in Murfreesboro, TN, Middle Tennessee State University is a public institution. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $10,266, while out-of-state students pay about $31,574. Graduates carry a median of $21,992 in student loans. Get the full Middle Tennessee State University report
Liberty University placed #12 among Air Transportation schools in the United States. Set in Lynchburg, VA, Liberty University is a private not-for-profit institution. Liberty University posts a six-year graduation rate of 67%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,173. Typical Air Transportation student debt is $24,874. More on Liberty University
Everglades University came in at #13 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Boca Raton, FL. Roughly 61% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,680. Typical Air Transportation student debt is $42,750. Read more about Everglades University
Utah State University placed #14 among Air Transportation schools in the United States. Based in Logan, UT, Utah State University is a public institution. Utah State University posts a six-year graduation rate of 57%. In-state tuition and fees run about $8,560, compared with $24,993 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $25,500 in student loans. See the full Utah State University profile
Warren County Community College did well this year, earning the #15 position. More on Warren County Community College
Dabney S Lancaster Community College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best Air Transportation schools. Read the full report on Dabney S Lancaster Community College
Montana Tech Of The University Of Montana did well this year, earning the #17 position. More on Montana Tech Of The University Of Montana
Mount Olive College came in at #18 in this year's ranking. Read more about Mount Olive College
Indian Hills Community College came in at #19 in this year's ranking. See the full Indian Hills Community College profile
Texas Womans University placed #20 among Air Transportation schools in the United States. Read more about Texas Womans University
Atlantic Cape Community College did well this year, earning the #21 position. Read more about Atlantic Cape Community College
University Of Alaska Fairbanks came in at #22 in this year's ranking. More on University Of Alaska Fairbanks
West Virginia University Institute Of Technology did well this year, earning the #23 position. Read the full report on West Virginia University Institute Of Technology
Andrews University did well this year, earning the #24 position. Read the full report on Andrews University
The Community College Of Baltimore County ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best Air Transportation schools. More on The Community College Of Baltimore County
Rest of the Top 50 Best Air Transportation Schools in the United States
These schools also placed among the very best this year:
Southeast Missouri State University did well this year, earning the #26 position. Read more about Southeast Missouri State University
Thomas Edison State College landed the #27 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Thomas Edison State College
University Of Cincinnati Clermont College did well this year, earning the #28 position. Read more about University Of Cincinnati Clermont College
Virginia Highlands Community College landed the #29 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Virginia Highlands Community College report
Moberly Area Community College did well this year, earning the #30 position. More on Moberly Area Community College
Cloud County Community College ranked #31 on our 2026 list of the best Air Transportation schools. Read the full report on Cloud County Community College
Thomas Nelson Community College came in at #32 in this year's ranking. More on Thomas Nelson Community College
Rochester Community And Technical College placed #33 among Air Transportation schools in the United States. Get the full Rochester Community And Technical College report
Mt San Antonio College landed the #34 spot in the United States this year. More on Mt San Antonio College
Siena Heights University did well this year, earning the #35 position. Read more about Siena Heights University
University Of Dubuque ranked #36 on our 2026 list of the best Air Transportation schools. Read the full report on University Of Dubuque
Angelo State University ranked #37 on our 2026 list of the best Air Transportation schools. Read the full report on Angelo State University
Hallmark College Of Technology Hallmark College Of Aeronautics placed #38 among Air Transportation schools in the United States. More on Hallmark College Of Technology Hallmark College Of Aeronautics
Mauna Loa Helicopters landed the #39 spot in the United States this year. See the full Mauna Loa Helicopters profile
Florida Memorial University came in at #40 in this year's ranking. More on Florida Memorial University
Pacific Union College placed #41 among Air Transportation schools in the United States. Read the full report on Pacific Union College
Morgan Community College landed the #42 spot in the United States this year. See the full Morgan Community College profile
Rose State College ranked #43 on our 2026 list of the best Air Transportation schools. More on Rose State College
Wright State University Main Campus placed #44 among Air Transportation schools in the United States. Read the full report on Wright State University Main Campus
Southwestern College Chula Vista landed the #45 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Southwestern College Chula Vista
Sacramento City College came in at #46 in this year's ranking. Read more about Sacramento City College
Central Washington University came in at #47 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Central Washington University
Ohio University Zanesville Campus came in at #48 in this year's ranking. More on Ohio University Zanesville Campus
Gateway Technical College came in at #49 in this year's ranking. See the full Gateway Technical College profile
Southeastern Oklahoma State University landed the #50 spot in the United States this year. See the full Southeastern Oklahoma State University profile
Best Air Transportation Schools by Degree Level
Explore rankings for a specific degree level:
- Best Air Transportation Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Air Transportation Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Air Transportation Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Air Transportation Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Air Transportation Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Air Transportation Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Air Transportation Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
This list is compiled by Grad Degree (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and admissions data drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: Dms College Quality · Scope: Nation. *Averages shown above reflect the top 253 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).
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