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2026 Best Air Transportation Associate’s Degree Schools
Looking for the best Air Transportation associate’s degree programs in the United States? This list ranks 253 institutions by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Our scores reflect factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
To help you make your decision, Trade College evaluated schools to compile 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 Associate’s Degree Schools in the United States
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide earned the #1 spot in this year's ranking in the United States. This private not-for-profit school is set in Daytona Beach, FL. About 23% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $12,097. Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide Air Transportation students take on a median of $20,375 in debt. See the full Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide profile
A rank of #2 makes Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach one of the top choices in the United States. Based in Daytona Beach, FL, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach is a private not-for-profit institution. Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach posts a six-year graduation rate of 66%. 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
Utah Valley University came in at #3 on this year's Air Transportation ranking in the United States. Located in Orem, UT, Utah Valley University is a public institution. Utah Valley University posts a six-year graduation rate of 40%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,507, while out-of-state students pay about $18,489. Typical Air Transportation student debt is $23,500. Get the full Utah Valley University report
Out of the 253 schools in the United States in this year's ranking, Northwestern Michigan College landed the #4 spot. Northwestern Michigan College is a public school based in Traverse City, MI. About 53% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $5,860, with out-of-state students paying around $13,476. The median Air Transportation program debt is $14,803. Get the full Northwestern Michigan College report
The strong Air Transportation programs at Fox Valley Technical College earned it the #5 place in the United States. This public school is set in Appleton, WI. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,040, with out-of-state students paying around $7,283. The median Air Transportation program debt is $13,319. Get the full Fox Valley Technical College report
Community College Of Allegheny County placed #6 among Air Transportation schools in the United States. Based in Pittsburgh, PA, Community College Of Allegheny County is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,956, compared with $12,583 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $15,263 in student loans. Read the full report on Community College Of Allegheny County
Florida Institute Of Technology Online landed the #7 spot in the United States this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Melbourne, FL. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,780. Florida Institute Of Technology Online Air Transportation students take on a median of $27,000 in debt. See the full Florida Institute Of Technology Online profile
Kansas State University came in at #8 in this year's ranking. Located in Manhattan, KS, Kansas State University is a public institution. About 71% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,221, compared with $28,568 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans. Read the full report on Kansas State University
Florida Institute Of Technology did well this year, earning the #9 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Melbourne, FL. Florida Institute Of Technology graduates 62% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $45,900. Florida Institute Of Technology Air Transportation students take on a median of $27,000 in debt. Read more about Florida Institute Of Technology
The Community College Of Baltimore County came in at #10 in this year's ranking. The Community College Of Baltimore County is a public school based in Baltimore, MD. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,110, compared with $10,182 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $18,038 to complete their Air Transportation program here. Get the full The Community College Of Baltimore County report
Southern Illinois University Carbondale ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best Air Transportation schools. Located in Carbondale, IL, Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a public institution. About 60% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $13,334. Southern Illinois University Carbondale Air Transportation students take on a median of $20,750 in debt. Get the full Southern Illinois University Carbondale report
Middle Georgia State University landed the #12 spot in the United States this year. This public school is set in Macon, GA. Middle Georgia State University posts a six-year graduation rate of 24%. In-state tuition and fees average $5,038, with out-of-state students paying around $16,390. Typical Air Transportation student debt is $22,700. Get the full Middle Georgia State University report
Liberty University landed the #13 spot in the United States this year. Liberty University is a private not-for-profit school based in Lynchburg, VA. Liberty University posts a six-year graduation rate of 67%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,173. The median Air Transportation program debt is $24,874. See the full Liberty University profile
University Of Alaska Anchorage landed the #14 spot in the United States this year. Located in Anchorage, AK, University Of Alaska Anchorage is a public institution. University Of Alaska Anchorage graduates 28% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $7,738 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $21,322. Graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Read the full report on University Of Alaska Anchorage
Letourneau University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best Air Transportation schools. This private not-for-profit school is set in Longview, TX. Letourneau University graduates 59% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $37,160. Graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. See the full Letourneau University profile
Lincoln Land Community College did well this year, earning the #16 position. Located in Springfield, IL, Lincoln Land Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,744, while out-of-state students pay about $10,464. Typical Air Transportation student debt is $11,272. Read more about Lincoln Land Community College
Central Oregon Community College came in at #17 in this year's ranking. Central Oregon Community College is a public school based in Bend, OR. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,683, compared with $15,246 for out-of-state students. Central Oregon Community College Air Transportation students take on a median of $13,416 in debt. Read the full report on Central Oregon Community College
Hinds Community College placed #18 among Air Transportation schools in the United States. Based in Raymond, MS, Hinds Community College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,250 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,300. Students borrow a median of $16,385 to complete their Air Transportation program here. Read more about Hinds Community College
Vaughn College Of Aeronautics And Technology ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best Air Transportation schools. Vaughn College Of Aeronautics And Technology is a private not-for-profit school based in Flushing, NY. Vaughn College Of Aeronautics And Technology posts a six-year graduation rate of 36%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $29,810. Students borrow a median of $24,500 to complete their Air Transportation program here. See the full Vaughn College Of Aeronautics And Technology profile
Texas State Technical College did well this year, earning the #20 position. This public school is set in Waco, TX. In-state tuition and fees average $7,212, while out-of-state students pay about $11,812. Typical Air Transportation student debt is $12,054. Read more about Texas State Technical College
Harper College
Harper College landed the #21 spot in the United States this year. See the full Harper College profile
Mercer County Community College placed #22 among Air Transportation schools in the United States. Read more about Mercer County Community College
Southern New Hampshire University ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best Air Transportation schools. Get the full Southern New Hampshire University report
Texas A And M University Central Texas ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best Air Transportation schools. Get the full Texas A And M University Central Texas report
Minnesota State University Mankato ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best Air Transportation schools. More on Minnesota State University Mankato
Rest of the Top 50 Best Air Transportation Associate’s Degree Schools in the United States
Not far behind, these schools also made the top of the list:
Indiana State University ranked #26 on our 2026 list of the best Air Transportation schools. Get the full Indiana State University report
Community College Of Beaver County placed #27 among Air Transportation schools in the United States. More on Community College Of Beaver County
Ohio State University Main Campus placed #28 among Air Transportation schools in the United States. Read more about Ohio State University Main Campus
Portland Community College did well this year, earning the #29 position. Get the full Portland Community College report
California State University Los Angeles did well this year, earning the #30 position. See the full California State University Los Angeles profile
Danville Community College came in at #31 in this year's ranking. Read more about Danville Community College
University Of Memphis came in at #32 in this year's ranking. See the full University Of Memphis profile
International Air And Hospitality Academy landed the #33 spot in the United States this year. Get the full International Air And Hospitality Academy report
Kent State University At Kent placed #34 among Air Transportation schools in the United States. Read more about Kent State University At Kent
Sinclair Community College came in at #35 in this year's ranking. See the full Sinclair Community College profile
Walla Walla University did well this year, earning the #36 position. See the full Walla Walla University profile
Cloud County Community College ranked #37 on our 2026 list of the best Air Transportation schools. Read more about Cloud County Community College
Guilford Technical Community College did well this year, earning the #38 position. More on Guilford Technical Community College
Ohio University Zanesville Campus did well this year, earning the #39 position. See the full Ohio University Zanesville Campus profile
Lord Fairfax Community College landed the #40 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Lord Fairfax Community College
Spartan College Of Aeronautics And Technology did well this year, earning the #41 position. Read more about Spartan College Of Aeronautics And Technology
Illinois Eastern Community Colleges Olney Central College landed the #42 spot in the United States this year. See the full Illinois Eastern Community Colleges Olney Central College profile
Chadron State College did well this year, earning the #43 position. Read the full report on Chadron State College
Park University
Park University landed the #44 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Park University
University Of Cincinnati Clermont College landed the #45 spot in the United States this year. More on University Of Cincinnati Clermont College
Santa Barbara Business College Ventura did well this year, earning the #46 position. Get the full Santa Barbara Business College Ventura report
Murray State University placed #47 among Air Transportation schools in the United States. See the full Murray State University profile
Aims Community College landed the #48 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Aims Community College report
Green River Community College came in at #49 in this year's ranking. Get the full Green River Community College report
University Of New Orleans came in at #50 in this year's ranking. Read more about University Of New Orleans
Related Air Transportation Rankings
See rankings for other degree levels:
- Best Air Transportation Schools (All Levels)
- Best Air Transportation Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Air Transportation Undergraduate Certificate 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 Trade College (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Rankings consider 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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