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2026 Best Air Transportation Doctoral Degree Schools
Looking for the best Air Transportation doctoral degree programs in the United States? This list ranks 253 institutions by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. The rankings below weigh factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
So you can compare your options, Grad Degree 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 Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide tops our 2026 ranking of the best Air Transportation doctoral degree schools 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 average $12,097. Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide Air Transportation students take on a median of $20,375 in debt. Read the full report on Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide
You'll be in good company at University Of North Dakota, which ranked #2 this year. Based in Grand Forks, ND, University Of North Dakota is a public institution. University Of North Dakota graduates 60% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,951, compared with $15,570 for out-of-state students. Typical Air Transportation student debt is $22,769. See the full University Of North Dakota profile
Out of the 253 schools in the United States in this year's ranking, Saint Louis University Main Campus landed the #3 spot. Set in Saint Louis, MO, Saint Louis University Main Campus is a private not-for-profit institution. About 80% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $55,760. Graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. More on Saint Louis University Main Campus
The strong Air Transportation programs at Florida Institute Of Technology earned it the #4 place in the United States. Set in Melbourne, FL, Florida Institute Of Technology is a private not-for-profit institution. Florida Institute Of Technology posts a six-year graduation rate of 62%. In-state tuition and fees average $45,900. Typical Air Transportation student debt is $27,000. Get the full Florida Institute Of Technology report
The strong Air Transportation programs at Oklahoma State University Main Campus earned it the #5 place in the United States. This public school is set in Stillwater, OK. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,110, with out-of-state students paying around $25,630. Graduates carry a median of $19,924 in student loans. More on Oklahoma State University Main Campus
University Of Arkansas Fort Smith came in at #6 in this year's ranking. Read more about University Of Arkansas Fort Smith
Guilford Technical Community College came in at #7 in this year's ranking. See the full Guilford Technical Community College profile
Pacific Union College placed #8 among Air Transportation schools in the United States. More on Pacific Union College
Ohio University Lancaster Campus did well this year, earning the #9 position. See the full Ohio University Lancaster Campus profile
Southern New Hampshire University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best Air Transportation schools. More on Southern New Hampshire University
Thomas Edison State College came in at #11 in this year's ranking. More on Thomas Edison State College
Ohio University Zanesville Campus landed the #12 spot in the United States this year. More on Ohio University Zanesville Campus
Southwestern College Chula Vista came in at #13 in this year's ranking. Get the full Southwestern College Chula Vista report
Lake Area Technical Institute landed the #14 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Lake Area Technical Institute
Pasco Hernando Community College did well this year, earning the #15 position. Read the full report on Pasco Hernando Community College
Florida Institute Of Technology Online did well this year, earning the #16 position. More on Florida Institute Of Technology Online
Geneva College
Geneva College came in at #17 in this year's ranking. Read more about Geneva College
Klamath Community College ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best Air Transportation schools. Read more about Klamath Community College
Wright State University Main Campus came in at #19 in this year's ranking. See the full Wright State University Main Campus profile
Auburn University landed the #20 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Auburn University
International Air And Hospitality Academy ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best Air Transportation schools. Get the full International Air And Hospitality Academy report
North Dakota State College Of Science placed #22 among Air Transportation schools in the United States. More on North Dakota State College Of Science
University Of Alaska Anchorage placed #23 among Air Transportation schools in the United States. Read the full report on University Of Alaska Anchorage
Cypress College
Cypress College landed the #24 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Cypress College report
University Of Nebraska At Kearney landed the #25 spot in the United States this year. More on University Of Nebraska At Kearney
Rest of the Top 50 Best Air Transportation Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
Not far behind, these schools also made the top of the list:
Texas Womans University did well this year, earning the #26 position. See the full Texas Womans University profile
San Diego Christian College placed #27 among Air Transportation schools in the United States. Get the full San Diego Christian College report
Glendale Community College Glendale Ca did well this year, earning the #28 position. Get the full Glendale Community College Glendale Ca report
Everglades University placed #29 among Air Transportation schools in the United States. Get the full Everglades University report
Lincoln Land Community College came in at #30 in this year's ranking. More on Lincoln Land Community College
Schenectady County Community College placed #31 among Air Transportation schools in the United States. Read the full report on Schenectady County Community College
Morgan Community College came in at #32 in this year's ranking. More on Morgan Community College
Texas State Technical College landed the #33 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Texas State Technical College report
Elizabeth City State University placed #34 among Air Transportation schools in the United States. See the full Elizabeth City State University profile
Farmingdale State College placed #35 among Air Transportation schools in the United States. Read the full report on Farmingdale State College
Thomas Nelson Community College placed #36 among Air Transportation schools in the United States. More on Thomas Nelson Community College
Lewis University
Lewis University landed the #37 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Lewis University
Utah State University placed #38 among Air Transportation schools in the United States. Read the full report on Utah State University
Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Prescott ranked #39 on our 2026 list of the best Air Transportation schools. More on Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Prescott
New England Institute Of Technology placed #40 among Air Transportation schools in the United States. Read the full report on New England Institute Of Technology
Utah Valley University landed the #41 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Utah Valley University
Montana Tech Of The University Of Montana ranked #42 on our 2026 list of the best Air Transportation schools. See the full Montana Tech Of The University Of Montana profile
North Shore Community College did well this year, earning the #43 position. More on North Shore Community College
School Of Missionary Aviation Technology ranked #44 on our 2026 list of the best Air Transportation schools. Read more about School Of Missionary Aviation Technology
Northwest Florida State College did well this year, earning the #45 position. Read more about Northwest Florida State College
Ozarka College
Ozarka College placed #46 among Air Transportation schools in the United States. More on Ozarka College
University Of Nebraska At Omaha did well this year, earning the #47 position. Read more about University Of Nebraska At Omaha
Texas A And M University Central Texas placed #48 among Air Transportation schools in the United States. Read more about Texas A And M University Central Texas
Community College Of Allegheny County landed the #49 spot in the United States this year. More on Community College Of Allegheny County
Northwestern Michigan College ranked #50 on our 2026 list of the best Air Transportation schools. Read more about Northwestern Michigan College
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 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
Ranking Methodology & Notes
These rankings are produced 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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