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2026 Best Air Transportation Master’s Degree Schools
Looking for the best Air Transportation master’s degree programs in the United States? This list ranks 253 schools 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 arm you with the information you need, Grad Degree evaluated 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 Master’s Degree 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 master's degree schools in the United States. Located in Daytona Beach, FL, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide is a private not-for-profit institution. Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide graduates 23% of students 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. More on Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide
Purdue University Main Campus came in at #2 on this year's Air Transportation ranking in the United States. This public school is set in West Lafayette, IN. About 83% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $9,992 in tuition and fees, 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
Out of the 253 schools in the United States in this year's ranking, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach landed the #3 spot. Located in Daytona Beach, FL, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 66%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $44,074. Students borrow a median of $20,375 to complete their Air Transportation program here. Read more about Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach
University Of North Dakota came in at #4 on this year's Air Transportation ranking in the United States. Set in Grand Forks, ND, University Of North Dakota is a public institution. University Of North Dakota posts a six-year graduation rate of 60%. In-state tuition and fees run about $10,951, compared with $15,570 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,769 to complete their Air Transportation program here. More on University Of North Dakota
The strong Air Transportation programs at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Prescott earned it the #5 place in the United States. Set in Prescott, AZ, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Prescott is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $43,974. The median Air Transportation program debt is $22,000. More on Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Prescott
Lewis University placed #6 among Air Transportation schools in the United States. This private not-for-profit school is set in Romeoville, IL. About 67% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $39,200. Typical Air Transportation student debt is $24,873. Read more about Lewis University
Florida Institute Of Technology did well this year, earning the #7 position. Set in Melbourne, FL, Florida Institute Of Technology is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 62%. In-state tuition and fees run about $45,900. Graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. See the full Florida Institute Of Technology profile
University Of Central Missouri did well this year, earning the #8 position. Set in Warrensburg, MO, University Of Central Missouri is a public institution. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $10,050, with out-of-state students paying around $18,600. University Of Central Missouri Air Transportation students take on a median of $21,500 in debt. Read the full report on University Of Central Missouri
Oklahoma State University Main Campus came in at #9 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Stillwater, OK. Oklahoma State University Main Campus posts a six-year graduation rate of 68%. In-state tuition and fees run about $10,110, compared with $25,630 for out-of-state students. Oklahoma State University Main Campus Air Transportation students take on a median of $19,924 in debt. Get the full Oklahoma State University Main Campus report
Middle Tennessee State University placed #10 among Air Transportation schools in the United States. Middle Tennessee State University is a public school based in Murfreesboro, TN. Middle Tennessee State University graduates 54% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $10,266 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $31,574. Students borrow a median of $21,992 to complete their Air Transportation program here. Read the full report on Middle Tennessee State University
Liberty University landed the #11 spot in the United States this year. Set in Lynchburg, VA, Liberty University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 67%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,173. Graduates carry a median of $24,874 in student loans. Read more about Liberty University
Everglades University placed #12 among Air Transportation schools in the United States. Based in Boca Raton, FL, Everglades University is a private not-for-profit institution. Everglades University graduates 61% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $21,680. Typical Air Transportation student debt is $42,750. Get the full Everglades University report
Utah State University did well this year, earning the #13 position. Based in Logan, UT, Utah State University is a public institution. Utah State University posts a six-year graduation rate of 57%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,560, with out-of-state students paying around $24,993. Graduates carry a median of $25,500 in student loans. More on Utah State University
Chadron State College landed the #14 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Chadron State College report
Lynn University
Lynn University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best Air Transportation schools. Get the full Lynn University report
Bridgewater State University placed #16 among Air Transportation schools in the United States. More on Bridgewater State University
Suffolk University landed the #17 spot in the United States this year. See the full Suffolk University profile
Lone Star College System came in at #18 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Lone Star College System
Parkland College
Parkland College landed the #19 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Parkland College
San Bernardino Valley College placed #20 among Air Transportation schools in the United States. Read the full report on San Bernardino Valley College
University Of Alaska Anchorage placed #21 among Air Transportation schools in the United States. More on University Of Alaska Anchorage
Lake Area Technical Institute came in at #22 in this year's ranking. Read more about Lake Area Technical Institute
Baylor University placed #23 among Air Transportation schools in the United States. Read the full report on Baylor University
South Louisiana Community College did well this year, earning the #24 position. Read the full report on South Louisiana Community College
San Diego Miramar College landed the #25 spot in the United States this year. Get the full San Diego Miramar College report
Rest of the Top 50 Best Air Transportation Master’s Degree Schools in the United States
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s ranking:
Santa Barbara Business College Ventura landed the #26 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Santa Barbara Business College Ventura
Mohawk Valley Community College placed #27 among Air Transportation schools in the United States. Read more about Mohawk Valley Community College
North Dakota State College Of Science ranked #28 on our 2026 list of the best Air Transportation schools. Get the full North Dakota State College Of Science report
Vincennes University landed the #29 spot in the United States this year. See the full Vincennes University profile
Athens State University did well this year, earning the #30 position. More on Athens State University
University Of Nebraska At Kearney ranked #31 on our 2026 list of the best Air Transportation schools. Get the full University Of Nebraska At Kearney report
Yavapai College
Yavapai College ranked #32 on our 2026 list of the best Air Transportation schools. See the full Yavapai College profile
Fox Valley Technical College did well this year, earning the #33 position. Read the full report on Fox Valley Technical College
Inter American University Of Puerto Rico Bayamon did well this year, earning the #34 position. Read more about Inter American University Of Puerto Rico Bayamon
Montana State University did well this year, earning the #35 position. Read the full report on Montana State University
University Of Louisiana Monroe ranked #36 on our 2026 list of the best Air Transportation schools. See the full University Of Louisiana Monroe profile
Holmes Community College came in at #37 in this year's ranking. More on Holmes Community College
University Of Arkansas Fort Smith ranked #38 on our 2026 list of the best Air Transportation schools. Read the full report on University Of Arkansas Fort Smith
University Of Massachusetts Amherst ranked #39 on our 2026 list of the best Air Transportation schools. More on University Of Massachusetts Amherst
Cochise College
Cochise College came in at #40 in this year's ranking. Get the full Cochise College report
Southwestern College Chula Vista ranked #41 on our 2026 list of the best Air Transportation schools. Read the full report on Southwestern College Chula Vista
Sinclair Community College ranked #42 on our 2026 list of the best Air Transportation schools. More on Sinclair Community College
Henderson State University placed #43 among Air Transportation schools in the United States. More on Henderson State University
Indiana State University placed #44 among Air Transportation schools in the United States. See the full Indiana State University profile
Southern Crescent Technical College came in at #45 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Southern Crescent Technical College
Casper College
Casper College came in at #46 in this year's ranking. Get the full Casper College report
Palm Beach State College came in at #47 in this year's ranking. Get the full Palm Beach State College report
Lehigh Carbon Community College did well this year, earning the #48 position. See the full Lehigh Carbon Community College profile
Butler Community College came in at #49 in this year's ranking. Read more about Butler Community College
Palomar College
Palomar College came in at #50 in this year's ranking. See the full Palomar College profile
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 Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
The ranking above is published by Grad Degree (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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