2026 Best Air Transportation Associate’s Degree Schools
Looking for the best Air Transportation associate’s degree programs in the United States? Our ranking highlights 253 schools 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, Course Advisor 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
Here are the top-ranked schools:
Our analysis found Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide to be the best Air Transportation school in the United States. Based in Daytona Beach, FL, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 23% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,097. Graduates carry a median of $20,375 in student loans. Read the full report on Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide
Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach came in at #2 on this year's Air Transportation ranking in the United States. 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%. In-state tuition and fees average $44,074. Students borrow a median of $20,375 to complete their Air Transportation program here. See the full Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach profile
Out of the 253 schools in the United States in this year's ranking, Utah Valley University landed the #3 spot. Located in Orem, UT, Utah Valley University is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 40%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,507, while out-of-state students pay about $18,489. Utah Valley University Air Transportation students take on a median of $23,500 in debt. Read more about Utah Valley University
A rank of #4 makes Northwestern Michigan College one of the top choices in the United States. This public school is set 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. Northwestern Michigan College Air Transportation students take on a median of $14,803 in debt. More on Northwestern Michigan College
The strong Air Transportation programs at Fox Valley Technical College earned it the #5 place in the United States. Set in Appleton, WI, Fox Valley Technical College is a public institution. 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. More on Fox Valley Technical College
Community College Of Allegheny County came in at #6 in this year's ranking. Community College Of Allegheny County is a public school based in Pittsburgh, PA. In-state tuition and fees run about $4,956, while out-of-state students pay about $12,583. 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. Located in Melbourne, FL, Florida Institute Of Technology Online is a private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,780. Graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Read more about Florida Institute Of Technology Online
Kansas State University landed the #8 spot in the United States this year. This public school is set in Manhattan, KS. Kansas State University posts a six-year graduation rate of 71%. In-state tuition and fees average $11,221, compared with $28,568 for out-of-state students. Typical Air Transportation student debt is $21,500. See the full Kansas State University profile
Florida Institute Of Technology did well this year, earning the #9 position. 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. Read the full report on Florida Institute Of Technology
The Community College Of Baltimore County did well this year, earning the #10 position. Based in Baltimore, MD, The Community College Of Baltimore County is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,110, with out-of-state students paying around $10,182. Graduates carry a median of $18,038 in student loans. Get the full The Community College Of Baltimore County report
Southern Illinois University Carbondale landed the #11 spot in the United States this year. This public school is set in Carbondale, IL. The six-year graduation rate is 60%. Students from in state pay about $13,334 in tuition and fees. Southern Illinois University Carbondale Air Transportation students take on a median of $20,750 in debt. See the full Southern Illinois University Carbondale profile
Middle Georgia State University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best Air Transportation schools. Based in Macon, GA, Middle Georgia State University is a public institution. Middle Georgia State University graduates 24% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $5,038, compared with $16,390 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $22,700 in student loans. See the full Middle Georgia State University profile
Liberty University did well this year, earning the #13 position. Located in Lynchburg, VA, Liberty University is a private not-for-profit institution. Liberty University graduates 67% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,173. Typical Air Transportation student debt is $24,874. Get the full Liberty University report
University Of Alaska Anchorage landed the #14 spot in the United States this year. Set in Anchorage, AK, University Of Alaska Anchorage is a public institution. University Of Alaska Anchorage graduates 28% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,738, with out-of-state students paying around $21,322. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete their Air Transportation program here. See the full University Of Alaska Anchorage profile
Letourneau University came in at #15 in this year's ranking. Located in Longview, TX, Letourneau University is a private not-for-profit institution. Letourneau University graduates 59% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $37,160 in tuition and fees. Typical Air Transportation student debt is $27,000. More on Letourneau University
Lincoln Land Community College did well this year, earning the #16 position. This public school is set in Springfield, IL. Students from in state pay about $3,744 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,464 for out-of-state students. The median Air Transportation program debt is $11,272. More on Lincoln Land Community College
Central Oregon Community College did well this year, earning the #17 position. Located in Bend, OR, Central Oregon Community College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,683 in tuition and fees, 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 ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best Air Transportation schools. This public school is set in Raymond, MS. Students from in state pay about $4,250 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,300. Typical Air Transportation student debt is $16,385. Get the full Hinds Community College report
Vaughn College Of Aeronautics And Technology ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best Air Transportation schools. Located in Flushing, NY, Vaughn College Of Aeronautics And Technology is a private not-for-profit institution. Vaughn College Of Aeronautics And Technology posts a six-year graduation rate of 36%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $29,810. The median Air Transportation program debt is $24,500. See the full Vaughn College Of Aeronautics And Technology profile
Texas State Technical College landed the #20 spot in the United States this year. Set in Waco, TX, Texas State Technical College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,212, compared with $11,812 for out-of-state students. Texas State Technical College Air Transportation students take on a median of $12,054 in debt. Get the full Texas State Technical College report
Ohio State University Main Campus placed #21 among Air Transportation schools in the United States. More on Ohio State University Main Campus
Central New Mexico Community College ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best Air Transportation schools. More on Central New Mexico Community College
Thomas Nelson Community College ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best Air Transportation schools. See the full Thomas Nelson Community College profile
New England Institute Of Technology came in at #24 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on New England Institute Of Technology
Indian Hills Community College did well this year, earning the #25 position. See the full Indian Hills Community College profile
Rest of the Top 50 Best Air Transportation Associate’s Degree Schools in the United States
These schools also placed among the very best this year:
Purdue University Main Campus placed #26 among Air Transportation schools in the United States. Read more about Purdue University Main Campus
University Of Nebraska At Kearney landed the #27 spot in the United States this year. Read more about University Of Nebraska At Kearney
Bridgewater State University came in at #28 in this year's ranking. See the full Bridgewater State University profile
Morgan Community College came in at #29 in this year's ranking. More on Morgan Community College
College Of Southern Nevada placed #30 among Air Transportation schools in the United States. Read more about College Of Southern Nevada
Ohio University Main Campus placed #31 among Air Transportation schools in the United States. See the full Ohio University Main Campus profile
Holmes Community College placed #32 among Air Transportation schools in the United States. See the full Holmes Community College profile
Mississippi Delta Community College landed the #33 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Mississippi Delta Community College
Montana Tech Of The University Of Montana ranked #34 on our 2026 list of the best Air Transportation schools. Get the full Montana Tech Of The University Of Montana report
Austin Peay State University came in at #35 in this year's ranking. Get the full Austin Peay State University report
Rio Salado College ranked #36 on our 2026 list of the best Air Transportation schools. Get the full Rio Salado College report
Southwestern Illinois College placed #37 among Air Transportation schools in the United States. Get the full Southwestern Illinois College report
William Jessup University landed the #38 spot in the United States this year. Read more about William Jessup University
Wichita Area Technical College did well this year, earning the #39 position. See the full Wichita Area Technical College profile
Marywood University ranked #40 on our 2026 list of the best Air Transportation schools. Get the full Marywood University report
Florida Memorial University placed #41 among Air Transportation schools in the United States. Get the full Florida Memorial University report
Lake Area Technical Institute landed the #42 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Lake Area Technical Institute
Lane Community College ranked #43 on our 2026 list of the best Air Transportation schools. See the full Lane Community College profile
Geneva College
Geneva College came in at #44 in this year's ranking. Read more about Geneva College
Salem Community College did well this year, earning the #45 position. Read more about Salem Community College
Texas A And M University Central Texas landed the #46 spot in the United States this year. See the full Texas A And M University Central Texas profile
Western Michigan University placed #47 among Air Transportation schools in the United States. See the full Western Michigan University profile
Academy College
Academy College came in at #48 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Academy College
Casper College
Casper College came in at #49 in this year's ranking. Get the full Casper College report
University Of Wyoming came in at #50 in this year's ranking. Read more about University Of Wyoming
Related Air Transportation Rankings
Explore 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 Course Advisor (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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