2026 Best Air Transportation Doctoral Degree Schools
Looking for the best Air Transportation doctoral degree programs in the United States? We have ranked 253 colleges 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.
To arm you with the information you need, Course Advisor 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 Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
Explore the leading schools below:
Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide tops our 2026 ranking of the best Air Transportation doctoral degree schools in the United States. Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide is a private not-for-profit school based in Daytona Beach, FL. Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide posts a six-year graduation rate of 23%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,097. Typical Air Transportation student debt is $20,375. Get the full Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide report
University Of North Dakota came in at #2 on this year's Air Transportation ranking in the United States. University Of North Dakota is a public school based in Grand Forks, ND. The six-year graduation rate is 60%. Students from in state pay about $10,951 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $15,570. Students borrow a median of $22,769 to complete their Air Transportation program here. Read more about University Of North Dakota
Saint Louis University Main Campus came in at #3 on this year's Air Transportation ranking in the United States. Set in Saint Louis, MO, Saint Louis University Main Campus is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. Students from in state pay about $55,760 in tuition and fees. Saint Louis University Main Campus Air Transportation students take on a median of $27,000 in debt. Read the full report on Saint Louis University Main Campus
You'll be in good company at Florida Institute Of Technology, which ranked #4 this year. Based 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. Graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Get the full Florida Institute Of Technology report
A rank of #5 makes Oklahoma State University Main Campus one of the top choices in the United States. This public school is set in Stillwater, OK. Oklahoma State University Main Campus posts a six-year graduation rate of 68%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,110, compared with $25,630 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $19,924 in student loans. Read more about Oklahoma State University Main Campus
Auburn University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best Air Transportation schools. See the full Auburn University profile
University Of Alaska Fairbanks placed #7 among Air Transportation schools in the United States. Get the full University Of Alaska Fairbanks report
Klamath Community College did well this year, earning the #8 position. More on Klamath Community College
Miami Dade College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best Air Transportation schools. See the full Miami Dade College profile
Texas Womans University placed #10 among Air Transportation schools in the United States. Read the full report on Texas Womans University
Western Oklahoma State College came in at #11 in this year's ranking. Get the full Western Oklahoma State College report
Minnesota State University Mankato placed #12 among Air Transportation schools in the United States. Read the full report on Minnesota State University Mankato
Northwestern Michigan College placed #13 among Air Transportation schools in the United States. Get the full Northwestern Michigan College report
Southeast Missouri State University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best Air Transportation schools. Get the full Southeast Missouri State University report
Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach did well this year, earning the #15 position. See the full Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach profile
Averett University did well this year, earning the #16 position. More on Averett University
Technical College Of The Lowcountry did well this year, earning the #17 position. Get the full Technical College Of The Lowcountry report
Utah Valley University landed the #18 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Utah Valley University
Everglades University ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best Air Transportation schools. Read more about Everglades University
University Of Maryland Eastern Shore did well this year, earning the #20 position. See the full University Of Maryland Eastern Shore profile
Palomar College
Palomar College did well this year, earning the #21 position. Get the full Palomar College report
Madisonville Community College landed the #22 spot in the United States this year. See the full Madisonville Community College profile
Reedley College
Reedley College ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best Air Transportation schools. Read more about Reedley College
Kent State University At Kent did well this year, earning the #24 position. Read more about Kent State University At Kent
Dabney S Lancaster Community College ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best Air Transportation schools. See the full Dabney S Lancaster Community College profile
Rest of the Top 50 Best Air Transportation Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s ranking:
Arkansas Tech University came in at #26 in this year's ranking. Read more about Arkansas Tech University
College Of Southern Nevada landed the #27 spot in the United States this year. See the full College Of Southern Nevada profile
Mt San Antonio College landed the #28 spot in the United States this year. See the full Mt San Antonio College profile
North Shore Community College landed the #29 spot in the United States this year. More on North Shore Community College
University Of Dubuque came in at #30 in this year's ranking. Read more about University Of Dubuque
Highline Community College came in at #31 in this year's ranking. Get the full Highline Community College report
New River Community College came in at #32 in this year's ranking. Read more about New River Community College
Austin Peay State University placed #33 among Air Transportation schools in the United States. See the full Austin Peay State University profile
Cochise College
Cochise College landed the #34 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Cochise College
Marywood University came in at #35 in this year's ranking. More on Marywood University
Ozarka College
Ozarka College placed #36 among Air Transportation schools in the United States. See the full Ozarka College profile
Purdue University Global did well this year, earning the #37 position. See the full Purdue University Global profile
Lone Star College System landed the #38 spot in the United States this year. See the full Lone Star College System profile
Southern New Hampshire University placed #39 among Air Transportation schools in the United States. See the full Southern New Hampshire University profile
Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College came in at #40 in this year's ranking. See the full Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College profile
Rocky Mountain College did well this year, earning the #41 position. Get the full Rocky Mountain College report
Arizona State University ranked #42 on our 2026 list of the best Air Transportation schools. Read more about Arizona State University
Fullerton College came in at #43 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Fullerton College
Iowa Lakes Community College placed #44 among Air Transportation schools in the United States. See the full Iowa Lakes Community College profile
Missouri Southern State University ranked #45 on our 2026 list of the best Air Transportation schools. See the full Missouri Southern State University profile
Vaughn College Of Aeronautics And Technology landed the #46 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Vaughn College Of Aeronautics And Technology
Metropolitan State College Of Denver placed #47 among Air Transportation schools in the United States. Get the full Metropolitan State College Of Denver report
Wright State University Main Campus ranked #48 on our 2026 list of the best Air Transportation schools. Get the full Wright State University Main Campus report
Green River Community College did well this year, earning the #49 position. More on Green River Community College
University Of Arkansas Fort Smith ranked #50 on our 2026 list of the best Air Transportation schools. See the full University Of Arkansas Fort Smith profile
Related Air Transportation Rankings
Compare rankings at 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
This list is compiled by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs 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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