2026 Best Air Transportation Master’s Degree Schools
Looking for the best Air Transportation master’s degree programs in the United States? Our ranking highlights 253 institutions 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 analyzed 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 Master’s 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 master's degree schools in the United States. Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide is a private not-for-profit school based in Daytona Beach, FL. The six-year graduation rate is 23%. In-state tuition and fees run about $12,097. Students borrow a median of $20,375 to complete their Air Transportation program here. Read more about Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide
You'll be in good company at Purdue University Main Campus, which ranked #2 this year. This public school is set in West Lafayette, IN. Purdue University Main Campus graduates 83% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,992, while out-of-state students pay about $28,794. Graduates carry a median of $21,250 in student loans. See the full Purdue University Main Campus profile
You'll be in good company at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach, which ranked #3 this year. Set in Daytona Beach, FL, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 66% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $44,074. Students borrow a median of $20,375 to complete their Air Transportation program here. More on Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach
A rank of #4 makes University Of North Dakota one of the top choices in the United States. Set in Grand Forks, ND, University Of North Dakota is a public institution. About 60% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,951, with out-of-state students paying around $15,570. The median Air Transportation program debt is $22,769. Read the full report on University Of North Dakota
A rank of #5 makes Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Prescott one of the top choices in the United States. Located in Prescott, AZ, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Prescott is a private not-for-profit institution. Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Prescott graduates 68% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $43,974. Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Prescott Air Transportation students take on a median of $22,000 in debt. Read the full report on Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Prescott
Lewis University did well this year, earning the #6 position. Based in Romeoville, IL, Lewis University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 67% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $39,200. Lewis University Air Transportation students take on a median of $24,873 in debt. Read more about Lewis University
Florida Institute Of Technology placed #7 among Air Transportation schools in the United States. Florida Institute Of Technology is a private not-for-profit school based in Melbourne, FL. Florida Institute Of Technology graduates 62% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $45,900. Typical Air Transportation student debt is $27,000. Read more about Florida Institute Of Technology
University Of Central Missouri landed the #8 spot in the United States this year. Set in Warrensburg, MO, University Of Central Missouri is a public institution. University Of Central Missouri posts a six-year graduation rate of 54%. Students from in state pay about $10,050 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $18,600. Typical Air Transportation student debt is $21,500. Read more about University Of Central Missouri
Oklahoma State University Main Campus landed the #9 spot in the United States this year. Located in Stillwater, OK, Oklahoma State University Main Campus is a public institution. About 68% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $10,110, with out-of-state students paying around $25,630. Graduates carry a median of $19,924 in student loans. Get the full Oklahoma State University Main Campus report
Middle Tennessee State University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best Air Transportation schools. This public school is set in Murfreesboro, TN. About 54% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,266, with out-of-state students paying around $31,574. Middle Tennessee State University Air Transportation students take on a median of $21,992 in debt. Get the full Middle Tennessee State University report
Liberty University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best Air Transportation schools. Located 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. Typical Air Transportation student debt is $24,874. Get the full Liberty University report
Everglades University came in at #12 in this year's ranking. Based in Boca Raton, FL, Everglades University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 61%. In-state tuition and fees average $21,680. The median Air Transportation program debt is $42,750. Get the full Everglades University report
Utah State University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best Air Transportation schools. Based in Logan, UT, Utah State University is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. Students from in state pay about $8,560 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $24,993. The median Air Transportation program debt is $25,500. Read the full report on Utah State University
San Bernardino Valley College placed #14 among Air Transportation schools in the United States. Read more about San Bernardino Valley College
National American University Rapid City did well this year, earning the #15 position. Read more about National American University Rapid City
Treasure Valley Community College came in at #16 in this year's ranking. Get the full Treasure Valley Community College report
Central Washington University landed the #17 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Central Washington University report
Auburn University landed the #18 spot in the United States this year. See the full Auburn University profile
Cuny York College did well this year, earning the #19 position. Get the full Cuny York College report
Portland Community College came in at #20 in this year's ranking. More on Portland Community College
University Of Maine At Augusta landed the #21 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on University Of Maine At Augusta
Community College Of Beaver County came in at #22 in this year's ranking. Get the full Community College Of Beaver County report
Inter American University Of Puerto Rico Bayamon landed the #23 spot in the United States this year. More on Inter American University Of Puerto Rico Bayamon
Missouri Southern State University landed the #24 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Missouri Southern State University
Saint Louis University Main Campus did well this year, earning the #25 position. Read more about Saint Louis University Main Campus
Rest of the Top 50 Best Air Transportation Master’s Degree Schools in the United States
Not far behind, these schools also made the top of the list:
Illinois Eastern Community Colleges Olney Central College came in at #26 in this year's ranking. See the full Illinois Eastern Community Colleges Olney Central College profile
Cochise College
Cochise College ranked #27 on our 2026 list of the best Air Transportation schools. Read the full report on Cochise College
Southern Illinois University Carbondale ranked #28 on our 2026 list of the best Air Transportation schools. See the full Southern Illinois University Carbondale profile
Central Texas College landed the #29 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Central Texas College
Lehigh Carbon Community College placed #30 among Air Transportation schools in the United States. More on Lehigh Carbon Community College
Santa Fe College
Santa Fe College placed #31 among Air Transportation schools in the United States. Read the full report on Santa Fe College
Mount Olive College placed #32 among Air Transportation schools in the United States. Read more about Mount Olive College
Northwest Florida State College ranked #33 on our 2026 list of the best Air Transportation schools. More on Northwest Florida State College
Sauk Valley Community College came in at #34 in this year's ranking. Get the full Sauk Valley Community College report
Blue Ridge Community And Technical College placed #35 among Air Transportation schools in the United States. More on Blue Ridge Community And Technical College
Germanna Community College landed the #36 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Germanna Community College
Lord Fairfax Community College landed the #37 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Lord Fairfax Community College
Stephen F Austin State University ranked #38 on our 2026 list of the best Air Transportation schools. Read the full report on Stephen F Austin State University
University Of Dubuque placed #39 among Air Transportation schools in the United States. More on University Of Dubuque
School Of Missionary Aviation Technology placed #40 among Air Transportation schools in the United States. Read the full report on School Of Missionary Aviation Technology
Southern Utah University landed the #41 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Southern Utah University
Delaware State University did well this year, earning the #42 position. More on Delaware State University
Ohio University Chillicothe Campus came in at #43 in this year's ranking. Get the full Ohio University Chillicothe Campus report
William Jessup University landed the #44 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on William Jessup University
Sinclair Community College did well this year, earning the #45 position. Read more about Sinclair Community College
Danville Community College did well this year, earning the #46 position. More on Danville Community College
Ohio University Southern Campus came in at #47 in this year's ranking. More on Ohio University Southern Campus
Thomas Edison State College did well this year, earning the #48 position. Read more about Thomas Edison State College
Carroll Community College did well this year, earning the #49 position. See the full Carroll Community College profile
Highline Community College landed the #50 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Highline Community College
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 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 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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