2026 Best Value Air Transportation Associate’s Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Air Transportation associate’s degree programs in the United States? We have ranked 253 colleges by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Each school below is scored on factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
So you can compare your options, Course Advisor analyzed schools to compile this 2026 value ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Best-Value Air Transportation Associate’s Degree Schools in the United States
Learn more about these high-value schools below:
Leading the list is Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide, our #1 best-value Air Transportation school in the United States. Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide is a private not-for-profit school based in Daytona Beach, FL. Students from in state pay about $12,097 in tuition and fees. Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide Air Transportation students take on a median of $20,375 in debt. Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide alumni report median earnings of $84,131 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide admits about 58% of applicants. Get the full Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide report
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Fox Valley Technical College earned it the #2 place in the United States. Fox Valley Technical College is a public school based in Appleton, WI. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,040, with out-of-state students paying around $7,283. Fox Valley Technical College Air Transportation students take on a median of $13,319 in debt. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $45,684. That is a strong return on a $13,319 median debt. Get the full Fox Valley Technical College report
A rank of #3 makes Northwestern Michigan College one of the best values in the United States. This public school is set in Traverse City, MI. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,860, while out-of-state students pay about $13,476. Students borrow a median of $14,803 to complete their Air Transportation program here. Graduates go on to earn a median of $38,167 ten years after entry. Set against $14,803 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. See the full Northwestern Michigan College profile
Community College Of Allegheny County came in at #4 on this year's best-value Air Transportation ranking in the United States. Located in Pittsburgh, PA, Community College Of Allegheny County is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,956 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $12,583. The median Air Transportation program debt is $15,263. Community College Of Allegheny County alumni report median earnings of $39,449 a decade after entry. Set against $15,263 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. More on Community College Of Allegheny County
You'll get strong value at The Community College Of Baltimore County, which ranked #5 this year. The Community College Of Baltimore County is a public school based in Baltimore, MD. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,110, compared with $10,182 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $18,038 to complete their Air Transportation program here. The Community College Of Baltimore County alumni report median earnings of $43,729 a decade after entry. Set against $18,038 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Get the full The Community College Of Baltimore County report
Florida Institute Of Technology Online ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best-value Air Transportation schools. Florida Institute Of Technology Online is a private not-for-profit school based in Melbourne, FL. Students from in state pay about $12,780 in tuition and fees. Florida Institute Of Technology Online Air Transportation students take on a median of $27,000 in debt. Median earnings reach $43,137 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Florida Institute Of Technology Online admits about 40% of applicants. More on Florida Institute Of Technology Online
Utah Valley University landed the #7 spot for value in the United States this year. Set in Orem, UT, Utah Valley University is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,507 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $18,489. Typical Air Transportation student debt is $23,500. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $55,486. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Get the full Utah Valley University report
Middle Georgia State University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best-value Air Transportation schools. Middle Georgia State University is a public school based in Macon, GA. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,038, compared with $16,390 for out-of-state students. Middle Georgia State University Air Transportation students take on a median of $22,700 in debt. Graduates go on to earn a median of $40,863 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $22,700 median debt. About 100% of those who apply are admitted. Get the full Middle Georgia State University report
Lincoln Land Community College placed #9 among the best-value Air Transportation schools in the United States. Located in Springfield, IL, Lincoln Land Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $3,744, while out-of-state students pay about $10,464. Typical Air Transportation student debt is $11,272. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $38,479. That is a strong return on a $11,272 median debt. Get the full Lincoln Land Community College report
Hinds Community College came in at #10 in this year's value ranking. Hinds Community College is a public school based in Raymond, MS. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,250, while out-of-state students pay about $7,300. Hinds Community College Air Transportation students take on a median of $16,385 in debt. Hinds Community College alumni report median earnings of $30,774 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $16,385 median debt. Read more about Hinds Community College
Southern Illinois University Carbondale placed #11 among the best-value Air Transportation schools in the United States. Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a public school based in Carbondale, IL. In-state tuition and fees average $13,334. The median Air Transportation program debt is $20,750. Median earnings reach $53,390 ten years out. Set against $20,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted. See the full Southern Illinois University Carbondale profile
Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach offered strong value this year, earning the #12 position. Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach is a private not-for-profit school based in Daytona Beach, FL. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $44,074. Typical Air Transportation student debt is $20,375. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $84,131. That is a strong return on a $20,375 median debt. Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach has an acceptance rate of 65%. Read more about Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach
Liberty University offered strong value this year, earning the #13 position. Located in Lynchburg, VA, Liberty University is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $16,173. Typical Air Transportation student debt is $24,874. Graduates go on to earn a median of $44,813 ten years after entry. Set against $24,874 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Liberty University has an acceptance rate of 99%. More on Liberty University
Kansas State University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best-value Air Transportation schools. This public school is set in Manhattan, KS. In-state tuition and fees average $11,221, with out-of-state students paying around $28,568. Kansas State University Air Transportation students take on a median of $21,500 in debt. Kansas State University alumni report median earnings of $57,262 a decade after entry. Set against $21,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Kansas State University admits about 82% of applicants. Get the full Kansas State University report
Central Oregon Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #15 position. Central Oregon Community College is a public school based in Bend, OR. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,683, while out-of-state students pay about $15,246. Students borrow a median of $13,416 to complete their Air Transportation program here. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $38,940. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Get the full Central Oregon Community College report
University Of Alaska Anchorage landed the #16 spot for value in the United States this year. This public school is set in Anchorage, AK. Students from in state pay about $7,738 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $21,322. The median Air Transportation program debt is $25,000. Median earnings reach $51,871 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Read the full report on University Of Alaska Anchorage
Florida Institute Of Technology landed the #17 spot for value in the United States this year. Based in Melbourne, FL, Florida Institute Of Technology is a private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $45,900 in tuition and fees. Typical Air Transportation student debt is $27,000. Florida Institute Of Technology alumni report median earnings of $43,137 a decade after entry. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. About 58% of those who apply are admitted. See the full Florida Institute Of Technology profile
Texas State Technical College offered strong value this year, earning the #18 position. Texas State Technical College is a public school based in Waco, TX. In-state tuition and fees average $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. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $38,916. Set against $12,054 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. See the full Texas State Technical College profile
Letourneau University came in at #19 in this year's value ranking. Set in Longview, TX, Letourneau University is a private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $37,160. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete their Air Transportation program here. Median earnings reach $57,103 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 38%. More on Letourneau University
Vaughn College Of Aeronautics And Technology placed #20 among the best-value Air Transportation schools in the United States. Based in Flushing, NY, Vaughn College Of Aeronautics And Technology is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $29,810. Students borrow a median of $24,500 to complete their Air Transportation program here. Median earnings reach $64,973 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $24,500 median debt. Read more about Vaughn College Of Aeronautics And Technology
Andrews University offered strong value this year, earning the #21 position. Get the full Andrews University report
Gateway Technical College offered strong value this year, earning the #22 position. See the full Gateway Technical College profile
Glendale Community College Glendale Ca ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best-value Air Transportation schools. Read the full report on Glendale Community College Glendale Ca
Wright State University Main Campus ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best-value Air Transportation schools. Get the full Wright State University Main Campus report
Portland Community College placed #25 among the best-value Air Transportation schools in the United States. Read the full report on Portland Community College
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value Air Transportation Associate’s Degree Schools in the United States
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value:
University Of Memphis offered strong value this year, earning the #26 position. Read the full report on University Of Memphis
Bridgewater State University came in at #27 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Bridgewater State University
Ozarks Technical Community College landed the #28 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Ozarks Technical Community College
Salem Community College landed the #29 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Salem Community College profile
School Of Missionary Aviation Technology came in at #30 in this year's value ranking. More on School Of Missionary Aviation Technology
Cochise College
Cochise College ranked #31 on our 2026 list of the best-value Air Transportation schools. Read more about Cochise College
Ozarka College
Ozarka College came in at #32 in this year's value ranking. See the full Ozarka College profile
Rose State College came in at #33 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Rose State College
Western Oklahoma State College offered strong value this year, earning the #34 position. Read the full report on Western Oklahoma State College
South Dakota State University came in at #35 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on South Dakota State University
Blue Ridge Community And Technical College came in at #36 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Blue Ridge Community And Technical College
Montana State University offered strong value this year, earning the #37 position. Read more about Montana State University
Reedley College
Reedley College placed #38 among the best-value Air Transportation schools in the United States. Read the full report on Reedley College
Ohio University Lancaster Campus landed the #39 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Ohio University Lancaster Campus
Angelo State University placed #40 among the best-value Air Transportation schools in the United States. See the full Angelo State University profile
Germanna Community College placed #41 among the best-value Air Transportation schools in the United States. More on Germanna Community College
Illinois Eastern Community Colleges Olney Central College landed the #42 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Illinois Eastern Community Colleges Olney Central College
Metropolitan State College Of Denver ranked #43 on our 2026 list of the best-value Air Transportation schools. Get the full Metropolitan State College Of Denver report
University Of Dubuque ranked #44 on our 2026 list of the best-value Air Transportation schools. Read more about University Of Dubuque
Fairmont State University ranked #45 on our 2026 list of the best-value Air Transportation schools. More on Fairmont State University
University Of New Orleans offered strong value this year, earning the #46 position. See the full University Of New Orleans profile
Purdue University Main Campus offered strong value this year, earning the #47 position. More on Purdue University Main Campus
Park University
Park University landed the #48 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Park University
University Of Wyoming ranked #49 on our 2026 list of the best-value Air Transportation schools. Read the full report on University Of Wyoming
Southern Utah University landed the #50 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Southern Utah University
Related Air Transportation Value Rankings
See value rankings for other degree levels:
- Best Value Air Transportation Schools (All Levels)
- Best Value Air Transportation Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Air Transportation Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Air Transportation Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Air Transportation Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Air Transportation Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Air Transportation Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
The ranking above is published by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Rankings consider the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment — drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 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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