2026 Best Value Air Transportation Doctoral Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Air Transportation doctoral degree programs in the United States? This list ranks 253 colleges by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Our scores reflect factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
To arm you with the information you need, Course Advisor reviewed 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 Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
Here are the top-ranked schools for value:
Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide tops our 2026 ranking of the best-value Air Transportation doctoral degree schools in the United States. This private not-for-profit school is set in Daytona Beach, FL. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,097. 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. Set against $20,375 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 58%. Read more about Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of North Dakota earned it the #2 place in the United States. Located in Grand Forks, ND, University Of North Dakota is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,951, while out-of-state students pay about $15,570. Typical Air Transportation student debt is $22,769. Median earnings reach $63,552 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $22,769 median debt. University Of North Dakota has an acceptance rate of 77%. See the full University Of North Dakota profile
A rank of #3 makes Saint Louis University Main Campus one of the best values in the United States. Located in Saint Louis, MO, Saint Louis University Main Campus is a private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $55,760. Typical Air Transportation student debt is $27,000. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $70,783. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Saint Louis University Main Campus admits about 75% of applicants. Read more about Saint Louis University Main Campus
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Florida Institute Of Technology earned it the #4 place in the United States. Based in Melbourne, FL, Florida Institute Of Technology is a private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $45,900. Graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Median earnings reach $43,137 ten years out. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 58% of applicants are accepted. More on Florida Institute Of Technology
Out of the 253 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, Oklahoma State University Main Campus landed the #5 spot. This public school is set in Stillwater, OK. Students from in state pay about $10,110 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $25,630. Graduates carry a median of $19,924 in student loans. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $57,413. Set against $19,924 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted. Get the full Oklahoma State University Main Campus report
Arizona Western College placed #6 among the best-value Air Transportation schools in the United States. See the full Arizona Western College profile
Chadron State College offered strong value this year, earning the #7 position. Get the full Chadron State College report
Hagerstown Community College landed the #8 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Hagerstown Community College profile
Salem Community College landed the #9 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Salem Community College
Texas State Technical College offered strong value this year, earning the #10 position. More on Texas State Technical College
Dabney S Lancaster Community College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best-value Air Transportation schools. More on Dabney S Lancaster Community College
Germanna Community College placed #12 among the best-value Air Transportation schools in the United States. Read the full report on Germanna Community College
Mohawk Valley Community College landed the #13 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Mohawk Valley Community College report
Mt San Antonio College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best-value Air Transportation schools. Read the full report on Mt San Antonio College
Austin Peay State University landed the #15 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Austin Peay State University
Central Oregon Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #16 position. Read more about Central Oregon Community College
North Shore Community College placed #17 among the best-value Air Transportation schools in the United States. Read the full report on North Shore Community College
South Louisiana Community College came in at #18 in this year's value ranking. See the full South Louisiana Community College profile
University Of Alaska Fairbanks offered strong value this year, earning the #19 position. More on University Of Alaska Fairbanks
Dutchess Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #20 position. Get the full Dutchess Community College report
Letourneau University landed the #21 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Letourneau University
Mountwest Community And Technical College placed #22 among the best-value Air Transportation schools in the United States. Read more about Mountwest Community And Technical College
Northwest College ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best-value Air Transportation schools. See the full Northwest College profile
Southern Illinois University Carbondale came in at #24 in this year's value ranking. See the full Southern Illinois University Carbondale profile
Glendale Community College Glendale Ca ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best-value Air Transportation schools. See the full Glendale Community College Glendale Ca profile
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value Air Transportation Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
These schools also delivered strong value this year:
Southeastern University placed #26 among the best-value Air Transportation schools in the United States. Read more about Southeastern University
Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #27 position. Get the full Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College report
Capitol College
Capitol College ranked #28 on our 2026 list of the best-value Air Transportation schools. Get the full Capitol College report
Sauk Valley Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #29 position. Read the full report on Sauk Valley Community College
Southeastern Oklahoma State University came in at #30 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Southeastern Oklahoma State University
Fairmont State University ranked #31 on our 2026 list of the best-value Air Transportation schools. See the full Fairmont State University profile
Palm Beach State College landed the #32 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Palm Beach State College
University Of New Orleans came in at #33 in this year's value ranking. Get the full University Of New Orleans report
Delta State University offered strong value this year, earning the #34 position. Read more about Delta State University
Southern Crescent Technical College came in at #35 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Southern Crescent Technical College
Mississippi Delta Community College ranked #36 on our 2026 list of the best-value Air Transportation schools. Read the full report on Mississippi Delta Community College
San Diego Christian College came in at #37 in this year's value ranking. Get the full San Diego Christian College report
Bridgewater State University landed the #38 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Bridgewater State University
University Of Massachusetts Amherst ranked #39 on our 2026 list of the best-value Air Transportation schools. Read the full report on University Of Massachusetts Amherst
North Dakota State College Of Science ranked #40 on our 2026 list of the best-value Air Transportation schools. Read the full report on North Dakota State College Of Science
University Of Dubuque offered strong value this year, earning the #41 position. Read the full report on University Of Dubuque
Atlantic Cape Community College placed #42 among the best-value Air Transportation schools in the United States. See the full Atlantic Cape Community College profile
Indian Hills Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #43 position. Get the full Indian Hills Community College report
Western Oklahoma State College placed #44 among the best-value Air Transportation schools in the United States. Get the full Western Oklahoma State College report
Community College Of Allegheny County ranked #45 on our 2026 list of the best-value Air Transportation schools. Read more about Community College Of Allegheny County
Delaware State University landed the #46 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Delaware State University
Central New Mexico Community College came in at #47 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Central New Mexico Community College report
Kent State University At Kent came in at #48 in this year's value ranking. See the full Kent State University At Kent profile
Minnesota State University Mankato placed #49 among the best-value Air Transportation schools in the United States. Read more about Minnesota State University Mankato
International Air And Hospitality Academy placed #50 among the best-value Air Transportation schools in the United States. Get the full International Air And Hospitality Academy report
Related Air Transportation Value Rankings
Explore 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 Associate’s 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
Ranking Methodology & Notes
The ranking above is published by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs 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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