2026 Best Value Air Transportation Master’s Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Air Transportation master’s degree programs in the United States? This list ranks 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.
To arm you with the information you need, Course Advisor analyzed schools to produce 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 Master’s Degree Schools in the United States
Learn more about these high-value schools below:
For return on investment, no school beat Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide this year 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. Typical Air Transportation student debt is $20,375. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $84,131. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 58%. Read more about Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide
Out of the 253 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, University Of North Dakota landed the #2 spot. University Of North Dakota is a public school based in Grand Forks, ND. Students from in state pay about $10,951 in tuition and fees, compared with $15,570 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,769 to complete their Air Transportation program here. Median earnings reach $63,552 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $22,769 median debt. University Of North Dakota admits about 77% of applicants. Read more about University Of North Dakota
Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach came in at #3 on this year's best-value 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. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $44,074. Typical Air Transportation student debt is $20,375. Median earnings reach $84,131 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $20,375 median debt. About 65% of those who apply are admitted. Read more about Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach
Out of the 253 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, Liberty University landed the #4 spot. Located in Lynchburg, VA, Liberty University is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $16,173. Students borrow a median of $24,874 to complete their Air Transportation program here. Median earnings reach $44,813 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $24,874 median debt. About 99% of those who apply are admitted. More on Liberty University
A rank of #5 makes Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Prescott one of the best values in the United States. Located in Prescott, AZ, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Prescott is a private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $43,974. Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Prescott Air Transportation students take on a median of $22,000 in debt. Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Prescott alumni report median earnings of $84,131 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted. Read more about Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Prescott
Lewis University offered strong value this year, earning the #6 position. Located in Romeoville, IL, Lewis University is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $39,200. Typical Air Transportation student debt is $24,873. Graduates go on to earn a median of $66,099 ten years after entry. Set against $24,873 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 71%. Read the full report on Lewis University
Purdue University Main Campus ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best-value Air Transportation schools. Based in West Lafayette, IN, Purdue University Main Campus is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,992, with out-of-state students paying around $28,794. Typical Air Transportation student debt is $21,250. Graduates go on to earn a median of $72,424 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $21,250 median debt. Purdue University Main Campus has an acceptance rate of 50%. Get the full Purdue University Main Campus report
University Of Central Missouri ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best-value Air Transportation schools. Set in Warrensburg, MO, University Of Central Missouri is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,050 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $18,600. The median Air Transportation program debt is $21,500. Graduates go on to earn a median of $49,560 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $21,500 median debt. University Of Central Missouri has an acceptance rate of 64%. More on University Of Central Missouri
Florida Institute Of Technology landed the #9 spot for value in the United States this year. Set in Melbourne, FL, Florida Institute Of Technology is a private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $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. Florida Institute Of Technology has an acceptance rate of 58%. Read more about Florida Institute Of Technology
Oklahoma State University Main Campus ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best-value Air Transportation schools. This public school is set in Stillwater, OK. In-state tuition and fees average $10,110, compared with $25,630 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,924 to complete their Air Transportation program here. Oklahoma State University Main Campus alumni report median earnings of $57,413 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $19,924 median debt. Oklahoma State University Main Campus has an acceptance rate of 75%. More on Oklahoma State University Main Campus
Middle Tennessee State University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best-value Air Transportation schools. This public school is set in Murfreesboro, TN. In-state tuition and fees average $10,266, with out-of-state students paying around $31,574. Typical Air Transportation student debt is $21,992. Median earnings reach $48,541 ten years out. Set against $21,992 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 69% of applicants are accepted. More on Middle Tennessee State University
Everglades University came in at #12 in this year's value ranking. Located in Boca Raton, FL, Everglades University is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $21,680. The median Air Transportation program debt is $42,750. Median earnings reach $47,597 ten years out. Set against $42,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted. More on Everglades University
Utah State University landed the #13 spot for value in the United States this year. Set in Logan, UT, Utah State University is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,560, compared with $24,993 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,500 to complete their Air Transportation program here. Median earnings reach $54,022 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Utah State University admits about 92% of applicants. More on Utah State University
Capitol College
Capitol College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best-value Air Transportation schools. Read the full report on Capitol College
Casper College
Casper College came in at #15 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Casper College report
The Community College Of Baltimore County ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best-value Air Transportation schools. Get the full The Community College Of Baltimore County report
Blue Ridge Community And Technical College ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best-value Air Transportation schools. Read the full report on Blue Ridge Community And Technical College
Missouri Southern State University ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best-value Air Transportation schools. Read more about Missouri Southern State University
Central New Mexico Community College came in at #19 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Central New Mexico Community College
Iowa Lakes Community College ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best-value Air Transportation schools. See the full Iowa Lakes Community College profile
Treasure Valley Community College placed #21 among the best-value Air Transportation schools in the United States. See the full Treasure Valley Community College profile
Walla Walla University came in at #22 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Walla Walla University report
Academy College
Academy College landed the #23 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Academy College
Florida Institute Of Technology Online ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best-value Air Transportation schools. More on Florida Institute Of Technology Online
Capital Community College placed #25 among the best-value Air Transportation schools in the United States. See the full Capital Community College profile
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value Air Transportation Master’s Degree Schools in the United States
These schools also delivered strong value this year:
Dutchess Community College came in at #26 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Dutchess Community College
Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus landed the #27 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus
Farmingdale State College placed #28 among the best-value Air Transportation schools in the United States. Get the full Farmingdale State College report
Indiana State University ranked #29 on our 2026 list of the best-value Air Transportation schools. More on Indiana State University
Southwestern Illinois College landed the #30 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Southwestern Illinois College
Holmes Community College placed #31 among the best-value Air Transportation schools in the United States. See the full Holmes Community College profile
Pearl River Community College came in at #32 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Pearl River Community College
Sinclair Community College placed #33 among the best-value Air Transportation schools in the United States. Get the full Sinclair Community College report
Fox Valley Technical College offered strong value this year, earning the #34 position. See the full Fox Valley Technical College profile
Sacramento City College offered strong value this year, earning the #35 position. Get the full Sacramento City College report
Germanna Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #36 position. Get the full Germanna Community College report
Hagerstown Community College came in at #37 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Hagerstown Community College
Pacific Union College came in at #38 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Pacific Union College
Lake Area Technical Institute offered strong value this year, earning the #39 position. Get the full Lake Area Technical Institute report
Colorado Northwestern Community College placed #40 among the best-value Air Transportation schools in the United States. Read the full report on Colorado Northwestern Community College
University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus came in at #41 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus
Yavapai College
Yavapai College ranked #42 on our 2026 list of the best-value Air Transportation schools. Read the full report on Yavapai College
Carroll Community College came in at #43 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Carroll Community College
Chandler Gilbert Community College ranked #44 on our 2026 list of the best-value Air Transportation schools. More on Chandler Gilbert Community College
Texas A And M University Central Texas ranked #45 on our 2026 list of the best-value Air Transportation schools. Read the full report on Texas A And M University Central Texas
Schenectady County Community College came in at #46 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Schenectady County Community College report
Bismarck State College came in at #47 in this year's value ranking. More on Bismarck State College
Danville Community College placed #48 among the best-value Air Transportation schools in the United States. Get the full Danville Community College report
Highline Community College placed #49 among the best-value Air Transportation schools in the United States. Read more about Highline Community College
School Of Missionary Aviation Technology came in at #50 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on School Of Missionary Aviation Technology
Related Air Transportation Value Rankings
Compare value rankings at 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 Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
The ranking above is published by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on 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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