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Aviation

Colleges offering this major Rankings Trends

What you'll do in college

This category focuses on aviation science and aeronautics. Aviation students combine flight training with meteorology, aerodynamics, and navigation to earn their pilot licenses. The path is intensely disciplined, structured, and focused on high-stakes, practical application.

What you'll do after college

Aviation graduates typically become commercial, corporate, or cargo pilots, or work in aviation operations, air traffic control, and aircraft maintenance. Pay for commercial pilots rises significantly with seniority and flight hours.

Famous graduates

  • Sully Sullenberger — Airline captain famous for the "Miracle on the Hudson"; B.S. from the U.S. Air Force Academy

Selectivity vs. earnings

By acceptance rate

$94,837
901
100–88%
$94,531
2,013
87–74%
$97,895
2,314
74–50%
$86,880
722
49–0%
Acceptance rate · bar = degree-weighted earnings

By SAT median

$81,164
595
400–1050
$90,629
1,416
1050–1170
$96,760
1,403
1190–1310
$83,144
618
1330–1600
Combined SAT composite median (submitters + non-submitters) · bar = degree-weighted earnings

Earnings by acceptance rate and institution category

$66,685p10 $106,501p90 STEM, Business & Military Liberal Arts Public University Religious University Private University Florida Institute of Technology · $76,919 Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Daytona Beach · $97,343 Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Prescott · $99,297 Carroll University · $89,345 Rocky Mountain College · $82,939 Eastern New Mexico University · $106,248 Purdue University · $96,025 Auburn University · $55,705 Delaware State University · $70,602 Ohio State University · $81,880 Texas A&M University - College Station · $126,003 CUNY York College · $58,858 Minnesota State University, Mankato · $109,044 Texas Southern University · $45,704 University of Central Missouri · $95,713 West Virginia University Institute of Technology · $87,811 University of Hawaii at Hilo · $95,350 Eastern Michigan University · $97,885 Tennessee State University · $76,825 University of Louisiana at Monroe · $92,736 Louisiana Tech University · $87,101 Farmingdale State College · $72,240 Oklahoma State University · $87,558 Southeastern Oklahoma State University · $83,107 Henderson State University · $99,999 Elizabeth City State University · $54,941 University of Oklahoma - Norman · $84,269 Eastern Kentucky University · $79,738 Middle Tennessee State University · $93,695 Southeast Missouri State University · $91,886 Angelo State University · $82,011 Metropolitan State University of Denver · $71,852 San Jose State University · $66,685 University of North Texas · $96,805 Bowling Green State University · $83,504 Fairmont State University · $75,101 Kent State University at Kent · $100,260 University of Maryland Eastern Shore · $55,643 University of North Dakota · $118,004 Western Michigan University · $99,831 Stephen F. Austin State University · $89,290 Central Washington University · $75,263 Delta State University · $54,229 South Dakota State University · $110,462 Southern Utah University · $114,843 Ohio University · $101,432 Bridgewater State University · $87,209 University of Nebraska at Omaha · $80,498 University of Nebraska at Kearney · $86,364 Arizona State University · $85,310 University of Alaska - Anchorage · $77,391 Cal State Los Angeles · $57,313 Indiana State University · $78,863 Utah State University · $108,020 University of Memphis · $89,379 Southern Illinois University - Carbondale · $90,096 Kansas State University · $106,501 Austin Peay State University · $73,738 Marshall University · $90,208 Middle Georgia State University · $97,470 Utah Valley University · $107,116 Liberty University · $112,178 Florida Memorial University · $79,590 Baylor University · $96,635 LeTourneau University · $93,031 Walla Walla University · $92,498 Quincy University · $84,294 Charleston Southern University · $85,540 Pacific Union College · $103,479 Andrews University · $86,208 Southeastern University · $76,229 Averett University · $84,862 California Baptist University · $64,870 Lewis University · $89,325 Saint Louis University · $99,427 University of Dubuque · $103,070 Geneva College · $84,948 Walsh University · $89,734 Marywood University · $93,123 University of Mount Olive · $85,351 Jacksonville University · $89,406 Hampton University · $89,148 Lynn University · $86,423 STEM, Business & Military: mean $91,186 Liberal Arts: mean $86,142 Public University: mean $86,457 Religious University: mean $89,705 Private University: mean $88,326 All colleges: p10 $66,685 All colleges: p90 $106,501
Each dot = a college · y = degree-weighted earnings

Majors in this category

Major Colleges Degrees ▼ Male/Female Intl Earnings Employment
Aviation 84 5,950 82% / 18% 9% $90,382 97%
Aeronautics 7 1,313 85% / 15% 14% $87,341 97%
Aeronautics/Aviation/Aerospace Science and Technology 13 1,200 82% / 18% 10% $91,722 96%
Aviation Management 31 924 81% / 19% 3% $89,377 97%
Aviation 32 726 80% / 20% 4% $86,523 97%
Commercial Aviation 1 299 82% / 18% 12% $118,004 99%
Flight 2 231 77% / 23% 20% $87,036 96%
Professional Pilot 5 185 86% / 14% 3% $93,825 99%
Aeronautical Engineering Technology 2 163 90% / 10% 11% $98,146 98%
Aeronautical Management Technology 1 129 86% / 14% 3% $85,310 97%
Aviation Flight 8 128 87% / 13% 11% $84,913 98%
Aviation Technology 2 115 80% / 20% 11% $87,272 96%
Aviation Science 5 84 77% / 23% 12% $82,772 100%
Aviation Maintenance 4 78 95% / 5% 4% $94,530
Professional Flight 2 70 83% / 17% 0% $64,304 100%
Airline/Commercial/Professional Pilot and Flight Crew 3 67 87% / 13% 0% $89,928 99%
Aviation/Airway Management and Operations 4 63 78% / 22% 5% $90,285 94%
Air Traffic Control 3 53 51% / 49% 4% $101,780 97%
Air and Space Operations Technology 1 27 74% / 26% 7% $81,268 91%
Aeronautical/Aerospace Engineering Technology/Technician 2 24 79% / 21% 8% $90,572 96%
Aviation Sciences 1 22 82% / 18% 0% $82,011
Aeronautical/Aerospace Engineering Technology 2 19 89% / 11% 21% $83,180 100%
Unmanned Aircraft Systems 1 17 82% / 18% 0% $118,004 99%
Air Traffic Management 1 10 60% / 40% 0% $99,297 96%
Air Transportation 2 1 100% / 0% 0% $80,674 94%
Air Traffic Controller 1 1 100% / 0% 0% $86,681
Flight Education 1 1 100% / 0% 0% $118,004 99%
Aviation Operations 2 0 $98,654 96%
Airframe Mechanics and Aircraft Maintenance Technology/Technician 1 0 $89,539
Flight Instruction 1 0 $84,350
Pilot/Flight Training 1 0 $82,538
Space Operations 1 0 $83,942